Chapter 174: Nathaniel’s Discomfort

Nathaniel realized something was wrong when he began to notice Beatrice Whitmore before she announced herself.

It was not a physical presence. It was a shift in the atmosphere around Lillian.

She returned from Celestine Heights quieter than usual, thoughtful in a way that felt inward rather than guarded. Her movements slowed. Her attention drifted. She touched objects as if confirming their solidity. The change was subtle, but Nathaniel had built an empire by reading subtleties others ignored.

He did not ask at first. That restraint came naturally to him.

Instead, he watched.

Lillian stood by the window in the late afternoon, light washing over her hands as she arranged flowers delivered from Florentis Quarter. The bouquet was informal, f