Chapter 497

Was Nathan willing to gamble on this? He'd already won the bet regardless.

Evelyn would never have allowed Sadie to hurt him. If Nathan's obsessive need to cling to her was problematic, what did that make her? She wanted to let go but couldn't - wasn't that equally troubling?

The man behind her chuckled darkly. "It's not confidence. It's trust in you."

Nathan raised his palm upward, intertwining their fingers in a firm grasp. His voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm sorry, Zoe."

His tone carried the weight of genuine remorse, laced with caution. Had he not pushed her away so brutally three years ago, perhaps the accident never would have happened.

"What's the point of apologies now?"

Evelyn's eyes dulled as a bitter laugh escaped her lips. She withdrew her hand sharply, rising to put distance between them. "Father's gone. Chloe too. And we lost..." Her voice cracked. "If only I hadn't stood in that rain—"

"What child?!" Nathan's throat constricted, shock and devastation warring in his amber gaze.

Evelyn opened her mouth, then closed it. Of course he wouldn't know. She'd never gotten the chance to tell him.

Nathan surged to his feet, gripping her shoulders. "Zoe, you were pregnant?!"

The realization hit him like a physical blow.

"Why didn't you tell me?" His face drained of color.

Evelyn's lips twisted without humor. "Have you forgotten? When you announced our divorce, I came begging to see you. You refused."

Nathan's hands clenched. The words died in his throat, leaving only pressed lips and a storm gathering behind his carefully controlled expression.

The divorce announcement hadn't been his idea - but he'd known about it.

Evelyn's smile held no warmth. "I waited in the rain for over an hour. You never came."

"Zoe, I—"

"Nathan." Her calm interruption cut deeper than any shout. "I wanted to hate you. But I couldn't. I knew you weren't involved. But if you'd just been honest with me..." Her voice trailed off.

Nathan's heart lurched violently. The pain was excruciating. He hadn't known about her visit. Hadn't known about the pregnancy. Hadn't known about the hour she'd spent waiting in the storm.

Every cruel word had been calculated to make her accept the divorce. But learning about the accident? That haunted him. Letting her walk away was his greatest regret.

Sometimes the smallest decisions created seismic consequences. And this one had cost them their child.

Evelyn composed herself with visible effort. "Have Oliver contact me when you've decided about the partnership." She checked her watch. "Sadie will be worried. I should go."

She left the study without looking back. Nathan remained rooted, an immovable statue long after the door closed.

Minutes later, Oliver entered cautiously. "Mr. Goldmann?"

"Did you know she was pregnant?" Nathan's voice was raw, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the window.

Oliver hesitated, guilt flashing across his features. "Yes."

Nathan whirled, teeth bared in fury. "Why wasn't I told?!"

Oliver stiffened. Not his choice - Theodore had forbidden it. Because...

The old man had claimed the knowledge would destroy Nathan completely.