Chapter 256

Nathan's gaze flickered slightly, but his voice remained steady. "She must have her reasons for leaving."

A pang of regret twisted in his chest. I should have trusted her. Evelyn wasn't the type to crumble under pressure.

She had always been stubborn, fiercely independent. If she walked away, it was because she chose to—not because she was weak.

The problem was, he didn’t know if she was angry. And if she was, he had no idea how to fix it.

A thought struck him, and he glanced at Rosalind. "You women all have similar tastes, don’t you?"

Rosalind paused, her lips curving into a practiced smile. "That depends. Why do you ask?"

Nathan exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Zoe’s probably been upset with me for a while. I was thinking of getting her something."

He was too preoccupied to notice the way Rosalind’s fingers dug into her palms, her nails leaving crescent-shaped marks. Her smile stayed in place, but her eyes turned icy.

"Isn’t Ms. Vanderbilt a jewelry designer?" she suggested smoothly. "She might appreciate something unique."

Nathan’s expression cleared. "You’re right. There’s an auction at The Jade Store tonight. They might have something she’d like."

He grabbed his coat, already turning toward the door.

Rosalind’s voice stopped him. "Nathan, would you like me to come with you? I could help you pick something out. After all, women do tend to understand each other’s preferences."

He hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

A satisfied smile played on her lips as she followed him out.

Anything to stay by his side.

Meanwhile, Evelyn sat across from Edmund Lincoln at a quiet café overlooking Antique Street. The district was famous for its jade trade, a labyrinth of old-world shops where deals were final—no refunds, no regrets.

"You look well," Edmund remarked, adjusting his vintage gold-rimmed glasses. "I saw the news about the Vanderbilts. I was concerned."

Evelyn smirked, lifting her teacup. "If something were wrong, do you think I’d be sitting here having tea with you?"

He chuckled. "Fair point. Though I did hear you turned down Lillian de Arma."

Her fingers tightened around the cup. "Nothing escapes you, does it?"

"I thought you might reconsider, given your mother’s lineage."

Evelyn’s gaze drifted to the window, her voice softening. "Uncle Edmund… why did my mother leave the de Armas?"

It didn’t make sense. Miranda had abandoned her name, her status, even her homeland—vanishing from Stoslo to Zlokova under a new identity.

People only did that when they were running from something.

Edmund’s expression darkened. "She was ill."

"Ill?" Evelyn’s breath hitched. "You mean the cancer was real?"

Her father had told her the same story—that her mother had succumbed to illness. But something about it had always felt… incomplete.

Edmund sighed. "Zoe, this isn’t the right time to discuss it."

Her eyes flashed. "You always say that. But I’m starting to think you’re hiding something."

She held his gaze, unflinching.

Because if there was one thing Evelyn Vanderbilt knew, it was that her mother’s past was anything but simple.