Chapter 143

Caleb responded, "Oh, okay."

He then dashed out of the room like a whirlwind.

Nathan picked up the documents on his desk and skimmed through them.

Caleb... This boy's last name is Vanderbilt too?

Nathan had heard that Richard had come to see Evelyn. No one knew what he had said to her, but it was clear that Evelyn had been withdrawn ever since, holed up in her office.

Did Richard come to stir up trouble again?

Without hesitation, Nathan headed straight to the 16th floor.

He pushed open her office door and found her curled up on the couch, her expression unusually somber.

She didn’t even react when she saw him.

The woman who usually lashed out like a feisty kitten sat there quietly, looking like a lost, abandoned stray. It unsettled him.

Nathan approached her, gazing down for a moment before reaching out to ruffle her hair gently.

Her eyes flickered up to meet his before she turned her face away. "Don’t look at me like that... I don’t need your pity."

His gaze made her feel like some helpless creature.

Nathan sat beside her. "Did he scold you again?"

"No."

"Then why did he come?"

Evelyn stayed silent.

When she didn’t answer, Nathan wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her head onto his lap.

Evelyn stiffened. "What are you doing?"

"Sleep. A nap will make everything better." His voice was low, soothing, almost hypnotic.

His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, nothing more. He was simply offering his lap as a pillow.

Slowly, the tension in Evelyn’s body eased, her eyelids growing heavy.

After a long pause, she murmured, "Nathan... Are you only with me because of the kids?"

Nathan glanced down at her. "Why would you ask that?"

Evelyn sighed. "If we’re together just for them, isn’t that unfair? A marriage built on obligation instead of love... They’ll sense it, won’t they?"

"It’s not just because of them," Nathan replied smoothly.

When she turned to look at him, he was already watching her. "Do you really have so little faith in yourself?"

She froze.

Is it me I doubt? Or marriage itself?

"Or is it me you don’t trust?" His tone was calm, but the question struck her like a slap.

The confusion left by her father’s earlier words still clouded her mind. She didn’t know what to believe anymore.

Nathan studied the woman resting on his lap and smiled faintly. "Seems I still have a long way to go before making you my official wife."

Evelyn bolted upright. "How can you be so shameless?"

He pulled her into his arms, chuckling. "Because I want you more than I care about dignity."

Her cheeks burned, and she shoved him away. "Go to hell! Don’t you dare get any twisted ideas. Let me go—!"

Seeing her fiery spirit return, Nathan merely smirked, saying nothing.

Twisted ideas? All I want is to marry her properly. Is that so wrong?

If Evelyn knew his thoughts, she’d probably throw a shoe at him. But before she could, a knock interrupted them.

She wriggled free, shooting him a glare before stomping to the door.

Oliver stood outside, scanning the office. "Is Mr. Goldmann here?"

Nathan rose, his expression cooling as he stepped behind Evelyn, his gaze icy on the intruder.