Chapter 147

"She hasn't changed much. Still youthful, still stunning—but her aura is entirely different now."

Nathan relayed his encounter with Evelyn to Dominic, his tone thoughtful.

"She carries herself like someone who's conquered the world. I can’t fathom how she amassed such wealth in just a few years."

Lucas slid a stack of files across the desk. "I dug deeper. Three years ago, she co-founded Apex Innovations with a partner. Their primary product? Drones."

His fingers tapped the file. "My guess? She used her father’s unfinished program and found someone to refine it. Otherwise, their sales wouldn’t be skyrocketing like this."

Dominic remained silent, his gaze fixed on his laptop screen.

Nathan exhaled. "She’s not the same Evelyn Thorne we knew four years ago—the one who seemed so vulnerable."

Lucas smirked. "Vulnerable? Hardly. She was always sharp. Remember how she drove the boss mad?"

Nathan chuckled. "True. And now? She’s practically unstoppable. Even with a price tag of a hundred and fifty million, she won’t blink."

He glanced at Dominic. "So, are you selling? She’s clearly interested."

Dominic finally looked up, his voice icy. "I’ll wait for her to come to me."

That afternoon, Julian Whitmore sat across from a young woman at an upscale restaurant, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The woman—heiress to one of the city’s most prestigious financial dynasties—sipped her tea, her gaze assessing.

"My uncle is Dominic Blackwood," Julian boasted, leaning in. "We’re practically inseparable. If we start dating, I’ll introduce you."

She arched a brow. "Then why aren’t you working at Blackwood Group?"

Julian waved a hand. "I don’t need his help. I’m building my own legacy."

She smirked. "How many girlfriends have you had?"

"Just two," he lied smoothly. "College sweetheart, then one after graduation. Been too busy for romance since."

"Do you still talk to them?"

He scoffed. "No. Once it’s over, it’s over. Even if they crawled back begging, I wouldn’t spare them a glance."

The woman nodded, seemingly pleased—until a tiny hand tugged Julian’s sleeve.

"Daddy…" A little girl with wide, tear-filled eyes stared up at him. "Don’t you want Mommy and me anymore? This lady isn’t as pretty as Mommy… and Mommy’s younger. Do you only like her because she’s rich?"

Julian froze, his blood turning to ice.

Before he could react, the woman hurled her drink in his face. "You liar!" She snatched her purse and stormed out.

Julian wiped tea from his eyes, scrambling after her—but the girl’s wail stopped him cold.

"Daddy! Don’t leave me!" Her sobs echoed through the restaurant, drawing every patron’s stare.

Julian groaned. "I’m not your father! I’m not even married! How could I have a kid your age? Stop crying!"

The moment the heiress’s car screeched away, the girl’s tears vanished.

She sniffed. "You don’t look like Daddy anyway. He’d never leave me."

Julian gaped as she wiped her nose and held out a hand. "Can I borrow your phone, mister? I lost my daddy."

Grinding his teeth, Julian handed it over.

Five minutes later, the girl—Lily—skipped out of the restaurant, pressing a Bluetooth earpiece.

"Mission accomplished, Henry," she giggled. "The Trojan’s in his phone!"