Chapter 331

Evelyn had assumed that after everything that happened to Laura, Vivian would finally back off.

But clearly, she was wrong.

It had barely been two weeks, and Vivian was already stirring up trouble again.

Evelyn frowned, tapping her fingers against the desk. "I doubt Vivian will stop anytime soon. Uncle Gregory, could you ask Angela to keep a close watch on the kids?"

Right now, the children were her only concern.

Gregory nodded.

Alone in her office, Evelyn leaned back in her chair, lost in thought. Vivian had claimed Nathan sold her to the Underground Freeway. If that were true, how had she escaped from a place like that?

The answer, Evelyn realized, lay with Nathan.

She stood abruptly and headed for the administrative office.

Her knuckles rapped against the door—once, twice. No response. Just as she reached for the handle, a voice cut through the silence.

"Nathan is downstairs discussing a project with a client. What do you need him for?"

Evelyn turned, meeting Rosalind's cool gaze. She forced a smile. "Just here to invite my fiancé to lunch. But since he's busy, I'll wait for him in my office."

She turned to leave, but Rosalind's hand shot out, gripping her wrist. "Ms. Vanderbilt, a moment of your time?"

Evelyn glanced at the fingers wrapped around her arm before nodding. "Of course."

Rosalind released her, stepping back. "Aren’t you curious about the history between the Goldmanns and the de Armas?"

They moved to the stairwell, the emergency exit door clicking shut behind them. Evelyn crossed her arms. "What exactly are you trying to tell me?"

Rosalind’s expression remained unreadable. "The reason the Goldmanns despise the de Armas is simple—they allied with the hypocrites of the royal left-wing faction. It’s not just dislike. It’s hatred. These families were always destined to be enemies."

Evelyn lowered her gaze. "And what does that have to do with me?"

Rosalind stepped closer, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "Don’t play dumb, Evelyn. Harrison de Arma is your grandfather. And your grandfather is the man who murdered Nathan’s mother."

Evelyn’s breath hitched. "What?"

"You didn’t know?" Rosalind tilted her head. "Interesting. Nathan really kept you in the dark."

Long after Rosalind left, Evelyn remained in the stairwell, her heart sinking like a stone.

She knew Nathan’s mother had been kidnapped and killed. But she never imagined her own grandfather was responsible.

Why hadn’t Nathan or Gregory told her?

Given Rosalind’s nature, Evelyn knew this wasn’t out of kindness. Still, she needed to hear Nathan’s side.

Her phone buzzed sharply in her pocket.

She answered, and her face paled. Without returning to her office, she sprinted out.

The hospital corridor stretched before her, sterile and silent.

A doctor stepped out of a ward just as Evelyn arrived. She rushed forward. "How is my father?"

The doctor glanced at his chart. "You’re Richard Vanderbilt’s family?"

"Yes."

"He’s stable, but he suffered a severe blow to his cervical spine. We’ll need to keep him under observation for a few days."

Once the doctor left, Evelyn pushed open the door.

Richard lay on the bed, his face drawn with exhaustion.

She approached, her voice soft. "How are you feeling, Dad?"

He managed a weak smile. "I’m fine."

Her fingers curled into fists. "What happened?"

The injury wasn’t an accident. Someone had attacked him.

Richard hesitated, his gaze dropping.

Evelyn’s patience snapped. "Dad, how long are you going to keep hiding things from me?"