Chapter 176

"Ms. Vanderbilt, Ms.—"

Evelyn ended the call without hesitation.

Gregory chuckled. "You're becoming more like your mother every day."

She refused to be anyone's pawn.

At the Laurent Family Mansion

"Goldmann, have you lost your mind?!"

Lillian's sharp gaze locked onto Nathan. He had just used Evelyn to threaten her. Was this an open challenge to the Laurents—and the de Armas?

Nathan crossed his legs, leaning back with effortless arrogance. "If you insist on targeting my fiancée, the Goldmanns will gladly play along."

Lillian's expression darkened. "For a woman? Have the Goldmanns gone mad?"

"She is a Goldmann now," Nathan countered, lifting his teacup with deliberate calm. "And we protect what's ours. Surely your father remembers how... reasonable we can be?"

A shadow flickered across Lillian's face.

The Goldmanns were anything but reasonable. Especially Theodore—Nathan's grandfather—whose hands were stained with the blood of nobles who'd dared oppose him. To the aristocracy, the Goldmanns were ruthless.

Nathan set down his cup, adjusting his cufflinks as he stood. "Mrs. Laurent, if you continue this vendetta against Evelyn, I hope you won’t regret it when the truth surfaces."

He strode out without another word.

Lillian frowned. What truth?

Her thoughts shattered when Mr. Peterson called. His panicked voice delivered a bombshell.

"What did you say? Edmund has been helping her?"

"Mrs. Laurent, you have to intervene! I breached my contract on your orders, but Ms. Vanderbilt won’t let this slide—and neither will Mr. Lincoln! I’m trapped!"

Lillian’s grip tightened on her phone. Edmund Lincoln... Why would a man like him side with that girl?

Nathan exited the mansion, his bodyguards flanking him, just as Vivian returned. Spotting him, her pulse quickened.

"Nathan!" She flashed a hopeful smile. "Did you come to see me?"

Oliver barely suppressed an eye-roll. Delusional.

Nathan’s silence made Vivian’s heart flutter. He still cared.

Then she remembered the auction—how he’d seen her with Lucas. "Nathan, don’t misunderstand. I’m just reconnecting with family. Lucas is only my cousin."

She gazed up, earnest. "I know I’m not worthy of you yet, but I’ll prove myself. One day—"

"Do you truly believe you’re a de Arma?" Nathan’s icy tone sliced through her words.

Vivian paled. "Nathan, I—"

His lips curled in derision. "Lucas’s cousin is merely Lillian’s niece. You’re nothing to the de Armas."