Chapter 139

Nathaniel's gaze sharpened. "You know the owner well?"

Evelyn nodded. "Yeah. We used to come here for dinner all the time."

"We?"

"Mm-hmm. My friends and I."

A memory flickered in his mind—the owner mentioning he was better-looking than the last guy Evelyn had brought here. Did that mean she made a habit of bringing guys around? Who were they?

Nathaniel's brow furrowed. "Friends? Or exes?"

Evelyn answered honestly. "Nope. Never had a boyfriend before, so no exes. Just classmates and childhood friends."

His dark eyes darkened further. "Classmates? The one who gave you his button?"

"No, not him," Evelyn replied automatically, then froze. "Wait. How do you know about the button?"

Nathaniel's expression turned icy. "Unfortunately, I was there to witness it."

Evelyn thought back—graduation day, walking with Nathaniel when a junior had stopped her in the hallway, asking to talk.

Ah. So he saw that.

"He was just a junior. We barely talk. The button was just a friendship thing. Honestly, I didn’t even know gifting buttons was a trend until he did it."

A flicker of amusement crossed Nathaniel's face. "So you don’t know what it means?"

Evelyn blinked. "There’s a meaning?" She grabbed her phone. "Let me check—"

Nathaniel caught her wrist before she could search. "Don’t bother. It’s not important. Finish eating. We’re leaving."

"…Okay."

His odd behavior puzzled her, but she shrugged it off and focused on her meal.

By the time she finished, she was stuffed. The day’s stress—Cassandra’s torment, the hunger—had made her eat more than usual. Her stomach felt like a balloon.

She gripped the table to stand, but Nathaniel extended his hand.

Evelyn hesitated, then took it. His grip was firm, calloused but careful, holding her just tight enough that she couldn’t pull away.

"Thanks," she murmured, trying to slip free, but Nathaniel kept hold, leading her toward the car.

Flustered, she protested, "Wait! I haven’t paid!"

Nathaniel signaled Lucas, who handled the bill.

Evelyn’s pulse fluttered as Nathaniel’s hand stayed wrapped around hers. Warm. Secure. Unyielding.

"Look at that guy—so handsome! Picking up his girlfriend?"

"Ugh, lucky her. He’s gorgeous and attentive?"

Evelyn ignored the whispers, but her cheeks burned.