Chapter 9
The morning sun cast golden streaks across Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse as she paced the marble floors, her phone pressed tightly to her ear. Serena Whitmore's voice crackled through the line, urgent and unyielding.
"Evelyn, you need to get to the studio now. Nathan Blackwood just greenlit your script revisions—but there's a catch."
Evelyn's fingers tightened around her coffee cup. "What catch?"
"Victoria Hayes is already there." Serena's tone dripped with disdain. "She's convinced Preston Whitmore to reconsider your lead role."
A cold ripple shot down Evelyn's spine. Victoria had been undermining her at every turn, but this? This was outright sabotage.
Across town, Nathan Blackwood leaned against his office window, watching the city pulse below. His assistant, Lillian Graves, hovered by the door, clutching a tablet.
"Sir, the board is waiting for your decision on the Sinclair project."
Nathan exhaled sharply. Evelyn's script was brilliant—raw, emotional, everything his studio needed. But Victoria's interference complicated things.
"Tell them I'll address it personally."
Lillian hesitated. "And Ms. Hayes?"
A shadow crossed Nathan's face. "Keep her away from Evelyn."
The studio lot buzzed with tension when Evelyn arrived. Crew members scattered as she strode toward Soundstage 4, her heels clicking like a countdown. Inside, Victoria stood beside Preston Whitmore, her smirk razor-sharp.
"Ah, Evelyn. So glad you could join us." Victoria's voice oozed faux sweetness. "We were just discussing how dated your dialogue feels."
Evelyn's nails bit into her palms. "Funny. Nathan seemed to think it was groundbreaking."
Preston cleared his throat. "Let's not make this personal. Victoria raised valid concerns about marketability."
Before Evelyn could retort, the door swung open. Nathan stepped in, his presence slicing through the room like a blade.
"Enough." His gaze locked onto Victoria. "The script stays as is. Evelyn's vision is non-negotiable."
Victoria's smile faltered. "Nathan, be reasonable—"
"Leave." The single word was glacial.
As Victoria stormed out, Preston sighed. "You're making enemies, Nathan."
Nathan didn't flinch. "And you're forgetting who signs your checks."
Evelyn's breath hitched. This wasn't just professional backup—it felt like a declaration.
Later, in the studio's private lounge, Nathan handed Evelyn a whiskey. "You handled yourself well."
She took the glass, their fingers brushing. "Why did you intervene?"
His jaw tensed. "Because I don't tolerate sabotage. And because..." He trailed off, his eyes darkening.
Evelyn leaned in. "Because what?"
A beat of silence. Then—
"Because I can't stand seeing you doubt yourself."
The air between them crackled, charged with something neither dared name.
Outside, thunder rumbled—a storm brewing, just like the chaos ahead.
The Blackwood family trio froze simultaneously, as if struck by lightning. Sophia's face drained of all color.
Her greatest fear had been the possibility of not being able to adopt. But divorce? That was a curveball she never saw coming. Her first instinct was vehement denial.
The Blackwoods knew Sophia would never initiate a divorce. Despite her gentle exterior, she had a stubborn streak a mile wide. If it were up to them, they'd have pushed for separation ages ago, given Daniel's perpetual indifference toward her.
Yet when Evelyn's words hung in the air, the Blackwoods couldn't help the spark of hope that flickered to life.
Oh, how they longed to convince these two to call it quits!
Nathan, Margaret, and Richard exchanged loaded glances.
Taking the lead, Nathan voiced what they all thought: "The child's existence proves your marriage was a mistake from the start. You should divorce."
Daniel and Beatrice looked utterly gobsmacked. Their jaws practically hit the floor. In high society, illegitimate children were practically a status symbol!
When Nathan glanced at Margaret and Richard, he found them nodding in agreement.
But then Sophia, ever the disappointment, murmured, "This... this doesn't mean Daniel wronged me."
The Blackwoods' expressions fell like three disappointed emojis.
Evelyn nearly choked on her appetizer.
Sophia hung her head, the picture of dejection, mirroring little Liam beside her.
Daniel scoffed. "Exactly. If we're keeping score, I'm not the one who should be apologizing."
Though spoken softly, everyone heard. The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Sophia turned ashen, suddenly losing all interest in the adoption discussion. Someone had found her Achilles' heel.
Evelyn's gossip radar pinged loudly.
Why was the Blackwood heiress living like a doormat? And how did Daniel have the audacity to act self-righteous with a love child? Time for some mental digging.
Nathan saw the wheels turning in Evelyn's head and tried to intervene—too late.
Turns out Sophia and Daniel were university seniors. After Daniel's breakup with Adriana, he drowned his sorrows at a campus party. Sophia played caretaker... and things got messy. Wait, why does this sound familiar?
Nathan looked ready to facepalm. Have you no shame?
Evelyn's mental excavation continued.
The next morning, Adriana arrived to reconcile—only to find them in bed. Heartbroken, she vanished without a trace. When sober Daniel realized what happened, he exploded. He accused lovestruck Sophia of taking advantage, destroying his chance with Adriana forever. Then Sophia got pregnant. The Blackwoods strong-armed Daniel into marriage, leaving Sophia drowning in guilt. After losing the baby, she offered divorce—but Daniel refused. Couldn't have people thinking he'd dump a barren wife, could he? That might tarnish his precious reputation. Besides, he sneered, this mess was all Sophia's fault—she didn't get to quit.
The Blackwoods sat in stunned silence.
Watching this, Beatrice and Daniel grew smugger by the second.
"Your choice," Daniel told Sophia, his tone icy.
The illusion of free will only tightened Sophia's shackles. As she opened her mouth, Evelyn's sarcastic inner monologue cut through:
Holy crap, this guy's the king of gold-diggers! I've seen leeches before, but this takes the cake.
If Daniel had refused initially, the Blackwoods would've paid Adriana to disappear. His "noble" agreement to marry fooled everyone—until his cold neglect revealed his true colors. Turns out he'd been resenting Sophia and her family this whole time.
Now, according to Evelyn's deductions, Daniel only married to exploit Blackwood resources!
Sophia looked shell-shocked, staring at Daniel like she'd never seen him before.
This man who projected such proud independence, who acted like he didn't need Blackwood connections—was actually a parasite? The cognitive dissonance made her wonder if Evelyn was being cruel.
Evelyn's mental commentary continued:
If infertility was the real issue, divorce would solve it. All that "principle" talk is BS. Truth is, Daniel's addicted to the Blackwood gravy train. Wants all the perks with zero effort—then has the nerve to complain about the service. The audacity!
Sophia's mind reeled like a broken slot machine.
Friends had voiced suspicions before, but she'd always defended Daniel angrily.
Evelyn's thoughts intruded again: Fine, he's a mooch. But demanding his wife raise his affair baby? What kind of Stockholm syndrome does Sophia have?
The Blackwoods collectively side-eyed Sophia, their frustration palpable.
Wait—he actually told Sophia that without her, he'd be back with Adriana and their child would be legitimate? So she has no right to refuse? Jesus, years of gaslighting have turned this woman into a doormat. Self-reflection is good, but not when you're taking blame that belongs to someone else!
Sophia's eyes welled up.
Then the self-doubt crept in: Is it really all my fault?