Chapter 374

Evelyn glanced at him and murmured, "Don't worry about me. I'm not so fragile that I can't handle this."

Some people couldn't stomach bloodshed or brutality. Those with weaker constitutions might find such scenes unbearable. She might not be accustomed to it, but she could endure it.

Nathan merely smirked.

Oliver cleared his throat, and the men in black halted.

The beaten man, his nose broken and face swollen, grinned through bloodied lips. "No matter what you do to me... I won't talk. Go ahead—kill me if you dare."

One of the black-clad men approached Nathan respectfully. "Mr. Goldmann, this bastard's stubborn as a mule. We've beaten him senseless, but he refuses to name anyone else."

Nathan's icy gaze settled on the man as he replied coolly, "If he enjoys suffering so much, let's indulge him."

Nathan guided Evelyn to the couch, sat down, and leisurely accepted a glass of wine from a servant.

One of the men hesitated, glancing at Evelyn. "Sir, with Mrs. Goldmann present... if we're too ruthless..."

They worried their brutality might frighten her.

Before Nathan could respond, Evelyn smiled serenely. "It's fine. Do what you must—just don't kill him."

She added softly, "He's taken a life. Death would be too easy for him."

Nathan studied her, a faint brow raised.

The men exchanged surprised looks.

Mrs. Goldmann is far more ruthless than she appears.

One of them nodded. "Since Mrs. Goldmann has spoken, we won't hold back."

The captive snarled through gritted teeth, "F*cking cowards! Just kill me already!"

Oliver, standing nearby, lifted his foot and kicked the man square in the head.

The impact sent him crashing into the wall. He blacked out momentarily, unable to rise.

It was the first time Evelyn had seen Oliver—usually so composed—act with such ferocity.

Oliver removed his coat, slipped on brass knuckles, and stared down at the man. "Killing you now would be mercy. And you don't deserve that."

The man was battered to the brink of death, yet he never begged for mercy—as if welcoming it. From start to finish, he betrayed no one.

When the man finally stopped moving, Oliver approached Nathan. "He's unconscious."

Nathan swirled the wine in his glass, his expression dark. "Wake him."

A bucket of ice water was dumped over the man's head.

He gasped awake, his will to live shattered. His voice was a ragged whisper. "Just... end it..."

Evelyn's lashes flickered. Just as they moved to resume, she suddenly said, "Wait."

The men paused, glancing back at her. Even Oliver looked puzzled.

Nathan watched calmly as Evelyn stood and walked toward the captive.

Oliver intercepted her before she got too close. "Ms. Vanderbilt, it's best not to approach him. He might—"

"He can't hurt me with all of you here." She patted his shoulder reassuringly.

Oliver reluctantly stepped aside as Evelyn crouched before the man. "Do you have a family?"

The man's pupils dilated slightly before he clenched his jaw shut.

Silence often spoke volumes.

Evelyn nodded. "So you do." Her voice softened with something like pity. "You have people waiting for you, yet you're willing to die for some faceless employer. There are only two reasons for that: either your family's safety is being threatened... or you're protecting them from retaliation."

The man wheezed, "No..."