Chapter 229

Evelyn felt Nathaniel's fingers tighten around hers, sending an uncomfortable prickle down her spine.

She tried to subtly pull away, but Eleanor held their joined hands with surprising strength.

"If anything happens to me during this procedure," Eleanor murmured, her voice frail but resolute, "I need you both to look after each other."

Her gaze shifted between them, heavy with unspoken meaning. "With a child on the way, life won't be the same as before."

Evelyn's chest tightened. "Grandmother, you'll be fine. You have to see your great-grandchild born."

Eleanor's lips curved into a serene smile. "Yes, I will see this baby with my own eyes."

A lump formed in Evelyn's throat. Everyone believed her pregnancy was a ruse to convince Eleanor to undergo surgery—only she knew the truth.

Nathaniel's voice, low and steady, cut through her thoughts. "Grandmother, I'll take care of Evelyn and our child. You have nothing to worry about."

Evelyn nearly scoffed.

Wasn't he supposed to be engaged to Victoria tomorrow?

His words were nothing but hollow reassurance.

Eleanor glanced at the clock. "It's getting late. You two should go have dinner."

She waved a dismissive hand. "Hospital food is dreadful. No need to suffer through it with me."

Relief washed over Evelyn. If Eleanor had insisted they stay, she would've struggled to explain why she couldn't—her six brothers were waiting for her at home.

The moment Eleanor released her hand, Evelyn tried to pull away, but Nathaniel's grip remained firm.

Her jaw clenched, but she kept her expression neutral.

Once outside the room, she yanked her hand free. "Mr. Whitmore, she can't see us anymore. The act is over."

Nathaniel's eyes darkened. "I heard the demolition of your old neighborhood was finalized today."

Evelyn arched a brow. "Yes, Penelope went to great lengths for revenge."

A smirk played on her lips. "Though Optima Construction went bankrupt, it didn't stop my family from receiving compensation."

Nathaniel's mouth thinned. "You have quite the network. Always someone ready to help you."

Earlier, he'd seen Julian embracing Evelyn, their closeness undeniable. And during their last call, Julian's voice had been unmistakable in the background.

Wasn't she involved with Harrison?

Now another man?

Evelyn tilted her head, studying his tense grip. "Mr. Whitmore, are you... jealous?"

His expression stiffened.

He released her abruptly. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just warning you—playing with multiple men is dangerous."

His voice turned icy. "Eventually, it'll blow up in your face. When they find out, you'll regret it."

Evelyn crossed her arms. "That's my business, not yours."

Nathaniel's gaze hardened. "Remember, our divorce isn't finalized yet."

He stepped closer, his voice a low warning. "After Grandmother's surgery next Monday, the one-month waiting period ends. Be on time."

Evelyn met his stare without flinching. "I'll be there."

Nathaniel exhaled sharply, frustration flickering in his eyes. "And don't say anything before the surgery."

Evelyn laughed humorlessly. "You're getting engaged to another woman tomorrow, yet you have the nerve to tell me to keep quiet?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Do you think I enjoy being labeled the 'cheated-on wife'?"

She remembered Nathaniel and Victoria's engagement announcement—the opulence, the whispers, the way the elite circled like vultures.

When she had married Nathaniel, she'd signed a prenuptial agreement under Beatrice's glare, stripped of any claim to the Whitmore fortune.

Now, history was repeating itself.