Chapter 958

Oliver ran out with pure joy. Preston chuckled softly and stepped aside for Evelyn. Her gaze swept across Preston's living room - warm, inviting, the kind of space that instantly put you at ease.

"Did you come to see me for something specific?"

Evelyn nodded. "Isaiah Sinclair paid me a visit—"

Preston's expression shifted. The smile froze on his lips.

She relayed Isaiah's words verbatim.

"I thought you should know. Better to be prepared."

For a heartbeat, Preston went completely still. His eyes turned icy, devoid of any warmth.

Then, just as quickly, his usual gentle smile returned. He met Evelyn's gaze.

"Thank you for telling me this. Seems I've officially become your person now."

Evelyn blinked. "You and Lucas share the same terrible sense of priorities!"

Preston's laughter held a playful glint. "Your stance is my only priority. The rest is background noise."

His fingers brushed against hers, sending an electric jolt up her arm.

"I might be in trouble this time, darling."

Evelyn stilled. This was the first glimpse of vulnerability she'd ever seen from him. "Do you need help?"

Preston's lips quirked. "Desperately."

"Name it."

"Stay by my side. That's all the motivation I'll ever need."

Evelyn rolled her eyes.

He smoothed a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Don't worry. Isaiah's out of his depth." She studied him. "Is there nothing else you want to tell me?"

Isaiah's claim about Preston angering his mother was too personal to broach directly, yet too glaring to ignore.

Preston's smile faltered. Shadows darkened his gaze.

"Isaiah lies as easily as he breathes. His greed for the Sinclair inheritance forced me out. Simple as that."

Evelyn frowned. "So you walked away willingly?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Oliver's faced too many 'accidents' since birth. My staying would've painted a bigger target on his back. My uncle lost his humanity over money." His voice turned hollow. "Back then... my parents and I weren't on speaking terms. Walking away was the cleanest solution."

"How noble. Yet your sacrifice earned you nothing but a predator still hunting you. Now he's after your overseas assets. You're really just going to let him?"

Preston's smile turned razor-sharp. "He can try. What's mine stays mine."

Wall Street hadn't bowed to him because of his last name. If Isaiah dared reach for Preston's empire, he'd lose more than just his pride.

Evelyn exhaled quietly. Maybe I imagined the tension. But he's still dodging the parental landmine.

She stood abruptly. "I've got work tonight. Why don't you go entertain Oliver?"

"Let me drive you." He reached for his coat.

"Bennett's picking me up."

Preston nodded. Leaving Oliver alone wasn't an option, or he'd have insisted.

"Does Bennett have a girlfriend?"

The question slipped out, laced with something dark. Jealousy, perhaps, that another man got to orbit Evelyn's world so effortlessly.