Chapter 430

A gunshot cracked through the air, sharp and sudden.

The bullet struck Nathan's back with a sickening thud.

Evelyn froze, her breath catching in her throat.

His face, usually so composed, softened under the dim light. The fire in his eyes dimmed, fading like embers in the wind.

His fingers trembled as he reached for her cheek, brushing away a stray tear. A faint smile touched his lips. "Zoe... don't worry. I—"

He leaned in, his breath warm against her skin—

Then his body went slack, collapsing against her like a puppet with its strings severed.

Evelyn barely caught him, her hands shaking. Blood seeped through his shirt, staining her fingers.

Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. She clutched him tighter, her voice breaking. "No! Nathan, stay awake! Look at me—don't you dare leave me!"

By the time Oliver and Chloe arrived with the police, the scene was chaos.

Evelyn knelt on the ground, cradling Nathan's limp form, her sobs raw and desperate.

"Mr. Goldmann—!" Oliver's voice was thick with shock.

The ambulance screeched to a halt. Inside, Evelyn gripped Nathan's icy hand, pressing it between hers as if she could will warmth back into him.

The medical team worked frantically, but the blood wouldn't stop.

Her entire body trembled.

At the hospital, Nathan was rushed into surgery. The doors slammed shut, leaving Evelyn standing there, hollow.

Her legs gave out. She slid down the wall, arms wrapped around herself.

"Mrs. Goldmann—" Chloe reached for her, but Oliver held her back.

There were no words.

Edmund arrived soon after, his face grim. After speaking with Oliver, he approached Evelyn, crouching in front of her.

"Zoe," he said gently, "Nathan is strong. He'll pull through."

She shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "It should've been me."

Edmund exhaled, steadying her shoulders. "He chose to protect you. Don't waste that by falling apart now."

He helped her up, guiding her to a bench. His jacket settled over her shoulders, heavy with the scent of cedar.

"Wouldn't want him waking up to see you like this, would we?"

She managed a weak smile.

Then the surgeon emerged.

Evelyn shot to her feet, heart pounding. "How is he?"

The doctor hesitated. "His condition is... complicated. But we're doing everything we can."

She grabbed his arm, nails digging in. "Promise me he'll live."

The doctor met her gaze. "We won't let him go."

Nathan survived—but barely.

The ICU kept him under strict observation, allowing only brief visits.

Every day, Evelyn stood outside that glass, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. The ventilator hissed, a cruel reminder of his fragility.

She traced the lines of the ECG, counting each heartbeat like a prayer.

As long as it kept going, so would she.

When she stepped out this time, Edmund was speaking with the doctor. His expression was unreadable.

Her stomach twisted.

Something was wrong.