Chapter 494

The amber glow of the desk lamp cast long shadows across Nathan Goldmann's study as he massaged his temples. The door creaked open, revealing Oliver Lawson carrying a steaming mug.

"Your chamomile tea, sir."

Three years of insomnia had left Nathan dependent on sleeping aids. The porcelain cup warmed his palms as he stared at the swirling steam.

"Should I investigate Ms. Vanderbilt's connection to Mr. Henry?" Oliver ventured. "Including... the paternity test results?"

Nathan's gaze darkened. "Unnecessary. I've pieced together her ties to the de Armas family."

The puzzle had become clear - why Edmund Lincoln had served Miranda de Arma all those years, why he'd protected Evelyn so fiercely.

Nathan tapped a white pill onto his palm but hesitated. Oliver observed his employer closely. "Ms. Vanderbilt provoked Reginald immediately upon arriving in Stoslo. Her appearance at Mr. Donovan's gala tonight was clearly strategic."

An enigmatic smile played on Nathan's lips. "Neither of them anticipated I'd already secured Wesley Donovan's allegiance."

Not just Reginald, but Mr. Henry would be blindsided too. The realization warmed Nathan more than the tea. He swallowed the pill dry, anticipation for their inevitable reunion acting as stronger sedative than any pharmaceutical.

Across the city, Evelyn Vanderbilt tossed in her silk sheets. Sleep proved elusive as Nathan's image haunted her behind closed eyelids. She flung off the covers and padded to the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Moonlight sculpted her silhouette in silver as she pressed her forehead against the cool glass. Her phone chimed with a message from Sebastian - it would be evening in Morwich now.

[Heard someone beat you to Wesley Donovan?]

Evelyn smirked. Sadie had obviously briefed him. [Disappointed?] she typed back.

[You've done remarkably well given the circumstances.] His response carried unexpected warmth. [Reginald failed too. The game continues.]

Another message followed: [My team's closing in on your grandfather's location. Get some rest - I prefer my daughters without panda eyes.]

Evelyn's laughter died as quickly as it came. She gazed at the fog-smudged moon, wondering what life might've been had fate dealt different cards.

Meanwhile, Nathan's phone buzzed with an unknown caller ID. He answered on the first ring, voice rough with anticipation. "Hello?"

Evelyn's grip tightened around her device. That voice - unchanged after all these years. She'd dialed his old number on impulse, never expecting...

"Dammit," she muttered. Of all the things to remember perfectly.

"Knew you'd call," Nathan murmured after her prolonged silence, amusement coloring his tone.

Evelyn's teeth grazed her lower lip. "How'd you know it was me, Mr. Goldmann?" She'd changed numbers twice since they'd last spoken.

"Intuition," came the simple reply. Three years of keeping the same contact information, three years of waiting for this moment.

Evelyn exhaled through her nose. "About your partnership proposal - what's your angle?"

"Let's discuss it in person," Nathan countered smoothly.

Following his coordinates, Evelyn arrived at East Ind Vi with Sadie and two armored escorts. The moon hung low over the industrial district, painting the warehouses in monochrome. Somewhere in the shadows, Nathan Goldmann waited.