Chapter 265

Whispers of Scandal in Evelyn's Mind

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 plush velvet sofa, her fingers idly scrolling through her phone. The latest tabloid headlines flashed across the screen, each one more scandalous than the last.

"Nathan Blackwood Spotted Leaving Hotel with Mystery Woman!"

Evelyn’s breath hitched. Her grip on the phone tightened as she zoomed in on the grainy photo. The man in question was unmistakably Nathan—tall, broad-shouldered, with that infuriatingly perfect jawline. But the woman clinging to his arm? A stranger. A stunning, raven-haired stranger.

Her stomach twisted.

She shouldn’t care. After all, she and Nathan were nothing more than business partners now. Their whirlwind romance had ended months ago, buried under a mountain of misunderstandings and pride. But logic had no place in the storm of emotions raging inside her.

A knock at the door startled her.

"Come in," she called, hastily locking her phone.

Lillian Graves, her ever-efficient assistant, stepped inside, balancing a tray of coffee and a stack of contracts. "Morning, Ms. Sinclair. You have a meeting with Preston Whitmore in an hour, and Donovan Sharpe wants to discuss the new project budget."

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

As the door clicked shut, she exhaled sharply. Work. She needed to focus on work. Not on Nathan’s latest escapade. Not on the way his laughter used to make her heart skip.

But then her phone buzzed again.

A message from an unknown number.

"Ask Nathan about Adriana Prescott. I think you’ll find the story… enlightening."

Evelyn’s pulse spiked. Adriana Prescott? As in Daniel Prescott’s wife? The same Daniel who was married to Nathan’s sister, Sophia?

This wasn’t just gossip.

This was a bomb waiting to detonate.

And she had no idea if she should light the fuse—or run for cover.

This was Evelyn's first encounter with Caleb. Though he bore some resemblance to Lucas, his demeanor screamed spoiled rich kid with zero substance.

Nathan had mentioned the Moores to her before.

The Moore family had thrived in business due to their unique philosophy—family above all. Internal power struggles were rare, as they believed the most capable should lead.

Currently, the family was helmed by Caleb's mother, Lydia Sanders.

Caleb's father, Richard Bennett, was the second son—utterly ordinary and content to live in his wife's shadow while indulging in hobbies. Their marriage had been arranged by the family, who recognized Lydia's potential early on. Over the years, she'd proven herself, making her word law within the Moore household.

Mrs. Lydia's only failure is this waste of space she calls a son, Evelyn mused. No wonder she shipped him off to dabble in entertainment projects while entrusting the real business to Lucas. Meritocracy indeed.

Lucas was Caleb's cousin, son of the eldest Moore son. His father, Jared Moore, had passed young, and his mother remarried, leaving him somewhat orphaned within the family. Yet given the empire he was inheriting, it was clear the Moores saw him as their future.

From her vantage point, Evelyn watched Caleb slide into his seat, his hand creeping onto Luna's thigh when he thought no one noticed. A pang of pity struck her for Beatrice. How does she stomach being married to this? Even in a loveless arrangement, this is vile.

Her thoughts circled back to Lucas.

He'd loved Beatrice for a decade. But raised by his aunt Lydia—who trusted him with the family legacy—he couldn't bring himself to compete with Caleb for the woman Lydia wanted as her daughter-in-law. To Lucas, it would've been a betrayal. So he'd buried his feelings, watching the love of his life become his cousin's wife.

Evelyn clenched her fists. Coward.

It was a business marriage. Had Lucas fought, he might've won—Beatrice had openly stated she was only marrying to secure the families' alliance. The groom's identity hardly mattered.

Yet out of loyalty, Lucas had surrendered.

Pathetic, Evelyn thought. If that's love, it's weaker than I imagined.

The situation wasn't as tragic as star-crossed lovers—after all, Evelyn wasn't coerced, nor did she harbor any feelings for Lucas.

In truth, Evelyn had no idea that after her accidental outburst at home, the Blackwood family had eagerly persuaded Nathan to speak with Lucas. They hoped Lucas and Beatrice could become a couple.

They were all Nathan's friends. Since Beatrice didn’t object, marrying someone who adored her was surely better than being tied to a man who chased after celebrities. Though Beatrice only wanted a marriage in name, wedding a man with such a notorious reputation would undoubtedly invite endless trouble.

Moreover, they believed that given the Thornton family’s principles, things might not escalate too badly. It was Lucas who had let so-called obligations bind his hands.

On this matter, Nathan shared the same stance as Evelyn—he wouldn’t interfere in affairs that didn’t concern him. However, if it were similar to Daniel’s situation—where he had been deceived—he wouldn’t hesitate to step in for a friend.

But this was a conscious decision made by Lucas and Beatrice. Both were adults, and any consequences were theirs to bear.

Evelyn remained entirely indifferent to the whole affair.

Meanwhile, Caleb was still making things difficult for the staff. Evelyn had already deduced that their vague excuses were merely attempts to placate him. Entertainment companies under Blackwood Group had strict project requirements—even Evelyn had never been allowed shortcuts in the past, let alone others.

No matter how hard Evelyn scrutinized the woman beside Caleb—whose face was clearly the result of multiple cosmetic procedures—she couldn’t picture her as the lead actress.

Caleb still insisted on pretending he was close to Nathan.

Evelyn smirked. Your cousin and your fiancée might be acquainted with Nathan, but he’s never even met you. The audacity.

Nathan had never been one for social niceties. He wouldn’t bother with anyone who wasn’t a potential business partner or competitor.

The staff, however, were in a tight spot. Though Caleb came off as a spoiled heir, he was still a member of the Thornton family—and he did have a personal connection to Nathan.

Evelyn pitied the employees, who lived in constant fear of offending someone over a misunderstanding and bearing the full brunt of the blame. Other than offering vague responses, they couldn’t give a definitive answer.

Unfortunately, they’d have to give Caleb one eventually.

Sweat beaded on their foreheads as they scrambled for a solution.

Evelyn stood and strode toward them. "You must be Mr. Moore, correct?"

The sudden appearance of a poised, striking woman instantly seized Caleb’s attention. His hand, which had been resting on Luna’s thigh, froze mid-motion.

If she's this stunning and calling me Mr. Moore, she must be someone important. Probably another aspiring actress looking for connections.

Caleb had been through this scenario too many times. His first instinct was to flash a charming smile and say, "Well, hello there. And who might you be?"

He even rose from his seat, extending his hand for a polite shake.

The staff member, however, recognized Evelyn immediately. They'd seen her without makeup enough times to know better than to mistake her for just another pretty face.

Caleb did find her vaguely familiar, but her effortless beauty and casual demeanor made him assume she was a fresh-faced university graduate trying to break into the industry. Naturally, he slipped into his usual "successful businessman" persona.

Evelyn arched a brow, amused. "Oh? You don’t recognize me? I just overheard you claiming to know my husband quite well. Strange that you wouldn’t know me."

Caleb froze. Before he could process her words, the staff member had already stood and greeted her respectfully. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Blackwood."

"Mrs. Blackwood? Which Mrs. Blackwood?" Luna, who had been clinging to Caleb’s arm, suddenly spoke up, her tone dripping with skepticism.

The staff members exchanged glances, their confidence bolstered. After all, their CEO’s wife wasn’t just any woman—she was the infamous Gossip Queen, a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment world. They knew she wouldn’t let this slide.

"This is Mrs. Blackwood, our CEO’s wife. Surely you recognize her, Mr. Moore?" The staff member smirked, enjoying the moment.

"Evelyn?!" The realization hit Caleb like a freight train. He’d seen pictures of her in the media, but the woman standing before him was a completely different kind of breathtaking.

Meanwhile, Luna gave Evelyn a slow, disdainful once-over, her lips curling in obvious contempt.

Evelyn hadn’t paid Luna much attention at first, but the girl’s blatant disrespect was impossible to ignore. The way she rolled her eyes—even after learning Evelyn’s identity—piqued Evelyn’s curiosity instantly. A quick mental scan revealed Luna’s true background.

Oh? I thought she was just another one of Caleb’s flings. Turns out she’s Nathan’s persistent little nuisance.

When Nathan heard his wife was in the building, he rushed over the moment his meeting ended. But the second he stepped inside, he was met with Evelyn’s sharp, accusing thoughts.

Nathan blinked, utterly baffled.