Chapter 111

The golden hues of dusk painted the sky as Nathan casually leaned against the hallway wall, watching Evelyn approach. "I heard Star visited your hospital today?" he asked, his voice deceptively light.

Evelyn's eyes sparkled with genuine excitement. "She did! The entire department was buzzing about it!"

Nathan studied her reaction carefully. It was flawless—natural, unguarded. He exhaled inwardly, chiding himself for overthinking. A mere similarity in build meant nothing. Evelyn and Star couldn’t possibly be the same person.

As he fell silent, Evelyn’s smile remained steady, though her mind raced. Why had Nathan brought up Star? She forced herself to stay composed, unwilling to betray even a flicker of unease. Her thoughts drifted to an incident from last year…

Nathan’s assistant had reached out, requesting her expertise for a high-profile surgery in Askya. She had reviewed the case—routine, unremarkable. The wealthy always demanded the best for even the simplest procedures, and at the time, her reputation had been soaring. Without hesitation, she had declined.

Days later, Nathan himself had emailed her. Again, she refused.

Now, with him mentioning Star, she wondered if he had connected the dots. But his silence reassured her. Exhausted, she retired early.

Yet, hunger clawed at her in the dead of night. With a sigh, she padded downstairs to the kitchen. The fridge light flickered as she peered inside, unimpressed. Just as she was about to close it, a soft sound made her freeze.

She turned.

Adrian stood mere feet away, clad in a silk robe carelessly tied, his chest exposed. A smirk played on his lips.

"Midnight cravings, Evelyn?"

She ignored him, moving toward the cabinet where snacks were stored.

Undeterred, Adrian followed, crowding her space. "Mind grabbing something for me too?"

Evelyn didn’t dignify that with a response. She snatched a packet of cookies and shut the cabinet firmly. But when she turned, Adrian blocked her path.

Her voice was ice. "Move."

He tilted his head, feigning innocence. "So hostile. It’s just a small favor."

Her glare could have frozen lava. "Get it yourself."

Adrian’s smirk widened. "But you’re already here. Why not help me out?"

Evelyn didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped forward—fast—and drove her fist into his face.

The impact echoed. Adrian staggered back with a pained cry, clutching his nose. Without a backward glance, Evelyn strode past him.