Chapter 295

"Do you think I'm pathetic? A fool? Laughable?" Nathan's voice was raw, his lips twisting into a shattered, bitter smile.

Julian shook his head slowly. "No, Nathan. I'm your best friend—your brother. No matter what happens, I'd never mock you. I just... feel sorrow for you."

"Regret." Nathan squeezed his bloodshot eyes shut, ruthlessly shredding every memory tied to Evelyn in his mind until nothing remained—not even a trace.

"There's nothing to regret. I was blind. I deserve this," Nathan exhaled sharply.

"No, that's not true." Julian sighed, his voice heavy with sympathy. "It was those three years of marriage. Maybe you could've loved her if not for Victoria. You could've been happy instead of at war with each other. Don't you think?"

"Could've been happy." Nathan froze, his dark eyes glazing over momentarily.

"Nathan, can we not get divorced?"

"Because I love you."

A piercing ring echoed in his ears as he clutched his head, pain lancing through him. He staggered, bracing himself against the wall. Suffocation clawed at his throat.

Back then, Evelyn had begged him through tears not to end their marriage. He'd thought it was desperation—her clinging to a cage she'd built, refusing to let him go.

Only now did he understand.

Evelyn had never meant to trap him. The first time she confessed her love, she'd hoped to nurture it. She knew he'd never loved her.

She had fought to keep him because she feared that after the divorce, she wouldn't even have the right to love him anymore.

Julian interrupted his spiraling thoughts. "That child was already three or four years old. That means while Victoria was in Silvercrest, she was secretly with another man."

He continued, voice edged with disdain, "But if I recall correctly, she was still clinging to you back then—making you believe she adored you, that she was suffering abroad, waiting for you. In reality, she was anything but idle behind your back."

Nathan's chest tightened, agony wracking his body until even breathing felt like a struggle.

"Victoria always had men around her. You were just one of them," Julian said, his gaze piercing. "But in Evelyn's heart, it was always you. Do you remember that night you went to her house in the storm? Do you know what she told me?"

Nathan stared at him, sweat beading on his forehead.

"I tried to confess to her. She rejected me." Julian's smile was bitter. When had he ever humbled himself like that for a woman? "She said if it wasn't Nathan, she wouldn't love anyone. Without you, she wouldn't love anyone else."

Nathan's pupils constricted. Every organ in his body felt like it was being carved open by a blade, pain searing through every nerve.

Evelyn, you said you wouldn't love anyone else without me. But we've been apart for over three years. Did I appear in your life much earlier than that?

Why?

Why?!

Evelyn, I need you to give me an answer!

Just then, his phone vibrated violently in his hand. Trembling, he pulled it out—Marcus was calling. Fear spiked through him. Had something happened to Reginald?

"Marcus, is Grandfather alright?"

"Young Master Nathan! Old Master Reginald has suffered a stroke! Come to Crestview Hospital immediately!" Marcus's voice was urgent.

"What?!" Nathan's heart lurched.

Marcus quickly added, "Don't panic. He's been stabilized and moved to a VIP ward. His condition is under control now."

Relief was short-lived as Marcus continued, voice thick with emotion, "If it weren't for Ms. Kingsley's emergency first aid, we might not have bought enough time for the doctors to save him. Without her... he could've been in grave danger!"

Nathan's face burned with shame, as if he'd been slapped repeatedly.