Chapter 261

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. She lounged on her velvet chaise, sipping her matcha latte with deliberate calm, though her mind was anything but quiet.

Ever since she'd discovered her uncanny ability to hear others' thoughts—specifically, the juiciest, most scandalous ones—life had become infinitely more entertaining. And today, the mental chatter around her was particularly delicious.

Across the room, her assistant Lillian Graves fidgeted with a stack of contracts, her mind screaming: Oh my god, did Preston Whitmore really just fire Seraphina Delacroix mid-shoot? And after she showed up three hours late smelling like tequila?

Evelyn's lips curled. Now that's a headline waiting to happen.

Her phone buzzed—a text from Nathan Blackwood, her ridiculously handsome, infuriatingly enigmatic business rival (and, if she were honest with herself, the man who haunted her dreams).

Nathan: Meeting at 3. Don’t be late.

She rolled her eyes. His thoughts, unfortunately, were the one thing her ability couldn’t penetrate—a fact that drove her mad with curiosity. What was he hiding behind that perfectly sculpted jawline and those piercing gray eyes?

Then, like a gift from the gossip gods, her agent Serena Whitmore burst in, her mind a whirlwind of chaos: I can’t believe Vanessa Sterling had the nerve to show up at Harrison Montgomery’s premiere with his WIFE in the front row. The audacity!

Evelyn nearly choked on her latte. This, she thought gleefully, is going to be a spectacular day.

Nathan's expression shifted abruptly. "What nonsense are you talking about? I was merely looking for Lucas to discuss business matters. You're letting your imagination run wild. Do you seriously believe you possess some kind of supernatural ability? Hahaha."

"Hahaha." Evelyn forced an awkward laugh, making the moment unbearably comical.

A muscle twitched at the corner of Lucas's mouth. He suddenly recalled that Nathan was also entangled in a scandal of his own.

No one would have guessed that Nathan had been secretly pining for Beatrice for years, yet she was about to marry Caleb.

Nathan wasn’t the type to lack courage, which made Lucas wonder why he had never pursued the woman he’d loved for so long.

Lucas supposed it wasn’t surprising that Evelyn teased Nathan like this. Even he had questioned whether Nathan, too afraid to confess his feelings, was grasping at straws—hoping that some mystical force might intervene.

But judging by how Nathan swiftly deflected the conversation, it was clear his moment of desperation had passed.

Evelyn thought the same, so she didn’t press further. There was no real conflict—just a little playful mockery at Nathan’s expense.

The incident was quickly forgotten. Soon after, Evelyn and Lucas got into the car and drove off.

The entire ride, Evelyn chattered excitedly. The situation had been too bizarre to ignore. Lucas, ever the patient listener, let her ramble to her heart’s content.

"You know what? I should share this with the group," Evelyn said, pulling out her phone to send a message to The Quirks Chat.

The group was always hungry for scandalous updates.

In fact, a few days prior, two members of the Blackwood family had already left town.

Julian and Marcus had finally wrapped up their business in the entertainment industry and flown overseas.

Genevieve had also departed, heading abroad for her arts academy.

Still, the Blackwood family gossip group remained lively. The only downside was that they couldn’t enjoy the drama in person, leaving everyone feeling a little lonely.

This time, even Julian—who was thousands of miles away—couldn’t resist teasing, texting:

Evelyn, you really do have a knack for stumbling into these situations. There must be some cosmic force at play here.

Sophia replied: Absolutely. Who knows where you’d be without it?

Julian: Touche.

Boohoo. Ho

I wish I could be home right now, witnessing the drama unfold firsthand.

Margaret: Ah, we stay-at-home folks never get to enjoy the juicy gossip. The younger generation is leaving us behind in their exciting lives.

Richard: I feel the same way.

Evelyn could only respond with a comforting hug emoji.

When she returned home, the rest of the family was still gathered in the living room, deep in discussion.

Clearly, the news had already spread like wildfire—everyone knew except Evelyn.

Seated on the plush carpet, Theodore glanced up from his tablet. "Evelyn, you're trending online. Everyone's talking about you."

Evelyn blinked in amusement, shaking her head. Human nature never changes—gossip is irresistible, even to kids.

Before she could check her phone, her screen lit up with an incoming call from Isabelle.

Of course, Isabelle always had a sixth sense for breaking news.

Evelyn sighed dramatically. Why am I always the one blamed when we're all gossiping together?

Isabelle teased her mercilessly, saying that even though Evelyn had stepped away from the spotlight, her legend lived on. Her fanbase was growing, and every single one of them was fiercely loyal.

Some might say Evelyn was the first celebrity in the industry who constantly courted controversy yet always emerged unscathed—earning her the unofficial title of Gossip Queen.

Naturally, not everyone was pleased. Some accused her of manipulating the media, using insider knowledge from her investigations into high-society scandals to craft her own narrative.

But Evelyn couldn’t care less. She was too busy scrolling through her feed, thoroughly entertained.

After a warm shower, she slipped into her silk pajamas and sprawled across her bed, still engrossed in the online chatter.

Then—knock, knock.

Evelyn knew it was Nathan, coming to say goodnight.

Instantly, she set her phone aside and scrambled off the bed, rushing to the door.

When she opened it, there he stood—dressed in matching sleepwear, his dark eyes soft with affection.

The moment their gazes met, Evelyn’s pulse stuttered, her heartbeat betraying her calm facade.

But Nathan’s was worse. His breath hitched as he opened his mouth to speak—

Nathan didn't bid her goodnight as he usually did.

In the span of a few eerily silent seconds, a flush crept from his neck to his cheeks, staining them a deep pink.

Then, abruptly, he spoke.

"You wanted a hug, didn’t you?"

To Evelyn’s astonishment, he spread his arms wide, his robe parting slightly to reveal the sculpted planes of his chest.

She froze, momentarily speechless.

Nathan’s breath hitched. A thread of vulnerability laced his voice as he murmured, "You don’t want to hold me anymore?"

Only then did Evelyn remember—back at the pool, he had promised she could embrace him once they returned home.

Her pulse spiked as her gaze flickered over him. The way the robe draped over his frame was just as alluring as when he had been shirtless in the water, or when he’d slipped into that fitted short-sleeved shirt afterward.

Under her lingering scrutiny, Nathan found it impossible to relax.

At that very moment, the Blackwoods, who had been on the verge of sleep, perked up. Oh? Something interesting is happening.

Desire curled low in Evelyn’s stomach. Boldness begets reward. If he’s offering himself up so willingly, why shouldn’t I take advantage?

A wicked thought struck her. Maybe I can push it further.

Outwardly, Nathan remained composed.

Internally, his mind raced. Bolder? Does she mean… a kiss?

Evelyn tilted her chin up. "Actually, I want to sleep while holding you."

Nathan’s pupils dilated, his body temperature spiking. His voice roughened instantly. "What?"

Realizing the implication, Evelyn hastily clarified, "Just holding. Nothing more."

She recalled the pool—how safe and warm she had felt in his arms, how effortlessly she had relaxed. I’ve never shared a bed with anyone before. Wouldn’t it be nice to try?

It’s not like I’m lusting after him. Or that I want to wake up to his unfairly handsome face. Or that I’m seizing this chance for some shameless skinship.

We’re testing the waters of a relationship, after all. Sharing a bed is part of that, isn’t it?

Besides, I won’t do anything to him. His precious innocence will remain intact.

Evelyn mentally justified her craving, oblivious to Nathan’s internal struggle.

He watched her, torn between amusement and desperation.

He would give her anything—everything—if she asked. Yet here she was, bold enough to demand his embrace but skittish at the thought of crossing an invisible line.

It was as if she could act recklessly when emotions weren’t involved, but the moment feelings entered the equation, she hesitated.

And Nathan?

He was utterly, helplessly hers.

The tension between them was palpable, thick enough to slice through.

Nathan's lips pressed into a firm line as he took the initiative, stepping forward without hesitation. Evelyn, lost in her swirling thoughts, instinctively retreated into the room. Step by deliberate step, he advanced until the door clicked shut behind him, sealing them inside together.

Meanwhile, the Blackwood family members, who had strategically parked their cars right outside the bedroom doors, were practically vibrating with excitement.

They weren’t just eavesdropping—they were invested.

In the family group chat, Richard, Margaret, and Sophia were already in a frenzy:

Sophia: They’re going to share a bed tonight!

Margaret: Finally! I was starting to think they’d never take the next step.

Richard: Should we send champagne?

Julian and Genevieve, on the other hand, were stunned into silence.

This was not how they expected the night to unfold.