Chapter 333

Evelyn's lips curved into a gentle smile.

During her time at the training camp, Angela would occasionally bring the three little troublemakers to visit Richard. To her surprise, they had formed an unexpected bond with their grandfather - even adopting pets together.

Caleb, Liam and Daisy were playing nearby. Richard observed Evelyn sitting quietly by his bedside. "Zoe," he said softly, "don't worry about me. If you and Mr. Goldmann truly love each other, I won't stand in your way."

Evelyn bit her lower lip before responding, "Please don't concern yourself with me, Dad. Actually, I've been considering merging Soul Jewelry Studio with Viana Jewelry to create Soul Jewelry. What are your thoughts?"

Richard appeared momentarily stunned that she sought his opinion. After a brief pause, he replied, "The decision is yours. Viana was your mother's legacy. I entrusted it to you, so you have full authority."

After spending quality time with her father, Evelyn returned with the children to their villa at Blue Bay.

During dinner, Caleb scooted closer to Evelyn. "Mommy," he asked with wide eyes, "is Daddy coming home for dinner tonight?"

Daisy chimed in, "Daddy missed dinner yesterday too."

Evelyn simply lifted her gaze from her plate. "Your father has important work commitments," she explained gently. "We need to be understanding."

The trio exchanged glances but remained silent.

That evening, Evelyn sat on the edge of their beds, reading bedtime stories. Once their breathing became steady with sleep, she carefully closed the book and placed it on the nightstand. After adjusting their blankets, she quietly turned off the lights.

Instead of retiring to bed after her shower, Evelyn found herself drawn to the floor-to-ceiling windows. She gazed at the moonlit landscape, lost in thought.

Suddenly, strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her against a familiar warmth. Nathan's deep voice murmured near her ear, "Why are you still awake?"

Evelyn remained silent, her body tense.

"Zoe?" When she didn't respond, Nathan nuzzled against her neck, his breath warm against her skin.

Evelyn instinctively pulled away, catching the faint scent of alcohol. "You've been drinking?"

Nathan chuckled softly. "The CEO from Eastern Inc. hosted a dinner. I ran into an old acquaintance and had a few drinks." His hands settled on her slender waist. "Zoe, why the sudden decision to relocate your studio?"

Evelyn kept her eyes downcast. Instead of answering, she gently pushed him away. "It's late. We should sleep."

"Zoe—" Nathan tightened his grip, turning her to face him. "What's wrong?" His sharp eyes immediately detected her unusual behavior.

"Nothing," Evelyn replied tersely.

"Don't lie to me." Nathan's brow furrowed. He wasn't blind to her distress - it showed in every tense line of her body.

Finally, Evelyn met his gaze. "Nathan, if I told you my father was hospitalized because your grandfather wants to separate us, and he was beaten for interfering... would you believe me?"

Nathan's expression darkened.

After a weighted silence, he spoke carefully. "Zoe, I know my grandfather has a temper, but he would never harm innocent people."

"That's exactly what I thought." Evelyn's voice turned brittle. "If I'm Elder Master Goldmann's target, he should come after me directly. Why involve my father?"

Shrugging off his touch, Evelyn spoke with chilling calmness. "I understand your grandfather's rejection. But I can't risk my father getting hurt again." She turned away, avoiding his eyes. "We should take some time apart." Without waiting for a response, she slipped into bed, leaving Nathan standing alone in the moonlight.