Chapter 205

Whispers of the Heart

The morning sun cast golden streaks across Evelyn Sinclair's bedroom as she stretched lazily beneath her silk sheets. Her phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand, pulling her from the remnants of sleep. With a sigh, she grabbed it, blinking at the flood of notifications lighting up the screen.

Gossip alerts. Again.

Evelyn rolled her eyes but couldn’t resist tapping into the latest scandal. The headline blared:

"Nathan Blackwood Spotted Leaving Elite Club with Mystery Woman—Is Evelyn Sinclair Out of the Picture?"

Her breath hitched. A familiar ache flared in her chest, sharp and unwelcome.

Not this again.

She swiped through the grainy photos—Nathan’s tall frame unmistakable even in the dim lighting, his arm draped casually around a slender blonde. The caption speculated wildly: Could this be the end of the power couple?

Evelyn scoffed, tossing her phone onto the bed.

"Pathetic," she muttered, though her fingers twitched with the urge to pick it back up.

A knock at her door startled her.

"Evelyn?" Lillian Graves, her ever-efficient assistant, peeked in, holding a steaming cup of coffee. "You have a fitting in an hour. Preston Whitmore wants to discuss the final edits on your script afterward."

Evelyn forced a smile. "Thanks, Lillian. I’ll be ready."

As the door clicked shut, she exhaled sharply, pressing her palms to her temples.

Why does this still bother me?

She and Nathan had been over for months. Officially, at least. Yet every tabloid mention of him sent her spiraling.

Her phone buzzed again. A text from her agent, Serena Whitmore:

"Don’t react. We’ll handle it."

Evelyn groaned. Serena’s version of "handling it" usually meant a carefully crafted PR statement—cold, polished, and utterly devoid of the messy truth.

She snatched her phone, thumb hovering over Nathan’s contact.

No. Absolutely not.

But the memory of his low laugh, the way his fingers had traced idle patterns on her skin—

"Ugh!" She flopped back onto the pillows, glaring at the ceiling.

A sudden realization struck her.

The blonde in the photo? She recognized her.

Victoria Hayes. Nathan’s scheming ex-secretary.

Evelyn sat bolt upright, heart pounding.

This isn’t just gossip. This is a setup.

And if Victoria was making a move…

Evelyn’s lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.

Game on.

The elders from both families took turns introducing their younger relatives. Ethan Carter, the eldest son of the Hampton family and tonight's host, naturally took charge of entertaining the guests.

His words carried refined sophistication, his every movement exuding effortless grace. Though not as strikingly handsome as Mason Hunter, his presence was undeniably magnetic. Among the younger generation, his talents might not rival Nathan Blackwood’s, but he was still exceptional in his own right.

No wonder the Hamptons had chosen him as their heir without hesitation.

Claire, that lunatic, already has such an incredible man, yet she’s still unsatisfied. Talk about insatiable greed.

Some members of the Blackwood family were meeting Ethan for the first time, but their first impression of him was flawless. Hearing Evelyn’s silent judgment, they couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Ethan was clearly extraordinary in every way, yet Claire remained ungrateful.

Remembering the chaos Claire had caused for Mason, their gazes softened with sympathy as they looked at Ethan.

As Ethan exchanged pleasantries, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine, making him shudder.

"The ballroom for the wine tasting is ready. Please forgive any oversights—there are still a few finishing touches left. How about Mason escorts everyone inside first?"

Given Nathan and Mason’s close friendship, it was only natural for Ethan to want Mason to take care of his guest.

But when he turned, he found Mason lost in thought. Rumors swirled about his fight with his girlfriend. Though Ethan didn’t know the details, he couldn’t let Mason’s mood ruin tonight’s event.

Ethan clapped Mason on the back with a chuckle. "Mason, don’t just stand there. Go take care of your friend."

Dark circles shadowed Mason’s eyes, his energy drained. He looked like a man tormented by love.

Snapping back to reality, Mason forced himself to straighten up and led the Blackwood family toward the ballroom.

Liam Bennett and Grace Collins stayed behind with Richard and Margaret, while Ethan continued overseeing preparations.

"Darling, I still need to finish my makeup. I’ll be in the dressing room," Claire murmured, lingering close to Ethan.

Ethan gave a brief nod.

Noticing Claire wasn't walking with them and appeared only half-ready, Evelyn instantly caught on.

Oh my stars, I nearly missed the juicy drama unfolding!

The Blackwood family members, strolling into the ballroom together, immediately perked up their ears, eager to catch Evelyn's thoughts.

Violet had already arrived, but Mason had been brooding in a corner all evening, completely unaware of her presence. Perfect timing! With Violet here already, we're stuck in the opening act, it seems.

The Blackwoods exchanged startled glances.

As they stepped into the ballroom, it felt like entering an enchanted realm. Crystal chandeliers cast shimmering light over artfully arranged wine displays—each bottle, glass, and decanter placed with meticulous care. At every tasting station, a dedicated server stood ready to pour.

In one corner, musical instruments waited silently for the band to arrive and set the mood.

The Blackwoods couldn't hide their surprise, though the Bennetts misinterpreted it as awe at the venue's grandeur.

Liam and Grace swelled with pride.

Grace smiled warmly. "Ethan and Claire planned every detail themselves."

Though the decor hadn't stunned the Blackwoods, they offered polite compliments after Grace's remark. The setup was impressive, after all.

"This is our first wine-tasting event," Liam said cheerfully. "There might be hiccups, but we hope our guests enjoy themselves."

"The arrangement is exquisite," Richard remarked honestly.

"As long as it leaves an impression, that's what matters!" Liam laughed heartily.

Oh, poor Mr. Bennett. This is supposed to be the Hampton family's passion project, but their daughter-in-law is using it to humiliate their youngest son's girlfriend. Tsk, tsk, tsk. If this backfires, it'll definitely leave a lasting impression—just not the kind they want.

Hearing Evelyn's sarcastic musing, the Blackwoods turned sympathetic eyes toward Liam and Grace, who still beamed with oblivious pride. A man might hope for a virtuous wife, but Liam and Grace had no choice but to endure a daughter-in-law like Claire.

Confused by the Blackwoods' odd expressions, Liam and Grace wondered if something was amiss with the arrangements.

Once seated, Mason took the spot beside Nathan but showed none of his usual enthusiasm upon seeing his best friend. Instead, he kept glancing distractedly at his phone.

Is he waiting for Violet to text him?

The room fell into an awkward silence as Evelyn's thoughts echoed in everyone's minds. All eyes darted toward Mason, who sat stiffly in his chair.

Mason's stormy expression said it all. Three days of icy silence toward Violet, yet she hadn't made a single attempt to contact him. What did that mean?

Is she avoiding me out of guilt? Or is this some twisted game? If she cared even a little, wouldn't she at least try to explain?

The more Mason dwelled on it, the tighter his jaw clenched. The wine tasting event suddenly felt suffocating. He nearly bolted from his seat to confront Violet right then—if not for his damn pride holding him back.

Noticing Evelyn practically vibrating with curiosity beside Nathan, the man decided to indulge his wife's gossip cravings. Turning to Mason with feigned concern, Nathan asked, "You seem distracted tonight. Everything alright?"

Mason opened his mouth to vent when he caught Evelyn practically molded against Nathan's shoulder. Though pretending disinterest, her eager posture screamed spill the tea! His words died instantly.

Besides, with all the family elders present, airing dirty laundry was out of the question. "It's nothing."

That's it? Evelyn's disappointed thought rang clear. Ugh, men and their emotional constipation.

Nathan shot her an amused glance, secretly relishing her weight against him. The floral notes of her perfume made him lean closer, unwilling to disrupt their contact—until Evelyn abruptly straightened.

It's happening! Claire's talking to Violet about relationships! Is this the setup? I need to witness this drama firsthand! Her mind raced. How do I get to the second-floor powder room? What excuse would work...

The Blackwood family exchanged glances, equally invested but struggling to find plausible reasons to intrude.

Nathan's fingers twitched. Watching Evelyn's scheming expression, something flickered in his gaze. Before she could devise a plan, his thumb brushed her lower lip.

The familiar touch startled her. What's he—

"Your lipstick," Nathan murmured, wiping nonexistent smudges. Then louder, addressing Mason: "Is there somewhere my wife could freshen up?"

The perfect escape route—delivered by the man who knew exactly what game she was playing.