Chapter 39

Evelyn's gaze flickered around the room, her expression gradually settling into something calmer.

Father took all of Mother's shares?

Why?

They were shared equity—Mother's shares. How could he just take them?

She clenched her jaw. "I don't believe you."

Nathan watched as the light in her eyes dimmed, an unexpected pang of concern tightening his chest. He had done his research on the Vanderbilts, digging into every detail of their tangled history.

He hadn’t known that Isabella, Evelyn’s mother, had been the one to co-found Viana Jewelry with Richard. He only started looking into them after Evelyn returned.

Isabella had built Viana alongside Richard, but after her death, all her shares had gone to him—not to Evelyn, her own daughter.

Vivian only had the company because Richard had handed it to her. She lacked Evelyn’s talent, her vision.

Nathan wasn’t entirely selfless in wanting Evelyn out of Viana. Maybe keeping her close would make it easier to uncover the truth.

Evelyn pulled her wrist free, her expression hardening. "Mr. Goldmann, if there’s nothing else, you may leave."

"You’ll come to me." With that, he turned and walked out.

Evelyn strode to her desk, snatched up the phone, and dialed. "Mr. Zachary? It’s Evelyn. I need to know everything about my mother’s will."

Vivian practically floated into Taylor Jewelry, expecting nothing less than red-carpet treatment.

She had no idea who Taylor Jewelry really was in Cornelia, and it showed. "I’m Mr. Goldmann’s girlfriend," she declared, chin high. "Disrespecting me means disrespecting him."

With the Goldmann name behind her, she wasn’t afraid of anyone.

"Mr. Goldmann’s influence?" A sharp, mocking laugh cut through the air. "Does that mean every fool can storm into my office using his name?"

A group of bodyguards parted, revealing an elderly woman in an emerald-green dress, seated in a wheelchair. A priceless rosewood rosary draped over her wrist.

Age hadn’t dulled her presence. Even confined to the chair, she exuded authority.

"You’re just a small jewelry company," Vivian scoffed. "Working with you is a favor."

The old woman’s lips curled into a cold smile. "Which company sent this ignorant girl? Didn’t they teach you to research before wasting my time?"

An employee whispered something in her ear. She waved him off impatiently. "Viana? Never heard of it. Throw her out."

Vivian’s face twisted. "You wouldn’t dare! I’m Nathan Goldmann’s—"

"Then bring Nathan Goldmann here," the woman snapped. "Let’s see if he dares disrespect me. Get her out of my sight!"

Security guards seized Vivian, dragging her out despite her furious protests.

Humiliated, Vivian seethed.

Evelyn had set her up. She must have known this would happen. That was why she sent her instead.

This wasn’t over. She’d make Evelyn pay.

Back at Vanderbilt Manor, Evelyn stormed inside, clutching the documents, barely sparing Laura a glance as she passed through the living room.