Chapter 3 - A Twisted Legacy
The car pulled into the underground garage of a secure, high-rise luxury penthouse complex in the heart of the financial district. Nathan escorted Evelyn inside, his hand hovering protectively just behind her waist, never touching her uninvited but ensuring she felt his presence.
Inside the penthouse, the warmth of a modern fireplace took the edge off Evelyn's chill. Nathan immediately instructed a housekeeper to prepare a hot bath for her and laid out clean, comfortable clothes. He gave her space, retreating to his study to make a series of urgent phone calls.
An hour later, clean, dry, and wearing an oversized sweater that smelled of Nathan's cedarwood cologne, Evelyn walked into the study.
Nathan was sitting behind a massive glass desk, surrounded by lit screens displaying financial data. He looked up, his expression softening as he took in her appearance. He stood up immediately, gesturing to a leather armchair. “Sit. You need to eat something.” A tray of hot soup and tea sat on a side table.
Evelyn sat down, but she didn't touch the food. “My stepmother is going to realize I’m missing. When she can’t find me, she’ll target Noah. He’s at the St. Jude Specialized Clinic. He needs his bone marrow treatments every week, Nathan. If she cuts off the funding—”
“She can’t,” Nathan interrupted gently, stepping around the desk. He handed her a legal document. “While you were washing up, I had my legal team execute a portion of your father's contingency trust. Effective ten minutes ago, Noah’s medical bills are fully covered by Brooks International’s private medical foundation. Patricia no longer holds the financial leash over your brother’s life.”
Evelyn stared at the paper, her vision blurring with tears. For three long years, she had carried the crushing weight of Noah's survival on her shoulders, submitting to Patricia’s cruel whims just to keep her little brother breathing. To have that burden lifted in a single hour felt completely surreal.
“Why are you doing this for me?” she whispered, looking up at him. “You barely know me.”
Nathan looked down at her, his blue eyes intense and unblinking. “I knew your father. He was a man of absolute integrity, and he loved you more than life itself. And for the past three years, even while I was fighting across the world, I had investigators sending me updates on you. I watched you build your design company from scratch with zero help. I watched you protect your brother. You are the strongest woman I’ve ever seen, Evelyn. You deserve an ally.”
Before Evelyn could answer, her phone—which she had miraculously kept in her dress pocket—began to buzz violently on the desk. The screen flashed with Patricia’s name.
Nathan picked it up and handed it to her. “Put it on speaker. Let’s see what the viper has to say.”
Evelyn’s hands shook as she slid the screen to answer.
“Evelyn!” Patricia’s voice hissed through the speaker, dripping with absolute venom. “Where the hell are you? Victor is furious! Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You shattered a vintage vase, you embarrassed me, and you walked out on a multi-million-dollar merger!”
Evelyn swallowed hard, looking at Nathan, who gave her a slow, reassuring nod.
“I’m not coming back, Patricia,” Evelyn said, her voice steadier than she expected. “I know what you tried to do tonight. It’s over.”
“Over?” Patricia laughed, a cold, grating sound. “You pathetic little girl. You have nothing. If you aren't back in this hotel room in thirty minutes, I will call the hospital. I will withdraw Noah’s medical coverage immediately. Let’s see how long your precious little brother lasts without his treatments.”
“Touch his funding, Patricia, and it will be the last corporate action you ever take,” Nathan spoke up, his voice slicing through the air like a razor blade.
There was a sudden, stunned silence on the other end of the line. “Who is this?” Patricia demanded, her tone shifting from arrogant to defensive.
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“My name is Nathan Brooks,” he said, leaning over the phone. “And as of tonight, Evelyn Carter and her brother are under my protection. Enjoy your evening, Mrs. Carter. It’s one of the last free nights you have left.”
Nathan ended the call, leaving the room in a heavy, charged silence.
