Chapter 439
Nathan's face was like a thundercloud, his voice dripping with ice. "Father demanded I stay here with you today. Otherwise, I'd be locked out of the Grant mansion."
His piercing gaze swept over Evelyn. "Pretend I don't exist. This isn't my choice - just following Leonard's orders." The words cut through the air like shards of glass.
Snatching up a stack of files, he buried himself in paperwork.
Truth be told, Leonard's ultimatum had forced his hand.
Yet he could've refused.
Could've walked away.
Why had he agreed to stay with Evelyn? That was a question he deliberately avoided examining.
Evelyn's teeth sank into her lower lip, emotions churning too turbulent to voice.
Silence stretched between them.
She resolved to treat Nathan like furniture - present but insignificant.
More importantly, she needed to harden her heart against his presence.
With steely determination, Evelyn steadied her breathing.
The clock ticked relentlessly as neither spoke.
Nathan remained engrossed in documents while Evelyn scrolled through her phone.
An uneasy truce settled over the hospital room.
CRASH!
The door flew open with violent force.
Both heads snapped toward the intrusion.
Dylan wheeled Serena into the room, her wheelchair squeaking against the linoleum.
Twin frowns creased Evelyn and Nathan's foreheads.
Dylan opened his mouth - then froze at the sight of Nathan lounging on the sofa.
Their expressions morphed into identical masks of shock.
"Na-Nathan?" Serena's voice quivered. "What are you-"
His retort came like a whip crack. "I could ask you the same."
"We heard Ms. Hartley was hospitalized with allergic reactions," Dylan recovered smoothly. "Came to check on her."
Evelyn nearly snorted. Check on her? More like check on their handiwork.
Did they think her stupid enough to believe this charade?
Dylan's eyes narrowed. "Why are you here, Nathan?"
"Leonard's orders." Nathan's tone left no room for argument.
Serena's knuckles whitened around her wheelchair grips, her face twisting into something ugly.