Chapter 157

Madam Victoria felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Isn't it rather presumptuous of me to jump to conclusions so quickly?" she murmured.

The elderly matriarch found herself genuinely perplexed.

How could this insignificant girl possibly invite Mr. Goldmann to our home? Everyone said Vivian was the one closest to him!

Lydia's nervousness stemmed from an entirely different source than Madam Victoria or Laura. From the moment Nathan Goldmann entered the room, she hadn't been able to tear her gaze away from him.

"He's breathtakingly handsome," she thought, her pulse quickening. "He makes every other man I've ever met look like peasants in comparison."

"Zoe." Richard Vanderbilt paused mid-step on the staircase, clearly startled by his daughter's unexpected appearance. After their last confrontation, he'd assumed she'd never set foot in this house again.

"I've brought Mr. Goldmann for dinner. I hope that's acceptable?" Evelyn's tone was carefully neutral as she studied her father's face. The deep lines of exhaustion and the newly prominent gray streaks in his hair shocked her.

Madam Victoria practically leaped forward before Richard could respond. "But of course! Having Mr. Goldmann grace our home is an honor for the Vanderbilt family." She immediately signaled Laura to instruct the kitchen staff to prepare additional dishes.

"Evelyn." A delicate-looking girl approached with calculated shyness, reaching for Evelyn's hand while stealing glances at Nathan. "It's been so many years. Do you still remember me?"

Evelyn remained silent, her expression blank. She genuinely didn't recognize this stranger.

Madam Victoria rushed to explain. "Lydia, your cousin hasn't visited in over a decade. How could she possibly remember you?" Turning to Evelyn, she added, "Zoe, this is your cousin Lydia. You met when you were children."

'Lydia?' Evelyn vaguely recalled a baby cousin from her childhood visits. 'She's grown into this?'

"Oh, Lydia." Evelyn's acknowledgment was cool and detached. Having experienced the Vanderbilt family's true colors firsthand, she felt no warmth toward any of them.

Throughout dinner, Madam Victoria fawned over Nathan while Lydia kept stealing glances at him, as if she'd discovered her fairy tale prince.

Laura could barely contain her agitation. She'd led Madam Victoria to believe Vivian was the one with connections to Mr. Goldmann.

"Zoe," Richard began hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper, "I'm... glad you came home for dinner."

Evelyn's fork hesitated for just a second before she continued eating. "Since the Vanderbilts made it clear I'm unwelcome, I couldn't very well keep imposing myself."

"Oh, Zoe, what nonsense!" Madam Victoria's sudden effusiveness made Evelyn's skin crawl. "You're a Vanderbilt by blood! Why would we ever turn you away?"

The blatant hypocrisy was almost too much to bear.

Evelyn lifted her gaze, meeting her grandmother's eyes directly. "Would you be saying that if Mr. Goldmann weren't sitting beside me right now?"

Madam Victoria choked on her wine. Though publicly humiliated, she couldn't risk an outburst with Nathan present.

In previous years, Richard would have slammed the table and reprimanded Evelyn for disrespect. Tonight, he remained silent.

Nathan placed a slice of prime rib on Evelyn's plate, his gaze tender. "Don't just eat pasta. You need protein too."

Watching Nathan's attentive care and the loving looks he gave Evelyn, Lydia bit her lip hard enough to leave marks. Envy and jealousy twisted in her gut. 'Why does she get someone like him?'

Madam Victoria hadn't anticipated this level of intimacy between Evelyn and Nathan. She shot Laura a venomous look, silently blaming her for the misinformation. Laura seethed internally but dared not react in front of their distinguished guest.