Chapter 259

"If that's how you feel, you should leave tonight." Evelyn pulled her hand away with a forced smile and pushed him toward the door.

The lock clicked shut behind him.

Evelyn leaned against the door, her mind replaying the scene of Nathan and Rosalind at The Jade Store. He hadn’t even apologized. How could he act so innocent?

Why did it bother her so much? She shouldn’t care.

Silence lingered on the other side. Had he left?

She had shoved him out. Any rational man would have walked away. But what if he hadn’t?

Against her better judgment, Evelyn turned the knob and peeked outside. Nathan still stood there, his wounded gaze piercing through her.

No.

She grabbed his collar, yanked him inside, slammed the door, and pinned him against the wall before crashing her lips onto his.

If men did this to assert dominance, why couldn’t women?

Nathan’s eyes darkened as he cupped the back of her head, taking control. He pulled her closer, backing her toward the bed until they tumbled onto it, clothes in disarray.

He nipped at her lower lip, voice rough. "Zoe, you started this—"

Her rare aggression unraveled him. She was his. Only his. Always.

He murmured something against her ear, but exhaustion claimed her before she could decipher it.

Nathan held her close, drifting off with her in his arms.

The next morning, Evelyn packed a single backpack—just essentials and hiking gear.

Nathan descended the stairs to find her in a high ponytail, no makeup, dressed for the wilderness. A stark contrast to her usual polished elegance, yet striking in its own way.

Oliver waited outside with the car.

Nathan walked her out, his hand lingering at her waist as he leaned in. "If you run into trouble, find Chloe."

Evelyn paused, meeting his gaze briefly before slipping into the car without a word.

As the vehicle disappeared, Nathan pulled out his phone.

"Has the ring from The Jade Store been delivered to ckgold yet?"

After winning the auction, he’d entrusted Rosalind with the arrangements, directing the delivery to ckgold Group. He’d planned to give it to Zoe upon her return—but patience wasn’t his strength.

He’d visit the training camp soon. A surprise.

Rosalind’s voice was cool. "Not yet. The store confirmed delivery in two days."

Nathan frowned. "Push them to expedite it."

After hanging up, Rosalind stared at the velvet box in her hand, her expression icy.

The armored SUV rolled through Swallow District’s dense woods, toward the secluded training camp.

Evelyn gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Theodore’s warnings about the Goldmanns echoed in her mind.

They were anything but ordinary.