Chapter 433

The elevator doors slid open at the ground floor. Most passengers stepped out, leaving the space suddenly empty.

Except for two.

The elderly woman and her grandson stood blocking the exit, arms crossed, preventing Evelyn and Nathaniel from leaving.

"Disgraceful!" The woman's shrill voice echoed in the metal box. "Young people these days have no respect for their elders!"

Evelyn, still pressed against the corner, lifted her gaze to meet Nathaniel's. "We're here," she murmured softly.

The unspoken message was clear - he could stop shielding her now.

Nathaniel straightened his posture and took two deliberate steps back. An odd tension crackled between them.

Evelyn felt heat rising to her cheeks. She peeked up at his broad shoulders through her lashes.

Noticing the obstruction, Nathaniel's brow furrowed at the belligerent senior. Such absurd encounters were rare for someone accustomed to private hospital wings.

Within moments, Robert arrived with a security detail. The imposing figures formed a silent semicircle behind the ranting woman.

When she finally sensed the presence behind her, the woman whirled around - and froze at the sight of six uniformed guards.

Her tirade died instantly.

"W-what is this?" she stammered. "Some kind of mafia operation? My son is a senior executive at Whitmore Enterprises! He'll make you pay for this!"

Evelyn couldn't suppress a laugh.

What were the odds?

She tilted her head at the woman. "How interesting. Did you know this handsome gentleman also works at Whitmore Enterprises?"

The woman puffed up with false confidence. "Not like my son! He's in upper management!"

"Which division?" Nathaniel's voice cut like ice. "What's his name?"

"Development department!" she snapped. "Why? Planning revenge? Save your breath - he's coming to pick me up right now!"

Just then, a harried-looking middle-aged man rushed through the lobby doors. "Mom! What's going on?"

His face drained of color when he recognized Nathaniel. "M-Mr. Whitmore? What did you do?"

"These hooligans trapped me in the elevator!" the woman wailed, suddenly emboldened. "They brought these thugs to intimidate me! Is this how civilized people behave?"

Nathaniel's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "This is your mother?"

The man looked ready to faint. "My deepest apologies, sir. She's from the countryside - doesn't understand city manners. Please forgive her ignorance."

The woman gaped at her son's groveling. "Who is this man?"

Evelyn answered sweetly, "I did mention he works at Whitmore too, didn't I? He's the CEO."

"The...the boss?" The woman's bravado evaporated instantly. Rural education notwithstanding, she understood what that title meant.

Trouble. Big trouble.

"Mom! Apologize to Mr. Whitmore immediately!" the man begged.

"Unnecessary," Nathaniel interrupted. "Submit your resignation to HR by tomorrow."

The man's knees nearly buckled. "Sir, please! This was a misunderstanding! My family didn't recognize you! I have a mortgage, children in school - I can't lose this job!"