Chapter 122

Mr. Goldmann Sr. studied the three mischievous children before him. "Then why won't your mother accept your father?"

The triplets exchanged glances before launching into an animated explanation about their mother's past. As the story unfolded, the old man's expression darkened considerably.

"I never cared about Evelyn's background," he muttered. "Even when I learned she was a Vanderbilt from Bassburgh, our family would have welcomed her."

His grip tightened on his cane. "But that fool son of mine let himself be deceived by that stepsister of hers for six years! No wonder Zoe refuses to accept him now."

"Serves him right," he concluded with a huff.

"Grandpa," Caleb piped up, tugging at the elder's sleeve. "You do want Mommy and Daddy together, right?"

Mr. Goldmann Sr. snorted. "Naturally."

'My stubborn son has finally found a woman who makes him human. I'll be damned if I let this opportunity slip away. Those children might just be the key to fixing this mess.'

Meanwhile, Nathan carefully deposited Evelyn onto the plush bed. She murmured something unintelligible, rolling onto his arm with a contented sigh.

Nathan's jaw tightened. The warmth of her body against his skin sent electric currents through him, his dark eyes smoldering with restrained desire.

'This woman will be the death of me.'

He leaned in, lips hovering inches from hers when his phone shattered the moment.

Glancing at the still-sleeping Evelyn, he extracted himself and answered the call. "Report."

"We've uncovered information regarding your inquiry, Mr. Goldmann," came the crisp response.

Nathan stepped into the study, casting one last look at Evelyn's peaceful form. "What did you find?"

"The connection between Ms. Vanderbilt and Morwich remains unclear. However, we've discovered her mother had significant... connections."

Nathan's brows drew together. "Her mother?"

"Yes. After cross-referencing records, we believe Ms. Vanderbilt's mother was Miranda de Arma."

Documents flashed across Nathan's screen moments later - fingerprint comparisons showing an exact match between Richard Vanderbilt's deceased wife and the missing de Arma heiress.

Nathan's expression turned grave.

'The de Armas... This complicates things.'

The de Armas were Stoslo nobility - descendants of royal advisors granted dukedoms. Though they'd withdrawn from court politics after the eldest princess incident, their influence remained formidable.

Harrison de Arma currently headed the family. His eldest daughter Lillian was mistress of the Laurent household, while youngest daughter Miranda had vanished over two decades ago.

Nathan never imagined Evelyn's mother would be nobility.

Another email notification pinged. The attached photograph showed a young woman in a black trench coat disembarking from a cruise ship - unmistakably Miranda de Arma. But the blonde man shadowing her made Nathan's blood run cold.

'Edmund Lincoln...'

Later that night...

Evelyn awoke with a gasp.

'What the hell?!'

Nathan had her pinned in a vice-like embrace, his muscular arms rendering her immobile. She wriggled carefully, managing to create enough space to sit up.

The movement roused Nathan. In one fluid motion, he flipped her onto her back, looming over her with predatory intensity. "Awake?" His voice was rough with sleep.

Evelyn swallowed hard. "Um... Could you... move?" Her body tensed, bracing for whatever might come next.