Chapter 271

The morning sun cast golden streaks across the penthouse floor as Evelyn Sinclair stirred awake. The silk sheets tangled around her legs, still warm from the imprint of Nathan Blackwood’s body beside her. She reached out, but the space was empty—only the faint scent of his cologne lingered.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Evelyn?" Lillian Graves, her ever-efficient assistant, peeked in. "Victoria Hayes is here. She says it's urgent."

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around the sheets. Victoria—Nathan’s scheming secretary—was the last person she wanted to see this early. "Tell her I’ll be out in five."

She dressed quickly, opting for a sleek black dress that screamed power rather than the vulnerability she felt. When she stepped into the living room, Victoria stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, her crimson lips curled in a smirk.

"Good morning, Evelyn. Or should I say, Mrs. Blackwood?"

Evelyn ignored the jab. "What do you want?"

Victoria slid a manila envelope across the glass coffee table. "Nathan asked me to deliver this. He thought you’d appreciate seeing it before the press does."

Evelyn’s pulse spiked as she flipped it open. Inside were photos—Nathan, his arm draped around a stunning brunette at a high-end restaurant last night. The timestamp read 11:47 PM.

Her stomach twisted. He’d left their bed for this?

Victoria’s voice dripped with faux sympathy. "He mentioned you two had a fight. I suppose this is his way of coping."

Evelyn slammed the envelope shut. "Get out."

Victoria’s smirk widened as she sauntered toward the door. "Oh, and Evelyn? Don’t take it personally. Nathan’s always been… easily distracted."

The moment the door clicked shut, Evelyn’s phone buzzed. A message from Preston Whitmore, her director friend:

"Saw the photos. Call me. There’s more you need to know."

Her fingers hovered over the screen. More? What else was Nathan hiding?

Then, another notification—this time from Nathan himself:

"We need to talk. Tonight. Don’t make plans."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. Whatever game he was playing, she wouldn’t be a pawn. Not again.

She dialed Preston. "Tell me everything."

"That's Lydia," Nathan murmured, keeping his head slightly bowed as Evelyn clung to his arm. Only after Evelyn had gotten a clear look at the woman in question and learned her name did she allow herself to observe more freely. This had become Nathan's habit—introducing key figures to Evelyn whenever they crossed paths, ensuring she never missed out on any juicy gossip.

Lydia was a force to be reckoned with in the business world. During Richard's time, she had been a frequent collaborator. Now, thanks to Nathan's sharp acumen, Richard had retired early to enjoy his golden years, leaving Lydia to work with Nathan instead. Naturally, the two were well-acquainted.

Aside from Howard, who stood like a silent shadow, members of the Carney family were also present nearby. As business partners, they exchanged warm greetings the moment they met.

Lucas remained by Lydia's side, assisting with the guests, while Beatrice had already retreated out of sight, ensuring she wouldn't appear until the engagement ceremony officially began.

Logically, Caleb should have been here.

But everyone knew he was nothing but trouble, so no one bothered asking why he was absent.

Without any inside information, Evelyn could only sit back and watch the drama unfold.

Evelyn: This is almost comical. Anyone who didn’t know better would think Lucas is the groom today. Oh, for heaven’s sake—I think I might actually gag.

Though they engaged in polite small talk, the Blackwoods were secretly eavesdropping. Being around Evelyn always guaranteed some scandalous revelations.

What’s going on? Is he planning to cause a scene at such an important event? Is he late? Or is he not coming at all? Or… could there be something else?

Evelyn: Even after being threatened, Caleb and Luna still have the audacity to carry on their affair. It’s like they’re spitting in Lucas’s face. Is this deliberate defiance, or are they intentionally trying to humiliate Beatrice?

The moment this tidbit reached the Blackwoods, they were utterly revolted.

Richard cast a pitying glance at Lydia.

Margaret shot Lucas a sympathetic look.

Sophia tilted her head back, exhaled dramatically, and immediately pulled out her phone to update her siblings on the latest gossip.

Evelyn: Maybe I should find a way to expose them? Hmm… No. Beatrice knows the truth but is pretending ignorance. She just wants this engagement to go smoothly. Caleb might have been harsh, but he plans to handle it discreetly. I should stay out of it—no need to get tangled in this mess. Best to just survive the day in one piece.

Nathan Blackwood felt the same way. Given how events had unfolded, it was no longer appropriate for them to interfere.

As the Blackwood family entered the grand hall, they dispersed, each gravitating toward their own social circles. Wherever they settled, the whispered conversations inevitably turned to Caleb Moore's conspicuous absence, how pitiful Beatrice Holloway looked, and the strong possibility that the Blackwoods would officially announce Lucas Thornton as the heir today. This was precisely why so many relatives had gathered—to witness the shift in power firsthand.

Meanwhile, Marcus Prescott's group was deep in discussion about the very same matter.

"I suppose Lucas will be next in line after Mr. Nathan," Marcus remarked with a teasing smirk.

"From the looks of it, only those two are being considered for succession, huh?" Vivian Grant chimed in. "What about you, Vivian?"

Vivian Moore was also present that day.

"I’ve already started pushing my parents to have another child," she declared with a playful grin. "I trust in their abilities. There will be an heir. But like Beatrice, I’m focused on my career—and taking care of my younger sister, of course."

The others nearly burst out laughing at her audacity. When it came to unconventional solutions, Vivian was in a league of her own.

"Where’s Gwendolyn?" Evelyn Sinclair asked as soon as she sat down.

"She’s taking her exams," Vivian replied proudly. "My sister is far smarter than I ever was. She excels in everything academic."

"You can’t stop bragging about her these days, can you?" Daniel Wright chuckled.

Vivian immediately shot back, "I have a sister, and you don’t. Face it—you’re jealous!"

Daniel laughed. "It’s not me who’s jealous. It’s Lucas."

"Oh, please. Don’t even mention that ingrate," Vivian groaned.

"What happened?" Evelyn pressed, eyes sharp. Surely they didn’t know about that ungrateful wretch sneaking around in some dimly lit lounge, did they?

"Lucas’s half-sister just arrived," Vivian explained before Ines could. "He told her to stay close to their mother because of the crowd. She lost it and started mocking him in front of everyone!" She then mimicked Luna Morgan’s shrill tone: "Oh, so you think you’re already the head of the Blackwoods? Ordering me around before they’ve even announced you as heir?"

Vivian rolled her eyes dramatically.

Marcus scoffed. "Even if Lucas’s warning was unnecessary—she’s eighteen, not a child—he was just being a concerned older brother. Luna’s always been reckless and ungrateful. After all these years, she’s still the same rabid little brat."

In the past, whenever they crossed paths with Luna, she had never treated Lucas with anything resembling kindness. She was just as vicious now as she had always been.

The girl was often unreasonable and threw tantrums, which was why everyone disliked her.

Evelyn and Nathan exchanged a knowing glance. Lucas's warning to Luna had been crystal clear—he wanted her to stay away from Caleb.

Unfortunately, his words fell on deaf ears as the two continued their reckless behavior.

Lucas and Luna’s mother were equally at fault. She remained blissfully unaware of the brewing scandal, dismissing her son’s concerns and even enabling Luna’s sneaky disappearances. By now, Lucas probably didn’t have the energy to deal with them anymore.

The group chattered away, completely oblivious to the fact that Luna was embroiled in something far more disgraceful.

Nathan glanced around, and after pouring Evelyn a fresh cup of tea, he asked, "What are you searching for?"

"I was just curious about what your eccentric mother looks like."

Nathan pointed directly toward a woman in the crowd.

Evelyn’s gaze landed on a harsh, unsympathetic face among a cluster of gossiping women.

Evelyn: "Appearances really do reflect the heart. She looks like a villain straight out of a drama. Who knows how she’d react if she found out her precious daughter was entangled with a man of such notorious reputation. Knowing her, she’d probably blame Lucas for everything."

After a moment’s thought, Evelyn realized just how unfairly Lucas had been treated. He truly was the victim here.

Just as she was lost in her musings, the murmurs around them grew louder.

"Wow! I didn’t think he’d have the nerve to show up at his own engagement party," Marcus remarked.

"I bet he’s still immature and pulling stunts like this to get his mother’s attention," Daniel said bluntly.

"What is he, a child throwing a tantrum?" Vivian gasped in disbelief.

Vivian burst into laughter.

Evelyn and Nathan scanned the room but saw no sign of Luna. It seemed the two were determined to keep their affair hidden.

Then, Caleb appeared, promptly escorted by Lydia’s trusted aide to greet the guests at the main entrance.

About half an hour later, the engagement ceremony began.

Beatrice, draped in an elegant gown, made her entrance. With her flawless makeup, she looked absolutely stunning.

Vivian and Vivian cheered her on, snapping photos like devoted fans.

Evelyn couldn’t help but lean toward Nathan and whisper, "Caleb must be blind."

Nathan gave a slow, deliberate nod of approval.

At that precise moment, the man who was notoriously indifferent to his appearance stood beside Beatrice Holloway, looking unexpectedly polished. His tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders, and the dim lighting caught the sharp angles of his jawline—a stark contrast to his usual careless demeanor.

What made the scene even more intriguing was Lucas Thornton, the man who typically commanded every room with his presence, now relegated to the shadows at the edge of the stage. The spotlight didn’t touch him, leaving his expression unreadable. He stood motionless, his posture rigid, as if someone had carved the life out of him.

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, thick enough to slice with a knife.

Beatrice, oblivious—or perhaps deliberately ignoring it—smiled brightly at Nathan, her fingers brushing against his sleeve in a gesture that was far too intimate for a professional setting.

Lucas’s knuckles whitened where they gripped the edge of the stage.

No one dared to comment.

But everyone noticed.