Chapter 154

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse as she lounged on her velvet chaise, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her champagne flute. Across the room, her assistant Lillian Graves hovered near the doorway, clutching a tablet bursting with notifications.

"Miss Sinclair," Lillian began hesitantly, "the media outlets are going wild with speculation about you and Mr. Blackwood after last night's gala."

Evelyn's lips curled into a knowing smirk. She could practically hear the tabloid headlines screaming about the "electric chemistry" between her and Nathan Blackwood when they'd shared that dance. The way his hand had lingered at the small of her back...

"Let them talk," Evelyn purred, taking a sip of champagne. The bubbles tickled her tongue like the thrill of a well-kept secret.

Lillian cleared her throat. "There's more. Miss Hayes has been making calls all morning to—"

"Victoria?" Evelyn's manicured nails tightened around her glass. That viper in Prada had been circling Nathan like a shark scenting blood ever since Evelyn entered the picture.

As if on cue, Evelyn's phone buzzed with an incoming message from Preston Whitmore: "Darling, you'll never guess who just booked a private lunch at Le Ciel..."

Evelyn didn't need to guess. The exclusive restaurant was Nathan's usual power lunch spot, and Victoria Hayes had been photographed there just last week. Coincidence? Hardly.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across Evelyn's face as she set down her glass. "Cancel my afternoon, Lillian. It seems I have a reservation to make."

Her mind already raced with possibilities as she strode toward her walk-in closet. The game was afoot, and Evelyn Sinclair never played to lose. Let Victoria try her little schemes—by the time Evelyn was done, Nathan Blackwood wouldn't remember the other woman's name.

The real question was: would this be a subtle maneuver or a full-frontal assault? Evelyn's fingers hovered between a sleek power suit and a knockout red dress. Decisions, decisions...

Meanwhile, her phone lit up again—this time with Nathan's name flashing across the screen. The plot, as they say, thickened.

Evelyn had never met the person in question, so she couldn't form an opinion from their perspective. At this, the Blackwoods also expressed deep regret.

Claudia, however, remained stubbornly persistent in her persuasion.

"That little witch can't keep bewitching Gabriel's heart—she needs to be ruined! I'm not in the entertainment industry, so I can't dig up dirt on her, but a girl like her must have plenty of skeletons in her closet. Investigate her, expose her on stage, just like the others before her. And make that foolish woman, Claire, open her eyes! Let her see what kind of person she’s defending. Maybe then she’ll finally listen to me!" Claudia spoke with such smug satisfaction that the Blackwood family was left speechless.

"Maybe there’s no dirt because she’s actually clean?" Sophia muttered under her breath. "The fact that she’s still standing on that stage says a lot."

Unable to hold back, Genevieve snapped, "Mrs. Bennett, have you even watched the previous episodes? It’s your precious godson who’s chasing after Vivienne. Shouldn’t you be scolding him instead of blaming the women who are just reacting to his nonsense? This is entirely his fault!"

—Having seen enough, Genevieve couldn’t stand the twisted logic of these people. How could they be so blind when it came to men?

"Sophia and Gen are right."

The two sisters exchanged smug smiles, leaving Claudia flushed with frustration.

"I won’t waste my breath on clueless children like you! Margaret, are you going to help me or not?" Claudia demanded.

Margaret’s expression turned icy. "My children have far better judgment than you."

The insult was too much for Claudia. She shot up from her seat, her pearl necklace swinging violently—instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

Just as she was about to explode, she noticed Margaret staring intently at her necklace. A mocking smirk curled on Claudia’s lips. "Oh, I see now. You’re just bitter because there are things you can never compete with me on. So you refuse to help out of sheer pettiness. How pathetic."

She tilted her chin, deliberately showcasing the pearls from every angle.

Among the elite socialites of the city, few could rival her when it came to jewelry.

Watching Claudia’s shameless preening, the Blackwoods wanted to scream—Please, stop this horror show. They didn’t dare look too closely, afraid of what their imaginations might conjure.

"Mrs. Bennett, is this necklace the only thing you have to flaunt?" Julian asked, genuinely afraid that if he stared any longer, his mind would be permanently scarred.

Claudia stiffened, both embarrassed and furious at being called out. "What kind of manners are these? Is this how your family raised you?"

Before Julian could even respond, Evelyn's voice cut through the tension. "Exactly, Julian. Your manners are lacking."

Instantly, Julian shot her a sharp glare, and the rest of the Blackwood family turned their attention toward her.

Claudia Bennett, however, had already begun to laugh, ready to add fuel to the fire—until Evelyn interrupted her. "We're in public. Do you really think it's appropriate to speak so bluntly? You're practically slapping Mrs. Harrison in the face. Pointing out others' flaws so openly is beyond presumptuous!"

Julian couldn't help but smirk, though he quickly schooled his expression into something more serious. "My apologies for overstepping," he conceded, though the amusement in his eyes was unmistakable.

The other Blackwood family members struggled to hide their smiles.

It took Claudia a moment to realize—she was being played for a fool. Fury ignited in her chest as she turned on Evelyn. "Don't think just because you've schemed your way into the Blackwood family that you're truly its lady. You're nothing but a penniless nobody. How dare you speak to me like that? Just wait—"

There were plenty of people in the room who had criticized her, but Claudia only dared to retaliate against Evelyn. In the eyes of society, Evelyn had no backing of her own—she was seen as an outsider, dependent on the Blackwoods' goodwill, someone who could be discarded at any moment.

Claudia had chosen the easiest target.

What she didn’t notice was the way the Blackwoods' expressions darkened the moment she opened her mouth.

Then, Nathan spoke.

"Mrs. Bennett."

His voice was deep, laced with a chilling edge, the kind of tone that carried unspoken threats.

Claudia froze, startled by the icy authority in his voice. She turned to face the man society hailed as the most exemplary heir of a prestigious family—only to shrink under the weight of his piercing gaze.

"You’ve insulted my wife," Nathan stated calmly. "You will apologize."

Claudia was stunned. I’m the elder here. I’ve known his mother for years. How dare he speak to me like this?

Her breath hitched as she turned to Margaret, expecting her to reprimand her son. Instead, she found not just Margaret, but the entire Blackwood family staring at her with cold disapproval. Their solidarity was unmistakable.

Claudia couldn’t comprehend it. "All I did was correct an insolent junior. Given our families' relationship, don’t I have the right?"

"Evelyn is our treasured daughter-in-law," Richard countered sharply. "Neither my wife nor I would ever dream of scolding her. What gives you the right?"

Margaret scoffed. "What’s so special about the Bennetts? If you want to throw your weight around, go home and do it there. Evelyn is the future matriarch of the Blackwood family!"

Julian's lips curled into a mocking smirk as he addressed Claudia Bennett. "Mrs. Harrison, it seems you've gravely misjudged your position in this family. Evelyn's standing surpasses even that of my siblings."

Sophia and Genevieve nodded in agreement, their expressions tight with barely restrained fury.

Evelyn stood frozen, stunned by the sudden escalation. What had started as a simple argument—one she was fully prepared to counter—had spiraled into something far more intense. Yet amidst the chaos, an unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest, comforting and foreign, like sinking into a cloud of sunlit velvet.

Under Claudia's disbelieving stare, Nathan's face remained impassive, his voice icy. "Do you intend to apologize, Mrs. Harrison?"

Claudia's frustration flared, her temper ready to snap—until Nathan spoke again, his tone cutting like winter steel. "It seems the Harrison family no longer has any interest in the land they've been so desperate to acquire."

The words struck like a physical blow.

Her comfortable lifestyle post-divorce had been sustained by the Harrisons' support. She knew exactly how vital that land was to them, and she was painfully aware of the Blackwoods' influence. If they pull out because of me…

Her response was frantic. "What are you saying? The Harrisons and your mother's family have been allies for generations! Would your grandparents approve of you threatening an elder like this?"

Nathan didn't indulge her further. "So, the hotel chain project is no longer a priority?"

The weight of his words crushed her. Her hands trembled.

Nathan gave her no room to argue, his expression unyielding, as if he were seconds from making a devastating call.

Then—

"I apologize! I apologize!" Claudia gasped.

Time was slipping away, and she had no leverage left.

Nathan paused, his gaze piercing.

To see a woman of her status reduced to this—breathless, humiliated, her eyes red with unshed tears as she bowed her head—was a stark realization.

This wasn't like my petty disputes with Margaret, she thought. Those had been battles of pride, never crossing into outright disrespect. Had I ever dared to speak to her the way I did to Evelyn, I would have faced the same consequences.

It hit her then—the Harrisons were nothing compared to the Blackwoods, a family whose power needed no announcement.

I should have seen it coming... I never should have stepped foot in this place.

.

"I—I apologize! That was out of line," she forced out through gritted teeth, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. Swallowing her pride, she managed the apology before spinning on her heel to leave. But just before the door closed behind her, she couldn’t resist throwing one last barb over her shoulder. "Margaret, consider our friendship over!"

Margaret merely arched a brow, her tone dripping with indifference. "As if I ever considered you a friend." With that, she immediately turned her attention to Evelyn, worried Claudia’s sharp words might have stung.

But what she found instead was Evelyn staring at Nathan with stars in her eyes.

Wow. Seeing the ruthless CEO up close like this… His presence is absolutely magnetic. He’s breathtaking.

Nathan, who had initially stiffened at the unexpected compliment, felt an odd warmth spread through his chest. He subtly straightened his posture, about to respond—when he caught the next thought drifting from Evelyn’s mind.

He’s so gorgeous, I can barely stop myself from rushing over and kissing him senseless!

Nathan froze. His gaze locked onto Evelyn’s, his face heating instantly.

She wants to kiss me? Right here? In front of my family? But then again… these were just her thoughts. People acted on impulse all the time. That kiss could happen any second now. And… he wasn’t sure he wanted to stop it.

The rest of the Blackwood family watched with wide eyes, barely containing their amusement. They weren’t about to miss a single second of this unexpected drama.

What do I do? I’m so nervous. Is this really happening?

Then, Evelyn stepped forward, a dazzling smile curving her lips—one that made Nathan’s breath hitch.

"Thank you!" she beamed.

Nathan blinked, confused.

She turned to the others, her expression softening. "Thank you all for standing up for me."

Then, curiosity getting the better of her, she tilted her head. "Since she struck out here, do you think she’ll try something with Vivienne next?"

The room fell into a heavy silence.

A beat passed.

Then another.

Realization dawned.

Evelyn was all talk. No action.

A few days later, Evelyn and the others joined the production team for the announcement of the upcoming performance theme.

The moment Evelyn’s group arrived, Preston and Donovan immediately made their way over.

Bracing herself for a warning to behave, Evelyn was caught off guard when Preston grinned and said, "You’re just in time. Things are about to get interesting—we’re drawing lots after the reveal."

"Oh?" Isabelle perked up.

Donovan chuckled. "Mrs. Harrison’s son just arrived. Rumor has it he’s planning a surprise proposal for Vivienne."

Evelyn and the group stood frozen in disbelief.

The sheer audacity of the situation left them speechless.

"Unbelievable," Victoria muttered under her breath, shaking her head in astonishment.

Serena crossed her arms, her lips curling into a wry smile. "I've seen my fair share of poorly planned proposals, but this? This takes the cake."

Nathan's expression darkened as he watched the scene unfold. His fingers twitched at his sides, the only outward sign of his simmering frustration.

Evelyn pressed a hand to her forehead, torn between secondhand embarrassment and genuine concern. "Who in their right mind would think this was a good idea?"

The answer came in the form of a red-faced man kneeling on one knee, holding out a ring to a visibly horrified woman.

Margaret, standing beside Evelyn, let out a soft sigh. "The last man who tried to propose without considering the woman's feelings ended up with a drink in his face."

Sophia Blackwood, ever the pragmatist, added dryly, "At least he had the decency to do it in private. This is just... spectacularly bad judgment."

Lillian Graves, Evelyn's ever-loyal assistant, leaned in with wide eyes. "Do you think he realizes how obvious this trap is? Or is he just that oblivious?"

As if on cue, the woman in question took a deliberate step back, her expression hardening. "You can't be serious."

The man blinked up at her, confusion written across his features. "But I thought—"

"You didn't think," she cut him off sharply. "That's the problem."

A collective wince went through the onlookers.

Julian Blackwood, watching from the sidelines with Marcus Donovan, shook his head. "I give him points for bravery, but negative points for common sense."

Marcus chuckled darkly. "Some people never learn."

Evelyn couldn't help but agree. The entire situation was like watching a train wreck in slow motion—horrifying yet impossible to look away from.

As the woman turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving the would-be proposer kneeling alone in the middle of the room, Evelyn felt a pang of sympathy.

Not for him, of course.

But for anyone who could walk so blindly into such an obvious trap.