Chapter 167

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair’s penthouse, illuminating the scattered scripts on her coffee table. She sighed, running a hand through her tousled auburn hair as she reread the same line for the fifth time.

Why can’t I focus?

Her phone buzzed—a message from Lillian Graves, her ever-efficient assistant.

Lillian: Don’t forget, your meeting with Preston Whitmore is in an hour. He’s expecting your final decision on the script.

Evelyn groaned. She had been avoiding this conversation for days. The role was perfect—a strong, complex female lead in a psychological thriller. But something held her back.

Her thoughts drifted to Nathan Blackwood.

Just the thought of him sent a shiver down her spine. Their last encounter had been… explosive. The way his storm-gray eyes had darkened when she’d challenged him, the way his voice had dropped to that dangerous whisper—

No. Focus.

She grabbed her coat and headed out, determined to push him from her mind.

The studio lot was bustling when she arrived. Preston Whitmore, the acclaimed director, greeted her with a warm smile.

“Evelyn, glad you could make it.” He gestured to the chair across from his desk. “So? Have you decided?”

She hesitated. “It’s a brilliant script, Preston. But I’m not sure it’s the right time for me.”

His brow furrowed. “You’re perfect for this role. What’s holding you back?”

Before she could answer, the door swung open.

Nathan stood there, his broad frame filling the doorway, his expression unreadable.

Evelyn’s breath hitched.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said smoothly, though his gaze never left hers. “Preston, we need to talk about the reshoots.”

Preston sighed. “Nathan, we’re in the middle of something—”

“It’s fine,” Evelyn cut in, standing abruptly. “We can finish this later.”

Nathan’s lips curved into a smirk as she brushed past him, but his hand shot out, catching her wrist.

“Running away again, Evelyn?” His voice was low, meant only for her.

She yanked her arm free, glaring. “I don’t run from anything.”

His smirk deepened. “Prove it.”

The challenge hung between them, electric.

Preston cleared his throat. “If you two are done?”

Nathan released her, but his gaze burned into her back as she strode out.

Outside, Evelyn exhaled sharply, her pulse racing.

Damn him.

She pulled out her phone and typed a message to Lillian.

Evelyn: Tell Preston I’ll take the role.

If Nathan thought she’d back down, he was wrong.

She was done running.

The paparazzi had been tailing Vivienne Monroe relentlessly since her show's explosive success. So when Gabriel Ramirez was escorted away by police in handcuffs, the internet erupted within minutes.

Yet with no official statements released, wild speculations ran rampant. The most popular theory? A messy love triangle gone wrong.

Claudia Bennett had been ready to call Gabriel the moment she saw those scandalous photos of Vivienne. She wanted to warn him again about that "scheming girl" who couldn't be trusted. But before she could dial, trending notifications flooded her phone.

Her beloved godson had been arrested.

Claudia immediately phoned Claire Harrison. "What in heaven's name happened to Gabriel? Did that wretched Vivienne report him? How dare she hurt my boy like this!"

Claire's voice turned arctic. "Were you aware of Gabriel's gambling addiction?"

A stunned pause. "...What?"

"Then it's none of your concern," Claire snapped. "Let me make this clear—he's my son. I won't tolerate interference in how I discipline him." The line went dead.

Claudia trembled with outrage. She'd loved Gabriel as her own for decades! How could Claire sever their bond? While Gabriel's own mother stood idle as outsiders bullied him, Claudia wouldn't.

Within the hour, she stormed into the police station with Pearson Group's top lawyer, demanding Gabriel's immediate release.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Sinclair and Nathan Blackwood stayed out of the drama. Back home, they regaled the Blackwoods with today's thrilling events. Though everyone knew the story, hearing it retold sparked fresh outrage.

Margaret shook her head. "A man who gambles is utterly undateable."

Richard nodded grimly. "When life knocks them down, they think the casino will make them kings again. But the house always wins."

Sophia exhaled shakily. "Thank heavens you intervened when you did. Who knows what might've happened?"

Evelyn grinned. "All credit to Julian—he orchestrated this perfectly."

Nathan's innocent blink made everyone stifle laughs. "Don't look at me. This was your masterplan from the start."

Evelyn found herself deeply troubled by the situation. "Mrs. Harrison wasted no time arranging the transfer of the ten million. But as for the money swindled by her mother and uncle... that's another story."

A collective sigh filled the room.

Meanwhile, online discussions had exploded into chaos.

Netizens were on edge, speculating whether the show could possibly air the next day. After all, Vivienne was still hospitalized, her condition uncertain, and the son of another key figure in the group had been arrested.

Given the circumstances, most assumed Vivienne had been the one to call the authorities. So, could she and Claire possibly maintain a cordial relationship now?

The general consensus was clear—tomorrow’s show was undoubtedly canceled.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Vivienne took to Twitter, posting a heartfelt message expressing regret for letting personal matters cloud her judgment. She reassured everyone that she was stable and recovering, promising to fulfill her commitment to the show.

The official show account quickly reposted her statement, confirming that everything would proceed as scheduled.

The internet reeled. The show was still on? And Claire was willing to share the stage?

To everyone’s shock, Claire promptly retweeted the post, affirming her dedication to their collaboration.

Netizens were baffled. Were these actresses just that professional? Bound by an unbreakable contract? Or was there more to the story than the rumors suggested?

Frenzied questions flooded social media—why had Vivienne attempted suicide? What was the real reason behind Gabriel’s arrest? But after the key players made their statements, they fell silent, refusing to elaborate further. The lack of answers only fueled the public’s desperation.

In a last-ditch effort for the truth, they turned to Evelyn’s Twitter, bombarding her with pleas.

Netizen: Evelyn, you know what really happened, don’t you?

Netizen: You’re the Justice Guardian. Did someone get exposed because of you?

Netizen: Evelyn, you’re always the first with the juiciest tea. Don’t leave us hanging—spill it!

Netizen: If you don’t tell me now, I won’t sleep tonight. I’m literally on my knees begging.

Netizen: Evelyn, Evelyn, just DM me! I swear I won’t tell a soul!

Netizen: Knowing Justice Guardian’s style, she’s definitely saving the big reveal for the live broadcast. Just wait and watch!

Netizen: You’re absolutely right.

The anticipation was unbearable.

And Evelyn? She remained silent, letting the suspense build.

After all, the best revelations were always saved for the grand finale.

The hashtag #JusticeBringerFinalVerdict skyrocketed to the top of trending searches.

Evelyn Sinclair was completely blindsided.

Who in the world had come up with such an absurd expectation?

Evelyn immediately contacted Isabelle Laurent, demanding the trending topic be taken down.

Isabelle, however, argued that organic positive attention was nothing to worry about.

Meanwhile, the Blackwood family, who had been enjoying the spectacle, struggled to suppress their laughter. But this time, the online spectators were bound to be disappointed—the drama had truly reached its conclusion, with all involved parties already taken away. Even if leaks surfaced later, they had nothing to do with the stage play.

Those in the entertainment industry with skeletons in their closets trembled in fear. Tonight, they found sleep even more elusive than the restless netizens. The mere thought of Evelyn stirring up another scandal—dragging countless others down with her unpredictable tactics—sent chills down their spines.

Cleaning up the entertainment industry was no joke. Thanks to Evelyn’s recent crusade, the industry’s atmosphere had improved drastically. Even those with questionable morals were now on their best behavior, terrified of being exposed and having their careers destroyed.

It almost felt like Evelyn held a sentencing list in her hands. The identity of her next target remained a mystery, sending waves of panic through the ranks of the industry’s most notorious figures.

Meanwhile, various individuals had been pulling strings to gather information, many of them reaching out to the Blackwoods—leaving the family torn between amusement and exasperation.

Even at the filming location, online betting pools were still active. Eventually, the director and producer discreetly approached for answers.

"Honestly, we’ve made peace with it," the producer said earnestly. "But we need a heads-up to manage public opinion in time."

Isabelle couldn’t help but laugh. "This really has nothing to do with us. We just visited a patient. And didn’t you receive the script? We’re sticking to it, I promise."

Not far away, Claire Harrison was in the middle of her makeup session when her phone rang. Her expression darkened instantly. She tapped Vivienne Monroe on the shoulder, then turned and left with her.

The director and producer exchanged nervous glances but couldn’t step away to investigate. All they could do was wait.

Genevieve Blackwood, who had been distractedly keeping Julian and Evelyn company during their makeup sessions, suddenly gasped.

Evelyn glanced up. "What happened?"

Genevieve rushed over, phone in hand. "Daniel just texted—Gabriel Ramirez has been bailed out."

Evelyn’s face paled. She immediately checked the system.

The courtroom buzzed with tension as Gabriel Ramirez stood before the judge, his expression a carefully crafted mask of remorse. His lawyer had spun a tale so audacious it made Evelyn Sinclair's blood boil.

"Your Honor, my client's actions were driven solely by his desire to reconcile with Vivienne Monroe," the defense attorney declared, voice dripping with false sincerity. "This was never about blackmail or extortion—only love."

A derisive scoff escaped Evelyn's lips before she could stop it. Beside her, Nathan Blackwood's jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening around the armrest.

"Love?" Evelyn muttered under her breath. "That's rich."

The prosecution wasn't having it either.

"Your Honor, the defendant's so-called 'love' involved threatening letters, surveillance, and a demand for five million dollars," the prosecutor countered dryly. "If that's romance, I'd hate to see his breakup strategy."

Laughter rippled through the gallery, but the judge's gavel cut it short.

Gabriel's performance was Oscar-worthy—his eyes glistening, voice cracking as he swore he'd only wanted Vivienne back. Never mind the paper trail proving otherwise. Never mind the terrified look on Vivienne's face when she'd testified earlier.

Evelyn's nails dug into her palms. She'd seen men like Gabriel before—charming, manipulative, convinced their desires justified any means.

The judge adjusted her glasses, scanning the evidence one final time. The pause stretched, suffocating.

Then—

"Mr. Ramirez, the court finds your version of events... creatively fictional."

A gasp. Gabriel's mask slipped for half a second, revealing the cold calculation beneath.

"Given the overwhelming evidence of coercion and financial demands, I rule this as attempted extortion. Bail is revoked. Sentencing will—"

Gabriel's chair screeched as he shot upright. "You can't do this! Vivienne knows I—"

"Silence!" The gavel cracked like a gunshot. "One more outburst and I'll add contempt to your charges."

As marshals hauled him away, Gabriel locked eyes with Evelyn. His whisper carried just far enough:

"This isn't over."

Nathan immediately stepped between them, his glare promising violence if Gabriel so much as blinked wrong. But Evelyn barely noticed—her focus was on Vivienne, trembling in the front row.

Because the real question wasn't whether Gabriel would face consequences.

It was whether his final threat was desperation...

Or a promise.