Chapter 6

"You can't go after her."

The deep, gravelly voice cut through the air like a blade, silencing the room. Nathan Black stood with his arms crossed, his piercing gaze fixed on Dylan Reeves.

Dylan and Serena Cole both stiffened, their expressions shifting from amusement to shock.

"Why the hell not?" Dylan demanded, his brows furrowing in confusion.

Nathan’s face remained unreadable, his tone icy. "Because I said so."

The finality in his words left no room for argument. His sharp jawline and dark eyes betrayed nothing, but the tension in the room thickened instantly.

Serena’s lips parted as if to speak, but before she could utter a word, Nathan pushed off from the wall and strode out of the room without another glance.

Frustration coiled in Serena’s chest as she watched him leave, her fingers curling into tight fists. Why would Nathan care if Dylan pursued that woman?

Evelyn Hartley stepped out of the restroom, smoothing the fabric of her dress before turning to head back to the ballroom.

Then she froze.

Leaning casually against the wall, his tall frame casting a long shadow, was Nathan Black.

Their eyes met—just for a fraction of a second—before Evelyn coolly averted her gaze and walked past him as if he were a stranger.

She had spent three years convincing herself she had erased him from her memory.

Yet here he was, effortlessly unraveling her resolve with just one look.

But this time, she wouldn’t let him see her falter.

"Wait."

His voice, low and commanding, stopped her in her tracks.

Evelyn turned, her lips curving into a practiced, polite smile. "Can I help you, sir?" Her voice was smooth, almost melodic, betraying none of the storm raging inside her.

Nathan let out a dark chuckle, his smirk laced with irony. "Evelyn, are we really playing this game?"

Her breath hitched.

He recognized her.

For a brief moment, surprise flickered in her eyes before she schooled her expression back into indifference. "What do you want, Mr. Black?"

"No more pretending?" he challenged, stepping closer until he loomed over her.

Evelyn tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze head-on. "Since you’ve already seen through me, what’s the point?"

Nathan’s lips curled into a humorless smile. "Did you really think running away for three years would erase everything between us?"

The air between them crackled with tension.

Evelyn’s pulse raced, but her voice remained steady. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Nathan leaned in, his breath warm against her ear as he murmured, "Then let me remind you."