Chapter 353

"What's wrong?" Nathaniel's deep voice rumbled through the phone.

Evelyn cleared her throat awkwardly. "I'm still trying to get a taxi on campus. It might take me over an hour."

She bit her lip before adding, "Could you wait for me?"

Nathaniel glanced at his platinum watch, an amused smirk playing on his lips. Yet his tone remained deliberately harsh. "Evelyn Carter, making me wait for our appointment? Is this some kind of game?"

"This isn't a game!" Her voice rose slightly. "No tricks, no schemes. I swear I'm serious about the divorce."

His smile vanished instantly. She always knew how to ruin his mood with perfect timing.

"Do you have any idea," he said icily, "how much my time is worth? I agreed to meet at 9:00 sharp. Now you expect me to wait? Can you even afford my hourly rate?"

Evelyn hesitated. "Just tell me the amount. I'll transfer it immediately."

"Not happening. Be punctual." The line went dead.

Panicked, she redialed, but Nathaniel didn't answer.

Fingers flying across her screen, she typed: "Got a cab. On my way now. Won't take long - please wait."

The message brought an unexpected lightness to Nathaniel's mood.

Not that he planned to wait.

Robert approached cautiously with a leather-bound folder. "Mr. Whitmore, your flight departs in fifty minutes. We must leave now to make boarding."

"Let's go." Nathaniel strode from his office, his steps unusually buoyant for someone supposedly dreading a divorce.

Robert hid a knowing smile.

Ever since Evelyn stormed out of the car yesterday, Nathaniel had been in a foul mood. Robert had braced for chaos today - the day his boss would finally end his marriage.

Yet Nathaniel had buried himself in work all morning. And now this little charade...

Robert had overheard enough to understand. Evelyn thought she was running late, while Nathaniel had never intended to show up at all.

It was like watching a wolf toy with a lamb.

Meanwhile, Evelyn's taxi pulled up to the courthouse. No sign of Nathaniel.

She checked the parking lot - his signature black Bentley was nowhere to be seen.

Where was he?

Her call went straight to voicemail. "The number you're dialing is currently unavailable..."

Evelyn stood frozen on the courthouse steps. Had he forgotten? After three years of demanding this divorce?

She'd been crystal clear on the phone. How could he just... not show up?

For thirty agonizing minutes, she paced outside the courthouse like a jilted bride. Each unanswered call fueled her frustration.

Finally, she fired off a text: "Nathaniel Whitmore, what's your game? Changed your mind about divorcing? Could it be you've actually fallen for me?"

The words were designed to prick his notorious pride. If nothing else, maybe they'd force an explanation for his no-show.