Chapter 300

Evelyn stood frozen, her mind reeling from Nathan's revelation about the Goldmann family's past. It was as if she'd been handed a truth too extraordinary to grasp.

Nathan lifted her effortlessly, settling her onto his lap. "Zoe," he murmured, his voice thick with sincerity, "I've laid everything bare for you. Now you understand why my grandfather keeps Rosalind so close—why he values her above all others. Her grandparents raised him. They were his family when he had none."

Evelyn pressed her lips together, silent.

Nathan took her hand and pressed it against his chest, where his heartbeat thrummed steadily. "I swear to you," he vowed, his gaze unwavering, "as long as I draw breath, no one—not my grandfather, not Rosalind, not anyone—will make you suffer. Anyone who dares to hurt you will answer to me."

His voice dropped lower, rougher. "Even if it costs me my life."

A shiver ran down Evelyn's spine. "Hades himself wouldn't dare keep you," she whispered.

Nathan traced the curve of her lips with his thumb. "Then my life is yours to claim," he said. "No one else has that right."

Two days later, Evelyn received her assessment results.

Her breath caught. 130 points.

"Sir," she blurted, "there must be a mistake. I didn't complete one of the trials. How could I score 130?"

The instructor's expression softened. "The extra ten points are for your bravery. You risked your life to save your teammate. While recklessness isn't commendable, courage is."

He added, "Lillian Heinrich admitted she panicked. She said you were the reason she's alive."

Evelyn clutched the report. "What about Lillian? How did she do?"

"Only the top scorer advances. Lillian withdrew voluntarily—because of you."

The words echoed in Evelyn's mind. Lillian's choice stunned her.

Outside, Evelyn spotted Rosalind and Harrison deep in conversation.

Rosalind's eyes flickered with surprise when she noticed Evelyn, but her smile remained polished. "Ms. Vanderbilt," she said smoothly, "I heard about your ordeal. I never expected Winifred to go that far. I'm relieved you're unharmed."

Evelyn arched a brow. "Are you, Ms. Summers?"

Rosalind lowered her lashes. "Of course. You're the woman Nathan loves." Her voice dipped, almost regretful. "I owe you an apology—for the jade ring. I wanted to test your feelings for him."

Evelyn blinked.

This doesn't sound like her.

But she smiled. "Nathan explained everything. And in a way, I should thank you. You helped me realize something."

Rosalind's smile stiffened. "Oh?"

Evelyn twirled a lock of hair around her finger, her lips curving. "I was afraid to face my feelings for him. But after everything that's happened..." She met Rosalind's gaze squarely. "I think I'm in love with him."