Chapter 82

Evelyn's eyelids felt heavy as she struggled to stay awake.

"So this is why my two little troublemakers went into show business?" she mused sleepily.

Seeing Liam about to attempt another culinary creation, Evelyn reached out and ruffled his hair. "That's enough, sweetheart. Let Mommy handle the rest."

Liam eyed her skeptically. "Mommy, do you even know how to cook?"

The thought made Evelyn chuckle. The once-privileged Vanderbilt heiress turned single mother hadn't exactly grown up learning domestic skills.

"Watch and learn," she declared, tying on an apron with dramatic flair. Daisy and Liam exchanged glances as they watched her march into the kitchen, their young faces alight with anticipation.

Caleb came bounding downstairs, his stuffed dinosaur slippers slapping against the hardwood. "Liam! Are you making pancakes again?"

When he saw his siblings seated expectantly at the table, his gaze darted to the kitchen. His eyes widened comically.

"Mommy's cooking? For real?"

Evelyn emerged with plates balanced precariously on her arms. "Ta-da!" The children's synchronized "Wow!" made her grin.

Caleb blinked rapidly. "Mommy, you can actually cook?"

She winked. "What, you thought I'd poison you?"

"It's amazing!" Daisy declared through a mouthful of food, already digging in without waiting for the others. "Best breakfast ever!"

Evelyn checked her watch surreptitiously. 'Nathan should be arriving any minute now.'

Right on cue, the doorbell chimed. She smoothed her hair unconsciously before answering.

Oliver stood there with two overflowing shopping bags, his eyebrows nearly disappearing into his hairline when he saw Nathan standing casually in the foyer. "Mr. Goldmann, you're still... here?"

Then his gaze landed on the children. The bags slipped from his fingers. "What in the— there's two Liams now?"

"Triplets," Nathan supplied dryly.

Oliver's mouth fell open. 'Three? She had three at once? Holy—'

Recovering slightly, he cleared his throat. "Mr. Goldmann Sr. requested that you bring all three children to visit soon. He hasn't stopped talking about them since the gala."

Nathan's glare could have frozen lava. "You told him?"

Oliver shrunk back. "He called me directly! What was I supposed to do?"

"Leave," Nathan commanded, shutting the door in his assistant's bewildered face.

Oliver's muffled voice came through the wood. "Are you planning to live here now or—"

The door clicked shut.

"Zoe, you look exhausted." Gregory handed her a steaming mug. "Drink this. You'll need the caffeine."

"Thanks, Uncle Greg." Evelyn accepted the coffee gratefully, taking a long sip.

'If I hadn't spent the entire night making sure Nathan didn't try anything, maybe I wouldn't be this tired. Those little traitors set this whole thing up!'

Her thoughts were interrupted by raised voices outside. The door burst open before her assistant could stop the intruder.

Richard Vanderbilt stormed in, his expression thunderous. "So it's true." His gaze flicked to Gregory before returning to Evelyn. "I'll ask you once—are Nathan Goldmann's children yours?"