Chapter 95

The car ride was uncomfortably silent. Evelyn sat rigidly beside Nathan, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. Not once did she glance in his direction.

Every fiber of her being radiated disdain for the man beside her.

Nathan stole a glance at her profile. A dozen questions burned on his tongue, but the words stuck in his throat.

Reginald's private villa nestled in the secluded Moonlight Cove of Crestview, surrounded by lush mountains that created a peaceful sanctuary away from the bustling city.

"Grandfather! I'm here!"

The moment Evelyn stepped through the grand entrance, her gloomy expression transformed. Her eyes sparkled like stars, her melodic voice ringing through the halls with genuine warmth.

Beneath her cheerful exterior, Evelyn's stomach churned with anxiety about the bracelet. She'd spent days mentally preparing for this encounter with Reginald.

"Evelyn, my dear! How I've missed you!" Reginald appeared in the foyer, being wheeled in by his secretary Marcus Underwood.

The elderly man's tired eyes lit up instantly at the sight of his granddaughter-in-law. His bushy eyebrows shot up in delight.

"Where have you been hiding, girl? Have you forgotten about this old man? Don't you love me anymore?"

Reginald grasped Evelyn's hands tightly, showering her with affectionate questions while completely ignoring Nathan standing behind them.

Nathan's lips twisted in irritation.

At his grandfather's age, the man still flirted shamelessly. Nathan could only imagine what a terror Reginald must have been in his youth - probably worse than Julian Montgomery at his most outrageous.

"Grandfather, I've been swamped with work and traveling. Please forgive me for not visiting sooner." Evelyn knelt gracefully before the wheelchair, her smile softening the edges of her apology.

"How could I stay angry at you, my dear? I'm just overjoyed to see you."

Then Reginald's gaze shifted to Nathan, his expression darkening. "If not for certain blind and heartless individuals, I could see my precious granddaughter-in-law every day without all this trouble!"

Evelyn's smile became strained, her fingers nervously adjusting the bracelet on her wrist.

Nathan's face darkened like storm clouds. He should have anticipated this - another evening of being the target of his grandfather's displeasure.

"Evelyn, I've acquired a new painting I've been saving just for you to see first!" Reginald's mood shifted instantly as he eagerly led her toward the study.

"You just want me to authenticate it, don't you?" Evelyn teased, her sly smile returning.

Reginald chuckled. "You've caught me!"

Nathan followed silently, his curiosity piqued.

After three years of marriage, he kept discovering new facets of Evelyn's talents - artist, race car driver, calligrapher, designer, and now art authenticator. The breadth of her skills astonished him.

In the study, Marcus had already laid out the painting on a sandalwood table, wearing white gloves as he carefully unrolled the canvas.

"Evelyn, I just acquired this. Would you examine it for me?" Reginald's eyes shone with anticipation.

"Of course, Grandfather."

Evelyn approached the painting, magnifying glass in hand. She bent gracefully, one hand behind her back as she studied the artwork with intense concentration.

Nathan found himself smiling at her scholarly posture - a Renaissance scholar hidden beneath her modern beauty.

Reginald's gaze flickered to the bracelet on Evelyn's wrist, but his affectionate expression never wavered.

"This is Titian's Equestrian Portrait of Charles V from the Renaissance period," Evelyn announced confidently after her examination.

"Exactly right," Reginald nodded approvingly.

Nathan moved closer, intrigued despite himself.

"The brushwork and pigments match Titian's style and techniques," Evelyn continued softly, her appreciation evident. "But I'm afraid this isn't an original sixteenth-century piece. It's a remarkably skilled replica from later generations."

Nathan found himself captivated by her expertise, studying her profile with new interest.

Reginald sighed dramatically like a disappointed child. "Another mistake? Oh dear..."

Evelyn's gaze lifted unexpectedly, meeting Nathan's intense stare across the painting.