Chapter 62

"Dylan, is that woman really Evelyn?" Nathan asked, his voice laced with disbelief as he struggled to process the revelation.

Serena blinked rapidly, her gaze darting between the two men before settling on Nathan, silently demanding an explanation.

"Yes," Nathan replied coolly, his tone indifferent.

An uneasy silence descended upon the room.

Dylan and Serena exchanged glances, their expressions mirroring their shock. After a tense pause, Dylan cleared his throat. "How did she lose all that weight? Plastic surgery? And that birthmark—it's completely gone?"

Nathan took a deliberate sip of his coffee before answering. "My father mentioned Evelyn's weight issues stemmed from a hormonal imbalance caused by childhood medication. As for the birthmark, it faded naturally during her second year abroad."

A sudden realization flickered in Dylan’s eyes. "At the Caldwell family gala—you knew it was her, didn’t you?"

"Obviously," Nathan said with a shrug. Despite her past appearance, Evelyn had always possessed striking bone structure. That night, he had recognized her immediately.

"No wonder!" Dylan burst out, slapping his palm against his thigh. That explained why Nathan had been so possessive, cutting off any chance of Dylan pursuing her. So, the stunning woman was Evelyn all along!

Meanwhile, Serena sat frozen, her face pale. The thought of Nathan spending another month with this breathtaking version of Evelyn sent waves of panic through her.

Her voice trembled as she locked eyes with Nathan. "Nathan… after this month, you’ll still go through with the divorce, right?"

"Obviously," Nathan answered without hesitation. Then, softening slightly, he added, "My decision to divorce her was never about her looks."

Dylan seized the opportunity to reassure Serena. "Exactly. Nathan only married her—I mean, Evelyn—to protect you. Now that you’re back together, there’s no reason for him to stay with her."

He caught himself before calling Evelyn "ugly" again—now, the word felt absurd. Turning back to Serena, he added, "Don’t worry. The divorce is happening. After that, Nathan will marry you, just like he promised."

Serena searched Nathan’s face for confirmation, but he abruptly set down his fork and stood. "I need to get back to the office. Work can’t wait." Without another word, he strode out, leaving them behind.

Serena watched him go, her stomach twisting as she bit her lip. Dylan sighed and stood as well. "Come on, let’s head back."

During the drive to the Thornton estate, Serena couldn’t contain her anxiety any longer. "Dylan… what if Nathan changes his mind now that Evelyn looks like that? What if he falls for her?"

Dylan kept his eyes on the road but smirked. "Relax. If Nathan were the type to be swayed by looks alone, would he have ever chosen you in the first place?"