Chapter 86

With those words, Evelyn strode away without waiting for Grace’s reply.

Grace stood frozen, her eyes wide as she watched Evelyn’s retreating figure. The unwavering confidence in her daughter’s stance left her speechless. This was not the Evelyn she knew—the one who used to shrink under pressure. Something had shifted, and Grace wasn’t sure how to process it.

The encounter weighed heavily on Evelyn’s mind, casting a shadow over her day. Though she had held her ground, an uneasy restlessness settled in her chest. She couldn’t shake the worry that Victor and Diana might take their frustration out on Grace for what had happened.

Meanwhile, at the Grant family estate, Nathan had barely stepped inside when Leonard summoned him to the study.

“Victor and Lila paid me a visit this morning,” Leonard began without preamble.

Nathan’s eyebrow arched slightly. “Here to complain about the incident?”

“Indeed.” Leonard leaned forward, curiosity flickering in his gaze. “What really happened?”

Nathan recounted the events with detached precision. “Both sides told different stories, so the truth is murky. Evelyn’s parents didn’t believe her. They kept pressuring her to apologize to Lila. Eventually, Evelyn lost patience and poured a bowl of soup over Lila’s hand.”

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he spoke. Last night’s Evelyn had been… unexpectedly intriguing.

Leonard caught the subtle shift in Nathan’s expression and chuckled. “I knew it. Evelyn wouldn’t act like that without reason. She must have been pushed to her limit.”

Nathan’s smirk faded into a cool mask. “You trust her that much?”

“Absolutely,” Leonard replied without hesitation. “I have a good eye for people.” He studied Nathan for a moment before asking, “And what do you think about all this?”

Nathan’s jaw tightened. “It’s none of my concern.”

Leonard gave him a pointed look. “Evelyn is your wife, Nathan. How is this not your concern? Your wife is being bullied, and you’re just going to stand by?”

A cold laugh escaped Nathan. “She made it clear she doesn’t need my help. She thinks she can handle everything on her own.” His tone dripped with sarcasm. “So, no need to worry about her.”

Leonard’s lips curved knowingly. There was more to this story—something had happened between them yesterday. He gave Nathan a long, assessing look.

Nathan stiffened under the scrutiny. “If there’s nothing else, I should go.”

“Don’t forget—dinner tomorrow. No excuses,” Leonard called after him.

Nathan paused, meeting Leonard’s gaze briefly before turning away. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the room in silence.