Chapter 22

The morning sun cast golden streaks across Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse as she paced the marble floors, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The call from Preston Whitmore had come in just minutes ago, and her pulse still hadn’t settled.

"Evelyn, we need to talk. It’s urgent."

Those words alone were enough to send a chill down her spine. Preston never called unless it was serious.

Her assistant, Lillian Graves, hovered by the doorway, concern etched across her features. "Everything alright?"

Evelyn exhaled sharply. "I don’t know yet."

Before she could elaborate, the elevator doors slid open, and Nathan Blackwood strode in, his tailored suit immaculate as always, though his expression was unreadable. His presence alone was enough to make the air in the room shift—charged, tense.

"You heard," Evelyn said flatly.

Nathan’s jaw tightened. "Preston called me too."

Lillian glanced between them, sensing the brewing storm. "Should I… leave?"

Evelyn shook her head. "Stay. Whatever this is, we’ll handle it together."

Nathan’s gaze darkened. "It’s about the project. There’s been a leak."

Evelyn’s stomach dropped. "What kind of leak?"

"Someone got their hands on the script revisions. The press is already spinning it as 'creative differences' between you and Donovan Sharpe."

Evelyn’s nails dug into her palms. "That’s impossible. Only a handful of people had access—"

"Exactly." Nathan’s voice was low, dangerous. "Which means someone close to us betrayed us."

A heavy silence settled over the room. Evelyn’s mind raced through the possibilities—Victoria Hayes, her ever-scheming secretary? Or perhaps Marcus Donovan, Christopher’s agent, who had been unusually interested in the project’s details lately?

Lillian cleared her throat. "What do we do now?"

Nathan’s lips curled into a cold smile. "We find out who did this. And then we make sure they regret it."

Evelyn met his gaze, a spark of determination igniting in her chest. Whoever had crossed them had no idea what they’d just unleashed.

And she was going to make sure they paid.

The moment Evelyn Sinclair stepped into the glittering ballroom, she knew something was off. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made her skin prickle. She adjusted the strap of her emerald-green gown, her gaze sweeping across the crowded room.

Nathan Blackwood stood near the grand staircase, his broad shoulders tense beneath his tailored tuxedo. His usual confident demeanor was replaced by something darker—something she couldn’t quite place.

Then she saw her.

Victoria Hayes, Nathan’s sharp-tongued secretary, stood too close to him, her crimson lips curved into a smirk as she whispered something in his ear. Evelyn’s fingers curled into fists at her sides.

Not again.

She forced herself to take a deep breath. This wasn’t the first time Victoria had tried to stake a claim on Nathan, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. But tonight felt different.

Before she could approach them, a familiar voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd.

"Evelyn, darling!" Serena Whitmore, her ever-dramatic agent, appeared beside her, clutching a champagne flute. "You look absolutely divine."

Evelyn barely managed a tight smile. "Thanks, Serena. What’s going on over there?" She nodded toward Nathan and Victoria.

Serena’s eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, you haven’t heard? Rumor has it Victoria’s been very cozy with Nathan lately. Some even say she’s the reason he canceled your last dinner date."

Evelyn’s stomach twisted. She had suspected as much, but hearing it out loud was another thing entirely.

Just then, Nathan’s gaze locked onto hers from across the room. His expression was unreadable, but the way Victoria’s hand lingered on his arm sent a clear message.

You’re not the only one in his life.

Evelyn turned away before he could see the hurt in her eyes. She wouldn’t give Victoria the satisfaction.

But as she reached for a glass of wine, a new figure stepped into her path—Vincent Holloway, the notorious playboy, his smirk as dangerous as ever.

"Evelyn," he purred, his voice dripping with false charm. "Fancy seeing you here alone."

She arched a brow. "I’m not alone, Vincent. I’m just choosing my company carefully."

His grin widened. "Then let me make this easy for you." He extended a hand. "Dance with me."

Evelyn hesitated. Glancing back at Nathan, she saw his jaw tighten as he watched them.

Good.

Maybe it was time he realized he wasn’t the only one with options.

With a slow, deliberate smile, she placed her hand in Vincent’s.

"Lead the way."

“Are they fighting?”

“But judging by Celeste’s expression, I don’t think she’s lying.”

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“Even if Vincent is despicable, he’s still the heir of the Holloway family. Why would he make up such a ridiculous story?”

“Celeste already threatened legal action. How could there be any doubt?”

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, the situation becoming more baffling by the second.

Vincent hadn’t expected Celeste to outright deny everything. His face twisted in fury. “How dare you lie to my face! No wonder you were so terrified of the Blackwoods finding out about us. You hid our relationship because you were ashamed, didn’t you? You never wanted anyone to know. Well, guess what? I won’t let you erase me that easily! Celeste, you should be grateful I’m even giving you a chance to save face. If I expose everything, you’ll have nothing left!”

Celeste didn’t flinch. Instead, she laughed, her voice dripping with disdain. “Go ahead. Say whatever you want. Let’s see who ends up humiliated.”

Her sharp gaze flicked toward Isabelle. Just as expected, her twin sister’s face paled.

“You—!” Vincent snarled.

Before the argument could escalate, Edward stepped in, gripping Celeste’s arm. His voice was low but urgent. “What’s gotten into you? Stop this nonsense. You might not care about your reputation, but the Cowells do!”

Penelope hurried forward, taking Celeste’s hand with a forced smile. “You’re ruining a perfectly good occasion. Who would ever want you if you keep acting like this? Apologize to Vincent now.”

She then turned to Daphne and her husband, her tone sickeningly sweet. “Our daughter has a bit of a temper, but she’ll grow out of it once she’s married. Please be patient with her.”

Daphne and her husband exchanged glances. Neither of them had any respect for Celeste, but Vincent’s reputation was even worse. At least they were equally matched in scandal.

“Celeste is… spirited,” Daphne said carefully. “But that’s fine. Marriage will smooth out her rough edges.”

Before the hollow pleasantries could continue, Celeste scoffed loudly.

“What, are we ignoring personal consent now? Is this the Dark Ages?” She yanked her hands free from her parents’ grasp as if breaking chains.

The room fell silent.

Celeste’s eyes burned with defiance. “If you think I’ll let you force me into this farce, you’re delusional.”

Vincent’s smirk faltered.

She wasn’t backing down.

And that changed everything.

The crowd gasped as Celeste's sharp words cut through the air like a blade.

"Well done! If you're going to act like fools, then don't pretend to understand human decency. How dare you dictate terms to me?"

The Blackwood family exchanged uneasy glances, silently agreeing that Edward and Penelope were being utterly unreasonable. Celeste had made her stance clear—she wanted nothing to do with Vincent. Yet, her parents persisted, shamelessly pushing her toward a man she despised.

The Cowell family, however, remained oblivious. Edward finally snapped, his face red with fury. "How dare you speak to us like that? You’ve grown increasingly disrespectful! Is this how you address your parents?"

Penelope’s voice trembled with feigned hurt. "You’re being irrational and ungrateful! We’re only thinking of your future. After everything Vincent has done for you, how can you refuse him? Sit down and settle this like an adult!"

Celeste let out a bitter laugh. "I am an adult. You don’t get to make my decisions anymore."

Her tone was icy, a stark contrast to her usual composed demeanor. Normally, she would humor their demands—but not this time. The Celeste standing before them now was defiant, unyielding, and it left Edward and Penelope stunned into silence.

"Have you lost your mind? We’re your parents!" Edward spluttered.

Celeste’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Funny. I was starting to think you were Isabelle’s parents, not mine."

The barb struck deep. Penelope recoiled as if slapped, while Edward’s face darkened with rage.

"Shut your mouth!"

"What nonsense are you spewing, you rebellious brat?"

Celeste didn’t flinch. "Oh? Did I hit a nerve? I’m starting to wonder if you knew all along what Isabelle did—and still chose to trap me in this farce. Disgusting."

Even the Blackwoods shifted uncomfortably, sensing the truth in her words. But Celeste was done playing the obedient daughter.

"I’ve made myself clear. I don’t know this man. Yet you’d rather trust a stranger than your own daughter. Tell me—are you trying to ruin my life?"

Nathan’s presence alone commanded silence. The moment he spoke, doubt crept into the room.

Vincent, however, wasn’t about to back down. Seeing Celeste’s defiance, he smirked and snapped his fingers. "You brought this on yourself."

The screen behind them flickered to life—revealing a series of scandalous, uncensored photos.

Gasps erupted.

There, in full view, was proof of Vincent and Celeste’s past intimacy.

"Pathetic," Vincent sneered. "I’ve had you in every way possible, and you still deny it?"

But instead of crumbling, Celeste burst into laughter.

Julian’s gaze locked onto the images, his face paling with fury. Because he knew—that wasn’t Celeste.

The expression, the posture… none of it matched. If not her, then who?

His stomach twisted before he could finish the thought.

And then, Isabelle’s voice echoed in his mind, sealing the truth with brutal finality.

There would be no rebuttal. No defense.

Only betrayal.

What a shocking revelation! Isabelle's wild side in private is something I never saw coming. How could I have ever doubted her acting skills? My deepest apologies for that. Watching how flawlessly she portrayed the innocent angel without a hint of her true mischievous nature—she absolutely deserves her status as a top-tier actress. Isabelle is nothing short of extraordinary.

When Julian was buried in filming and unavailable, she refused to sit around waiting. Instead, she sought company elsewhere, expertly finding someone equally interested in a no-strings-attached fling. She assumed they could enjoy a brief, passionate affair before parting ways, each keeping their little secret. But fate had other plans—she never expected to get tangled up with a notorious rogue.

Look at her now. Her face has gone ghostly pale. And judging by her parents' expressions, they’re completely blindsided. Oh dear. I wonder if Vincent will drop an even bigger bombshell later. If he does, the scandal will be impossible to ignore.

Evelyn smirked, thoroughly enjoying the unfolding drama. The Blackwood family members exchanged bewildered glances, their minds racing. What else could possibly come to light?

Julian, meanwhile, felt his world shattering around him. He’d isolated himself for over three months without contacting Isabelle. If this was truly Isabelle’s doing, then she must have impersonated Celeste for her escapades, letting her sister take the fall. How low could someone sink to do something so despicable?

At that moment, Julian’s mind reeled. Had he been living a lie this entire time?

"These are all fake," Celeste declared, her laughter fading into cold defiance.

"Fake? You’re not seriously suggesting these photos are doctored, are you, Celeste? You’re really—"

"The pictures are real," Celeste cut in sharply, her gaze locking onto Isabelle. "But the face isn’t mine alone. Next time, Vincent, you’d better be absolutely certain who you’re sleeping with. Just because someone claims to be a certain person doesn’t mean they actually are!"

Vincent stood frozen, his mouth slightly agape.

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Celeste’s words implied the unthinkable—that Isabelle, the Cowell family’s cherished, seemingly innocent darling, was the woman in those scandalous photos.

Even Vincent, who had seen it all, hesitated for a split second.

Meanwhile, Edward and Penelope were on the verge of losing their minds.