Chapter 206

The office buzzed with tension as Lydia stood frozen, her fingers clutching the edge of the desk. It was clear she had been pushed to her limits, forced to endure tasks far beneath her dignity.

Evelyn had held her tongue until now, assuming Lydia wouldn’t last long in this position. But against all odds, the woman had stubbornly clung to her role. Today, however, fate had handed Evelyn the perfect opportunity to dismiss her.

Seeing the resolve in Evelyn’s eyes, Lydia turned desperately to Nathan. "Nathan, please—"

"This isn’t my decision to make," Nathan said smoothly, his lips curving into an amused smile. "Zoe has full authority here." The room collectively understood what it meant for a man to stand firmly behind his wife.

Lydia’s lips trembled before she spun on her heel and stormed out, humiliation burning in her wake.

Evelyn handed the documents to the receptionist and strode back to her office. Nathan followed, only for her to whirl around, pressing a hand against the doorframe, effectively trapping him.

She glared up at his infuriatingly perfect face. "Nathan Goldmann, must you always drag your admirers to me so I can chase them off?"

His lips twitched, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her flush against him. "Feeling possessive, are we?"

Evelyn scoffed. "Nine out of ten women would fall for you without a second thought. Why waste that charm on just one?"

He doesn’t even have to try. Women throw themselves at him constantly. So why won’t he let me go?

Nathan studied her for a long moment before murmuring, "But out of those ten, you’re the only one I want."

She tried to push away, but his grip was unyielding. He chuckled darkly. "If you don’t like them around me, I’ll make sure they stay away."

"Who said I care?" Evelyn snapped, but before she could finish, his calloused fingers brushed her lips, tilting her chin up. His mouth sealed over hers, swallowing her protests.

No more excuses. That stubborn mouth deserves to be kissed into silence.

Evelyn’s thoughts scattered under the heat of his kiss. No matter how much she resisted, her body betrayed her every time.

Nathan pulled back with effort, his breathing uneven. If not for her current condition, he wouldn’t have stopped.

"We’ll pick up Caleb from the academy together this evening," he said, voice rough.

Evelyn stepped back, avoiding his gaze. "I know."

She didn’t want him to see the flush staining her cheeks, but the tips of her ears gave her away.

Nathan suppressed a grin. My wife’s shyness is utterly adorable.

At the Royal Academy of Music

Sophia burst into the disciplinary office, her voice sharp. "Caleb!"

The boy stood before the teacher, his lip split and uniform dirtied. Beside him, an older student glowered, his mother’s expression twisting in outrage the moment she spotted Sophia.

"Are you Caleb Vanderbilt’s guardian?"

Sophia blinked, then glanced at Caleb. "What happened?"

"Can’t you see? Your boy attacked mine!" the woman snapped, her fury palpable.

Sophia arched a brow at Caleb.

Of course. He called me here because he got into a fight.

Caleb blinked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Godmother, I didn’t start it. He insulted me first."