Chapter 279

Evelyn recognized that familiar tone in Nathaniel's voice—the one laced with arrogance and interrogation. His piercing gaze hadn't changed one bit.

She ran her fingers through her still-damp hair, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Why don't you figure it out yourself?"

Nathaniel's eyes flickered, catching the subtle shift in her posture.

Her hair tumbled over one shoulder, and the delicate strap of her silk nightgown slipped, baring a tantalizing expanse of sun-kissed skin that gleamed under the dim glow of her bedside lamp.

The sight was undeniably provocative.

Nathaniel stiffened, caught off guard.

His throat tightened, his stare darkening. Was she doing this on purpose?

Yet Evelyn seemed entirely unaware of the effect she was having.

When Nathaniel fell silent during their video call, she tilted her head. "Anything else? If not, I'm hanging up."

"Evelyn," he bit out, "you still haven't answered me. Don't think dressing like this will distract me. Even if you stripped right now, it wouldn’t work."

What was he talking about? She was just wearing a normal nightgown.

Glancing down, Evelyn gasped. The strap had slipped completely off her shoulder.

One wrong move, and she would’ve been exposed. Heat flooded her cheeks as she abruptly ended the call.

Fumbling, she yanked the strap back into place, then buried her face in her hands, mortified.

Did that insufferable man really think she was trying to seduce him?

The audacity!

She wanted to drag Nathaniel by the collar and scream at him. Who in their right mind would try to lure him in like this?

But she let it go. In a few months, once she finished her studies and her pregnancy became more noticeable, she’d leave for Nord City to have the baby.

If she was leaving anyway, why waste energy on Nathaniel?

The next morning, Evelyn had planned to go for her prenatal checkup.

But Julian texted, saying he had an appointment in the morning and suggested she come in the afternoon.

Right now, Julian was the only person she fully trusted.

Without him there, the checkup would feel incomplete. So she agreed to reschedule.

Instead, Evelyn decided to visit Eleanor at the private hospital. Eleanor had left a cryptic comment on her social media post yesterday.

Given Nathaniel’s recent decision to call off his engagement with Victoria, Evelyn needed to confirm whether Eleanor’s surgery was still happening as planned.

Before heading to the hospital, she picked up fresh flowers and a basket of fruit.

As she neared Eleanor’s room, muffled voices drifted into the hallway.

Peering through the slightly ajar door, she spotted doctors and nurses gathered inside. Had something gone wrong?

Panic seized her. She rushed in, calling out, "Grandma Eleanor!"

Then she froze.

Among the medical staff stood Julian—wearing a white coat.

What was he doing here?

Earlier, when Julian mentioned his morning commitment, Evelyn assumed it was a surgery. But she never expected to find him here.

Was he switching careers?

Julian’s expression faltered when he saw her. This was not how he wanted her to find out.

Today, he was overseeing Eleanor’s pre-op evaluations.

Given the complexity of her upcoming procedure, it required extensive tests and a detailed surgical plan.

Julian had deliberately scheduled this visit early, intending to return to Evelyn later.

But fate had other plans.

His stomach twisted. Was this the moment his secret would unravel?

Evelyn’s pulse quickened. Would Julian discover the truth about her and Nathaniel today?