Chapter 369

Nathan approached Evelyn, finding her kneeling before her mother's gravestone with a sorrowful expression. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, his gaze fixed on the marble memorial.

"Don't worry, Mom," he murmured, his voice steady. "I'll protect Zoe with my life. Till death do us part."

Evelyn looked up, startled by his words. Nathan merely arched an eyebrow in response, his usual confident smirk playing at his lips.

As he helped her rise, Evelyn turned to face Richard. "Dad, don't you have anything to say to Mom?"

Richard hesitated, his weathered face shadowed with unspoken grief. After a long moment staring at the tombstone, he gave a bitter smile. "No need. She already knows everything in my heart."

When Evelyn returned to her design studio later, she found Chloe pacing anxiously in the hallway. "What's wrong?" Evelyn asked, catching her friend's arm.

Chloe's eyes widened with urgency. "The police investigation into Winifred's death... It wasn't suicide after all."

'So Winifred was framed - someone's sacrificial lamb.'

Evelyn showed no surprise. "I suspected as much."

"The real culprit is dead too. Suicide." Chloe's voice dropped to a whisper.

Evelyn fell silent, absorbing this new information.

Chloe continued, "We've identified him. Former training camp member who left years ago. Knew the layout perfectly. But here's the mystery - only high-level personnel could've smuggled him in." Her face darkened. "Which means we've got a traitor among the supervisors."

Meanwhile, at the administrative offices...

Rosalind approached Nathan's desk with documents in hand, summarizing the project details professionally. Nathan closed the file abruptly, his piercing gaze locking onto her.

"Was Winifred your friend?" His question cut through the air like ice.

Rosalind stiffened momentarily before schooling her features into calm indifference. "We were acquainted. Why do you ask, Nathan?"

Nathan set the documents aside, his obsidian eyes unreadable. "You were the only one who knew about Winifred's feud with Evelyn, correct?"

Her grip tightened on the files. "Of course not. The entire camp knew about their... complicated relationship."

"Winifred's dead. Her parents too." Nathan's voice remained detached. "As her acquaintance, you don't seem particularly grieved."

He never looked up as he spoke, his tone clinical.

Rosalind lowered her head. "Grief changes nothing."

Nathan's pen stilled. He finally met her gaze, his expression frigid, before signing the documents with a sharp flourish. "Dismissed. Don't disturb me again."

As Rosalind exited, her mask slipped, revealing a storm of emotions beneath.

Passing the strategy department, she overheard staff whispering: "Meryl hasn't reported to work in nearly a week, has she?"

"Rumor says she resigned," another replied.

"Resigned? Then why are her personal effects still here?"

Their eyes drifted to the conspicuously full workstation.

Rosalind hurried to her office, slamming the documents down. A thought struck her, and she hastily typed a message: [Nathan's suspicious. Evacuate Bassburgh immediately.]