Chapter 419

"What's going on here?" Nathaniel's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

Evelyn and Benjamin—still arguing about whether to call emergency services—snapped their heads toward him.

Nathaniel stood motionless, his icy gaze sweeping over them from across the hallway.

"Nathaniel!"

The darkness in Amelia's eyes vanished instantly. She blinked up at him with practiced innocence and rushed forward.

"Nathaniel, I came to apologize to Evelyn for our misunderstanding, but she won't forgive me," she said, sighing dramatically.

Nathaniel barely glanced at Amelia before his attention shifted to Benjamin, then finally settled on the jacket draped over Evelyn's shoulders. His expression darkened. "Whose jacket is that?"

Evelyn hesitated.

Benjamin stiffened. "Evelyn said she was cold, so I gave her mine. She's having an allergic reaction—I wanted to call an ambulance, but she refused. Nathaniel, talk some sense into her."

Nathaniel's jaw tightened. The sight of Evelyn in another man's jacket already irritated him, but Benjamin's lingering concern—his eyes drifting too close to the plunging neckline of her dress—ignited something far more dangerous.

He strode forward, ignoring Amelia completely. With a sharp tilt of his chin, he commanded, "Take it off. Now."

"Fine."

She hadn't wanted to wear it anyway. Benjamin had practically wrestled it onto her after yanking the towel from her neck. Honestly, she'd been too focused on stopping him from dialing 911 to even notice.

Evelyn shrugged off the jacket and handed it back. Immediately, Nathaniel stripped off his own and wrapped it around her, cocooning her so tightly only her face remained visible. No one else would get another glimpse of that dress.

Benjamin accepted his jacket without protest but couldn't let it go. "Nathaniel, about the rash on her neck—"

Why is this brat still staring at her neck? Nathaniel's patience snapped.

"Not your concern," he bit out. "Adults handle their own problems. Take your sister to Samuel. I won't have him blaming me if either of you gets hurt."

He curled an arm around Evelyn's waist and steered her toward the door.

Amelia stood frozen, watching them retreat. Then, without thinking, she lunged forward. "Nathaniel, wait!"

He paused. "What?"

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Do you remember your promise?"

Nathaniel turned, his expression unreadable. After a long silence, he answered softly, "Yes. I haven't forgotten."

Amelia nodded like a child reassured. "Good. I'll be waiting."

Evelyn had no clue what they were discussing, but when she glanced back, Amelia's smile sent chills down her spine. Deliberately, Amelia placed a hand on her stomach and smirked—a silent, taunting reminder.

Then it hit her.

The scar.

Amelia had once claimed it was from a C-section. That she'd borne Nathaniel's child.