Chapter 254

Nathan froze.

Evelyn turned slowly, her icy gaze cutting through him like a blade. The indifference in her eyes made him feel like a complete stranger.

Standing mere steps away, Nathan's body locked in place. Seeing Evelyn with Alexander Whitmore tore at his insides. His tall frame trembled violently, as if he'd been pushed from a skyscraper's edge.

His lips pressed into a thin line. Then he noticed the bandage wrapped around Evelyn's forearm. His chest constricted, legs moving instinctively toward her.

"Your arm—"

Evelyn recoiled like he carried the plague. Alexander immediately positioned himself as a human shield between them.

Nathan's throat closed up. The two men's gazes clashed, electricity crackling in the charged silence.

"I won't let what happened at Velvet Lounge repeat itself." Alexander adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, eyes darkening dangerously. "You stole her from me once. Do you really think I'd allow it again?"

"Who exactly are you to her?" Nathan's voice dropped to subzero temperatures. After being deceived by the Kingsley brothers, he couldn't shake the suspicion that this man might be another of Harrison's hidden sons.

But the way Alexander looked at Evelyn—that wasn't brotherly affection. That was raw, undisguised desire.

"Someone far more important than you'll ever be." Evelyn's voice sliced through the tension like a scalpel.

Alexander glanced back at her, lips curling in satisfaction.

"Mr. Blackwood," Evelyn continued, each word dripping with disdain, "didn't I make myself perfectly clear at the karaoke bar? Your persistence is becoming pathetic."

Nathan's eyes burned crimson. "Evelyn, are you truly this naive? Getting drunk with a stranger—"

"Spare me your concern," she cut him off with a scoff. "Your hypocrisy makes me sick. I've already vomited once tonight—don't make me repeat the experience."

Each word struck like a physical blow. Nathan's pale lips parted, unleashing the jealousy festering in his chest.

The day's events had left him emotionally gutted. His pounding headache blurred his vision, pushing him toward complete collapse.

Why? Why couldn't he let go after the divorce?

Did he actually regret it?

The questions spiraled endlessly in his mind.

Had he been wrong from the very beginning?

"Mr. Blackwood!" Oliver Sinclair came rushing down the hallway. "Ms. Sterling—she's stabilized!"

The secretary's timing couldn't have been worse. By the time he noticed Evelyn's presence, the damage was done.

Taking in the tense atmosphere, Oliver wished he could vanish.

Alexander's smirk returned. "Ah, so you already have a partner. Yet here you are, harassing Ms. Kingsley? How very... modern of you."

Nathan's expression darkened while Oliver stood frozen.

Evelyn's eyes widened slightly. He knows my real name?

"Since you're divorced," Alexander continued coldly, "the decent thing would be to leave her alone. If you can't be a good husband, at least try being a decent human being."

"How dare—" Oliver stepped forward angrily.

"Enough." Evelyn cut in sharply. "Let's go."

Alexander immediately softened, falling into step beside her like an obedient shadow.

Nathan watched the striking pair disappear around the corner. His heart stuttered, blood turning to ice in his veins.