Chapter 392

Evelyn sent a quick text to Oliver. Moments later, his reply buzzed through with the information she needed.

She tossed her phone onto the table, eyes sharp. "Is this the woman?"

The man glanced at the screen and nodded.

Evelyn picked up the phone, studying the image of the female employee.

Meryl Yates from the administrative department? What could she have possibly done to make Rosalind want her dead?

She turned to Nathan. "How did you figure out it was her?"

Nathan exhaled, his tone clipped. "She hasn’t shown up to work in days. It wasn’t hard to track her down."

Meryl had vanished without explanation. No calls answered, no messages returned. Her desk remained untouched, her belongings gathering dust. The department manager had reported it to Oliver, and from there, the pieces fell into place.

The man took a drag from his cigarette before speaking again. "Shane killed her. I was the one who disposed of the body. Drove it out to the woods and buried it."

Evelyn’s lips pressed into a thin line. After a long silence, she met his gaze. "Aren’t you afraid of karma?"

He scoffed. "Money keeps us alive. That’s the only rule we follow. Retribution? That’s a luxury for people who don’t have to fight just to survive."

Another drag. Another exhale of smoke.

"I won’t lie—I’ve done terrible things. I’m no saint. Maybe I’ll die in some alley one day. But as long as my brother stays safe, prison or execution doesn’t scare me."

Evelyn’s fists clenched. This man wasn’t heartless. Life had forced him into this. She could see it in the way he spoke about his brother—blood mattered more than anything.

Nathan leaned forward. "Shane was from the training camp, wasn’t he? The same batch that tried for headquarters placement."

The man hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. Shane was strong. Everyone who worked under him respected him. He was loyal to Ms. Summers—brought people he trusted into her circle. Me included."

He flicked ash from his cigarette. "At first, I didn’t know who Shane really was. Just that he had power. Later, I found out he worked for the Goldmanns. But why he followed Rosalind?" A dry laugh. "Pretty sure he was in love with her."

The cigarette burned low between his fingers. "We all saw it. The way he looked at her—different from how he treated anyone else."

Too bad Rosalind only saw him as disposable.

The city lights flickered to life outside the car window as they drove. Evelyn stared at the passing streets, lost in thought—until Nathan’s warm hand closed over hers.

"Where’d you go just now?"

He kept one hand on the wheel, eyes still on the road.

Evelyn smiled faintly. "Just thinking how your grandfather never suspected Rosalind, even after all these years."

Nathan’s jaw tightened. "She’s the Summers’ only granddaughter. That name buys forgiveness."

A beat of silence. Then Evelyn turned to him, a teasing glint in her eyes.

"You two grew up together, right? Childhood friends usually end up close. So why don’t you like her?"

If Rosalind had played her cards right—if Nathan had ever returned her feelings—Evelyn knew she wouldn’t have stood a chance.