Chapter 34

What on earth was wrong with this man?

Nathan swung the car door open with an impatient gesture. "We're not discussing this. Get in." His tone left no room for argument.

Evelyn let out an incredulous laugh. She'd encountered unreasonable women before, but never a man who behaved like this!

With a resigned sigh, she climbed into the passenger seat, her expression carefully neutral.

When Nathan demanded her address, Evelyn hesitated momentarily before responding. "Just drop me at the intersection of Oceana Drive." There was no way she'd let him see where she actually lived.

Nathan's brow furrowed slightly. "Oceana Drive? That's the beach villa district, isn't it?"

The car rolled to a stop at the designated intersection. Evelyn offered a curt "thanks" before swiftly exiting the vehicle.

Nathan didn't drive away immediately. His gaze followed her retreating figure toward the exclusive beachfront properties. That was definitely the gated villa community.

Evelyn walked purposefully through the villa gates, maintaining her pace even when passing what appeared to be her own residence without stopping.

From his vantage point outside the security perimeter, Nathan watched her silhouette disappear deeper into the compound, his expression growing tense.

Perhaps he'd been overthinking things. The coincidence seemed too unlikely - her living in the same neighborhood as those two remarkable children.

Only after Nathan's car had disappeared down the coastal road did Evelyn emerge from behind a decorative garden wall.

Had he seriously been trying to track where she lived?

"Mommy's home," Evelyn announced softly as she entered the villa.

Caleb immediately raised a finger to his lips, gesturing toward the couch where Daisy lay sleeping. "Shhh, Daisy just fell asleep."

Evelyn carefully lifted her sleeping daughter and carried her to bed. After tucking her in, she returned to find Liam placing a steaming bowl of soup on the dining table.

"Good job, big brother," she said with an appreciative smile.

Caleb clambered onto a chair, resting his chin in his hands. "Mommy, was Godmother's party fun?"

Liam rolled his eyes dramatically. "What's fun about those stuffy parties? Just a bunch of rich people sucking up to each other."

Evelyn's head snapped up. "Where did you hear language like that?"

"It's what they always say on TV," Liam replied matter-of-factly.

"Maybe you're watching too much TV," Evelyn sighed, realizing she needed to monitor their viewing habits more closely.

Caleb pouted. "But Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig are so babyish!"

Evelyn pinched the bridge of her nose. What could she say? These were the children she'd raised.

"Oh! Mommy!" Caleb suddenly remembered, bouncing in his seat. "Liam and Daisy are going to debut!"

Evelyn's spoon clattered against the bowl as she turned to Liam in shock. "You're debuting with your sister?"

"Don't worry, Mommy," Liam said with surprising maturity. "We can help earn money for the family. With school starting soon, we can pay our own tuition."

Evelyn set down her spoon with deliberate care. "Do you think I can't provide for you?"

Both boys shook their heads vigorously.

"Exactly. We don't need that kind of money!"

"Mommy," Caleb began counting on his fingers, "the villa cost $600,000. Liam and Daisy's elite school is $150,000 per year. Then there's music lessons..."

Liam picked up the thread. "Plus daily expenses, the car, your handbags, clothes, makeup - that's hundreds of thousands more."

Caleb ran out of fingers and looked up helplessly.

Evelyn opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Caleb tilted his head and stated bluntly, "Mommy, you're broke!"

Evelyn clutched her chest dramatically as if struck. Forcing a smile through the pain, she managed, "It's fine. I still have $150,000,000 left."