Chapter 454

Evelyn froze for just a heartbeat before regaining her composure.

"I heard you were dining here, so I came to escort you home," Nathan murmured in that deep, velvety voice of his as he stepped into the private dining room.

Though his words were meant for Leonard, his piercing gaze remained locked on Evelyn.

"Join us then," Leonard offered casually.

Nathan took a seat but remained silent, his presence casting an unspoken tension over the table.

Evelyn and Leonard continued their lively conversation about art exhibitions in Paris, deliberately ignoring the brooding man at their table.

When Evelyn excused herself to freshen up, she didn't expect to find Nathan waiting for her in the dimly lit hallway.

He leaned against the marble wall with deceptive casualness, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette that trailed smoke toward the ceiling. His eyes darkened when they met hers.

"Evelyn," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "Has it really been so short a time since our divorce that you're already moving on?" Each word was precise, cutting through the air like shards of ice.

Evelyn's expression remained impassive.

"That's none of your concern, Mr. Black," she replied coolly, stepping forward to walk past him.

In one fluid motion, Nathan caught her wrist and spun her around, pinning her against the wall with his body. His free hand slammed against the wall beside her head, caging her in.

His dark eyes burned with intensity. "None of my concern?" he repeated, his voice rough with barely contained emotion. "We divorced barely a month ago, and here you are, dining intimately with another man? Have you considered how this makes me look?"

Evelyn's eyes flashed with fury as she met his gaze unflinchingly.

"Your reputation?" she spat. "Why should I care? We're nothing to each other now. Your precious image is the least of my worries."

Nathan's jaw tightened. Before he could respond, Evelyn continued, "Besides, wasn't it you who couldn't wait to be with Serena? You—"

"Who told you I wanted Serena?" Nathan interrupted sharply, his grip on her wrist tightening almost imperceptibly.