Chapter 61

Nathaniel rushed over with a middle-aged man carrying a medical kit. "My personal physician is here, Evelyn. Let him examine you."

'Did he just call her by her first name? I'm her husband, and I've never been that familiar.'

"No need." Nathaniel scooped Evelyn into his arms, brushing past Christopher without a second glance.

Christopher knew Evelyn would hate going to the hospital. He moved to intercept them, but Lucas stepped in his path. "Mr. Ashford, there's no need for concern. Mr. Grayson has already called for an ambulance—it's waiting outside."

'Ambulance?' Christopher's striking blue eyes narrowed as he watched Nathaniel carry Evelyn away. He stood frozen, lost in thought.

Inside the ambulance, Evelyn's face twisted in discomfort—not just from the physical pain, but from the emotional turmoil swirling inside her.

"Wow, what an honor," she muttered through gritted teeth. "I might be the first woman in the city rushed to the ER for menstrual cramps."

Nathaniel sat awkwardly beside her stretcher, his tall frame forcing him to hunch. His head kept bumping against the low ceiling.

As her designated family member, he gave her a disapproving look. "You can't be serious. How do you forget something this basic?" His tone carried the exasperation of a parent scolding a forgetful child.

Evelyn winced. "I didn't forget! It just came early this month—and it's never hurt like this before!" Her pale face flushed with frustration.

Nathaniel studied her. Men like him had zero understanding of female biology.

Seeing her ghostly complexion and sweat-drenched forehead, he reached out. His calloused palm brushed her damp hair before resting gently on her head. "At least you texted me when you felt unwell. That was... unexpectedly responsible of you."

The unexpected contact made Evelyn stiffen. The warmth of his hand felt strangely comforting—and that realization made her even more irritable.

'Like I care about your approval! This marriage is temporary anyway!'

If not for her mother's paintings, she wouldn't have gone to Christopher's exhibition at all. And the only reason she'd texted Nathaniel was because he'd demanded transparency—especially around other men.

Christopher had made his interest obvious. Benjamin had been tailing her all evening, not that she cared.

What she hadn't anticipated was the crippling pain—or Benjamin recruiting Abigail and Margaret to "catch her in the act."

Two EMTs whispered nearby, stealing glances at Nathaniel.

"God, he's gorgeous! And so attentive to his girlfriend!"

"Mine just tells me to drink hot water when I'm cramping."

"At least yours says that much. Mine ignores me completely."

Evelyn shot Nathaniel a sideways glance. 'Perfect boyfriend? More like a perfect nuisance. Someone please take him off my hands!'