Chapter 121

The moment the office door clicked shut behind her, Serena’s composure cracked.

She pressed a hand to her chest, her breath coming in short, uneven gasps.

Why wasn’t it working?

She had played her part perfectly—the devoted lover, the selfless caretaker. And yet, Nathan hadn’t so much as flinched at her confession.

A cold dread settled in her stomach.

If she couldn’t break through his walls soon, everything she had worked for would crumble.

And she refused to let that happen.

Not when she was this close.

Her fingers had just brushed against the cool metal of the doorknob when the door burst open from the outside. Evelyn stumbled backward, her breath catching in her throat. When she steadied herself, her eyes met those of the man who had just entered.

A chill ran down Evelyn's spine. Damian Grant certainly hadn't expected to find her here. "Miss Cole," he said, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk she knew all too well. "What a pleasant surprise."

Evelyn forced a polite smile. "Mr. Grant."

"Leaving so soon?" Damian arched a brow, his gaze flickering over her with amusement.

"Yes, I wouldn't want to interrupt your meeting with Nathan. Enjoy your chat."

Without waiting for his response, she slipped past him and hurried down the hallway, her pulse racing. Behind her, she heard Damian's low chuckle as he stepped into the office.

Meanwhile, Sophie Bennett watched from her desk as Evelyn practically fled toward the elevators. Suspicion flickered in her eyes. After a moment, she pulled out her phone and typed a quick message, her fingers moving swiftly.

Evelyn Hartley had just settled into bed when her phone buzzed. The screen lit up with Sophie's message. A cold smile curved her lips as she read:

Mrs. Black, I saw Serena Cole bringing lunch to Mr. Black at the office today.

Evelyn replied with a simple, "Noted. Thank you, Sophie."

Sophie's response was immediate. "No need to thank me. I'll keep you updated if she shows up again."

Evelyn hesitated, then typed, "Alright." She set her phone aside and exhaled, sinking back into the pillows.

For once, she had left work on time and returned to the Grant family estate. After dinner, she had accompanied Leonard on a brief walk before retreating to her room.

Now, as the clock ticked past 10:30 PM, Nathan still hadn't returned. Evelyn frowned. She hadn't seen him since last night. Was he avoiding her? The thought made her lips twitch.

Maybe he's too embarrassed to face me.

The idea amused her, but as the hours dragged on and Nathan remained absent, she eventually drifted to sleep, the question lingering in her mind.

The next morning, she woke to an empty room. Her eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.

Fine. If he wants to play games, I can play too.

Since she had the day off, she decided to prepare a thermos of soup and visit Triumph Consortium. She was curious—would Serena be there again?

When she arrived, Evelyn strode into Nathan's office without hesitation. He was engrossed in his work and barely glanced up before snapping, "I told you, no more—" His words cut off abruptly as his gaze landed on her. His expression froze for a split second before shifting into something unreadable. He quickly looked away, pretending to focus on his laptop. "What are you doing here?"

Evelyn held up the thermos. "I brought you lunch."

"Take it away," Nathan said curtly, still refusing to meet her eyes.

Evelyn chuckled softly, about to respond, when a sharp knock sounded at the door.