Chapter 38

Evelyn spun around to face her stepsister. "Are you certain about this?"

If she went alone to negotiate with Taylor Jewelry, there might still be a sliver of hope. But if Vivian accompanied her? That hope would vanish entirely.

Vivian flashed a saccharine smile. "I can't let you handle everything while I sit idle."

Evelyn suppressed a scoff. This sudden "eagerness to learn" only surfaced because Vivian wanted to impress Nathan.

"Very well."

"Zoe—" Gregory started to interject, but Evelyn had already thrust the contract into Vivian's hands.

"This contains our partnership proposal for Taylor Jewelry. I appreciate you taking this on."

Nathan's brow furrowed, his lips pressing into a thin line.

Vivian nearly vibrated with excitement. If she could secure this deal, Nathan would finally see her true worth.

This was her golden opportunity, and she wouldn't let Evelyn sabotage it.

As Evelyn walked back to her office alone, a deep voice stopped her. "You knew she'd fail with Taylor Jewelry. Why agree to let her go?"

Evelyn turned to face Nathan, her smile razor-sharp. "You were there too. Heard her volunteer, didn't you? No coercion involved."

Nathan's eyes darkened. He closed the distance between them, gripping her wrist. "Drop the act."

"Feeling protective over such a trivial matter?" Evelyn tried to wrench free but failed. Baring her teeth, she hissed, "Mr. Goldmann, if you're so concerned about her walking into a dead end, why didn't you stop her earlier?"

Silence.

She pressed on. "Since you didn't intervene then, why confront me now?"

Nathan couldn't possibly be ignorant about Taylor Jewelry's reputation. He knew Vivian would be turned away—even if she name-dropped being Nathan's girlfriend.

"What do you truly want?"

Evelyn met his gaze unflinchingly. "Viana Jewelry."

"To reclaim your mother's shares?" Nathan's voice remained eerily calm.

No point pretending. "Yes."

Nathan studied her defiant expression. A dangerous glint entered his eyes. "I can offer you something better."

"What?"

Evelyn's breath hitched. Had she misheard?

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "Something far more valuable than shares—if you relinquish your claim to Viana."

Evelyn's face hardened. "Nothing interests me except Viana's shares. Not even $150 million."

Nathan chuckled darkly. "Evelyn, be reasonable. Without my approval, those shares remain out of reach."

"So you'll actively block me?" Her voice turned glacial.

He was already shielding Vivian before their sham marriage even began. What would happen after the wedding? Vivian would probably dance on her grave.

"I don't need to lift a finger." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "But if you surrender your claim, I'll gift you a new jewelry company."

Evelyn recoiled. "You want me to hand my mother's legacy to an outsider? Why?"

"Your father already seized everything." Nathan's tone turned clinical. "Legally, Viana belongs to Richard now. Your mother is irrelevant."