Chapter 379

"You were right." Nathan spoke calmly, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the steering wheel. "Our initial investigation missed crucial details. The person he was protecting is likely involved as well."

Oliver's eyes widened slightly as a memory surfaced. "Now that you mention it, there were regular deposits into his account—every few months, like clockwork."

Nathan's brow arched. "Dig deeper."

When they left the hospital, Evelyn asked Nathan to drop her off at Viana Jewelry.

The sleek black car rolled to a stop at the entrance. Just as she reached for the door handle, Nathan's fingers wrapped around her wrist, his gaze intense. "You're really moving here?"

Their eyes locked for a long moment before she blinked, a wry smile playing on her lips. "I can't keep splitting myself in half. It's exhausting."

Relief flickered across his face when he confirmed it was purely work-related. "Fine. I'll pick you up tonight."

"Deal." Evelyn stepped out.

Inside her office, she found Sophia sprawled on the couch, devouring a takeout box. The rich aroma of garlic butter shrimp filled the air.

Spotting Evelyn, Sophia feigned outrage. "You moved offices without telling me? Do you know how much I spent on a cab to track you down at ckgold?"

Evelyn eyed the shopping bags piled beside her. "And these are?"

Sophia groaned dramatically. "I got into a fight with Dad. He cut off my cards and kicked me out. I’m down to my last twenty bucks. It’s sweltering outside, so I came here for the AC."

"Ms. Hill," Evelyn crossed her arms, "didn’t I give you the keys to my old place?"

Sophia winced. "The utilities got cut off. I may have forgotten to pay the bills… for three months."

Evelyn sank into the adjacent chair. "What was the fight about this time?"

Sophia shoved the last bite of food into her mouth. "Madam Laurent and Dad are conspiring to marry me off to Lucas. Even Aunt Lydia approved it. I was the last to know." She flopped back. "If I hadn’t fought back, we’d already be registered. I’m not freeloading—I’m escaping forced matrimony."

She stared at the ceiling as if contemplating the meaning of life. "What did I do to deserve this? Marrying Lucas would shave years off my lifespan."

Evelyn smirked. "He’s objectively handsome."

Lucas, her cousin and Caleb’s piano instructor, was the golden grandson of the de Armas dynasty—a catch for any socialite. Marriage alliances were commonplace among elites, and with the Hills, Laurents, and Bouchers so deeply intertwined, Sophia had been a target from the start.

Sophia bolted upright. "Handsome? That man lives to torment me! Marrying him would be a life sentence of misery. I’d die of sheer frustration."

Evelyn laughed. "Enemies-to-lovers is a classic trope."

Sophia grabbed her phone with mock solemnity. "I think it’s time to reevaluate our friendship."