Chapter 471

The past three days had been eerily silent.

Nathan hadn't texted.

He hadn't called.

He hadn't even shown his face.

Evelyn sat by the hospital window, staring blankly at the city skyline. The sunlight streaming in did little to warm the cold knot in her chest.

Chloe placed a lunch tray on the bedside table. "The doctor says you're still weak," she said gently. "With the risk of miscarriage, you need proper rest before discharge."

Evelyn didn’t respond.

Sighing, Chloe guided her back to bed. "Mrs. Goldmann, you have to eat something. Richard went through the trouble of preparing this himself."

Evelyn’s stomach churned at the thought of food. Lately, everything made her nauseous.

But she forced a bite down.

For the baby.

She glanced at Chloe. "Thank you. For everything."

Chloe grinned. "No need for thanks. It’s my job."

Evelyn managed a small smile. "Then stop calling me Mrs. Goldmann. Evelyn is fine."

Chloe tilted her head. "How about Zoe?"

"Zoe?" Evelyn blinked, then chuckled. "Sure. If you like it."

——

That afternoon, Evelyn wandered to the hospital garden.

The benches were mostly occupied by elderly patients, their slow movements a stark contrast to her restless energy.

The sun warmed her skin, but her thoughts remained icy.

Then a shadow fell over her.

She looked up.

Adrian Boucher stood there, his golden hair catching the light.

"You look better," he remarked, smiling.

Evelyn forced a grin. "Hospital food does wonders."

They made an odd pair—him, a regal figure in his tailored coat; her, pale but still striking in her hospital gown.

An elderly woman shuffled past, pausing to squint at them. "Your wife, young man? She sick?"

Evelyn flushed.

Adrian laughed smoothly. "Just friends, ma’am."

The woman tsked. "Shame. Handsome boy like you? Better snatch him up before someone else does."

Evelyn opened her mouth, but the woman had already turned to Adrian, eyes narrowing. "You look familiar. Like that actor on TV…"

Evelyn’s pulse jumped.

Adrian didn’t wear a mask.

But he only pulled out a pair of black-framed glasses, sliding them on with practiced ease. "Ah, you mean Adrian Boucher? People say we look alike."

Evelyn bit back a laugh.

The woman nodded sagely. "My granddaughter loves him. She’d faint if she saw you."

Adrian’s lips curved. "Would she?"

He stepped closer, towering over the tiny woman. Taking her wrinkled hand, he pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "Tell her Adrian says hello."

The woman giggled like a schoolgirl.

Evelyn shook her head, hiding her smile.

Only Adrian could flirt with grandmas and get away with it.

"Since your granddaughter adores Adrian so much," Evelyn suggested, plucking the magazine from Daisy's hands, "why don't we recreate this photo?" She struck an identical pose, tilting her chin at the same angle.

Daisy gasped, clapping her hands together. "Yes! Please!"