Chapter 549
"Let me go." Evelyn's voice was sharp as ice.
Nathan only tightened his grip.
His tone carried a dangerous edge. "Who were you having dinner with?"
The unease in his chest was suffocating. The fear of losing her was becoming unbearable.
Evelyn frowned, trying to read his expression. He spun her around, forcing her to meet his gaze. The distance between them was far too close, far beyond what she considered safe.
Her eyes were clear, cold, searching for any sign of what was wrong with him. But she found nothing unusual.
No scent of alcohol. No obvious explanation.
"It's none of your concern," she said flatly. "I don’t owe you an explanation."
Nathan’s lips curled into a humorless smile, his eyes glinting with something dark.
He already knew who she had been with. Yet, like a masochist, he wanted to hear the name from her lips—wanted to twist the knife deeper into his own chest.
"Where’s my stuff?" she demanded.
"What stuff?"
"You lied to me?"
Nathan chuckled, low and rough. He had only wanted an excuse to pull her away from that dinner. But watching her stay gone for over an hour had frayed his patience to nothing.
He reached into his car, pulled out a flash drive, and dropped it into her bag.
Evelyn shoved against him, but he didn’t budge. His gaze was heavy, unyielding.
They stood locked in a silent battle for dominance, neither willing to back down.
Then Evelyn realized—this was the real Nathan.
His promises before? Meaningless.
His attention flicked to the navy-blue gift box in her hand. A sharp, irrational pain lanced through his chest.
Without hesitation, he snatched it from her and flipped it open.
Inside lay an exquisite golden chrysanthemum.
He didn’t need to guess who had given it to her.
Evelyn reached for it, but Nathan smirked and tossed it straight into the nearest trash bin.
"Some gifts aren’t worth keeping," he said smoothly. "I’ll get you something better."
His gaze burned into her, barely restrained hunger simmering beneath the surface.
Evelyn stared back, unflinching. Then, in a voice devoid of emotion, she said, "Pick it up."
Nathan laughed, low and mocking. "You think I’d dig Preston Sinclair’s trash out for you? Dream on."
The moment the words left his mouth, Evelyn twisted his wrist with brutal precision. He barely registered the pain before she wrenched his arm to the side, nearly breaking it.
His strength surged back instantly, muscles trembling under the force of her attack. She hadn’t held back.
Her eyes were glacial as she aimed a kick at his groin. Nathan anticipated it, catching her leg before she could strike.
But Evelyn was faster. She yanked him forward by his tie, throwing him off balance—a move he never saw coming.