Chapter 69

"It's me, Evelyn," Evelyn said, pulling off her surgical mask.

Nathan had always regarded Raj as a compassionate man with extraordinary skills. Both Raj and Priya had shown nothing but kindness and encouragement toward him. Though Evelyn had only interacted with the Patels occasionally during gatherings at the Grant estate, they had always treated her with respect. Never once had they judged her for her past or her appearance. When Nathan had been harsh with Evelyn, Priya had even reprimanded him for it. For these reasons, Evelyn held the Patel family in high esteem.

When Priya heard the name "Evelyn," her expression shifted instantly, surprise flashing across her features.

"You're Evelyn? You were the one who saved Raj that day?" Priya asked, clearly stunned. She hadn't expected that Marcus's goddaughter and Nathan's wife were the same person.

"Evelyn, you look so different now! I wouldn't have recognized you if you hadn't told me," Priya remarked.

Looking closer, Priya noticed that while Evelyn had lost weight and the dark mark on her face had vanished, her delicate features remained unchanged.

Seeing Priya's reaction, Evelyn smiled softly. At that moment, Priya grasped Evelyn's hand, her gratitude overflowing.

"Thank you, Evelyn. What you did for Raj was everything. If it weren’t for you, he might not have made it."

Evelyn shook her head modestly. "No thanks needed, Mrs. Patel. Any doctor would have done the same."

Just as Priya was about to say more, a sharp knock interrupted them.

"Come in," Priya called.

Evelyn and Priya both turned, surprised by who stepped through the door.

"Nathan, what brings you here?" Priya greeted warmly.

Nathan hesitated briefly, caught off guard by Evelyn's presence. His gaze flickered toward her before he stepped inside.

"I had some free time between meetings, so I thought I’d check on Mr. Patel," he said, though his attention lingered on Evelyn.

It was the first time Nathan had seen her like this—dressed in a white doctor’s coat, a stethoscope draped around her neck, her dark hair pulled into a loose bun. No makeup, just the natural glow of her skin and the quiet confidence of a woman who knew her worth.

Evelyn met his gaze for only a second before turning away. "Mrs. Patel, I should get back to my rounds. Excuse me."

Priya nodded. "Of course. Let’s have lunch soon—just us."

Evelyn agreed with a quick nod and slipped out, leaving Nathan standing there, watching her go.