Chapter 45

The penthouse suite was eerily silent as Evelyn Sinclair clutched the damning photographs in her trembling hands. Moonlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows across the marble floors where she stood barefoot, the cold seeping into her bones.

How could he?

Her phone buzzed violently against the glass coffee table. Lillian Graves' name flashed across the screen for the seventh time that hour. Evelyn knew her assistant would be frantic - the charity gala started in forty minutes, and the media had already begun speculating about her absence.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Let them speculate. The world thought she was the lucky fiancée of Nathan Blackwood, heir to the Blackwood empire. Only she knew the truth now.

The elevator pinged.

Evelyn didn't turn around as familiar footsteps crossed the threshold. She'd recognize that confident stride anywhere - the slight hesitation in his left foot from an old polo injury. The scent of his cologne - bergamot and sandalwood - filled the space between them.

"Darling?" Nathan's voice was velvet-smooth, the same tone that had charmed investors and socialites alike. "The car's waiting. We're already late."

Slowly, deliberately, Evelyn turned. The photographs fluttered from her grip, scattering across the floor like fallen leaves. Security footage of Nathan entering a boutique hotel. Time-stamped receipts from room service. And the most damning of all - a grainy but unmistakable image of him kissing Victoria Hayes in a shadowed alcove.

Nathan's tan visibly drained. "Evelyn, I can explain—"

"Save it." Her voice was steel wrapped in silk. "Three years, Nathan. Three years of playing the perfect couple while you've been fucking your secretary."

His jaw tightened. "It meant nothing. Just stress relief before the wedding."

The casual cruelty of his words struck like a physical blow. Evelyn's vision blurred momentarily before she forced herself to breathe. Across the room, the grandfather clock ticked ominously.

"You'll call off the engagement," she stated, surprised at how steady her voice sounded. "Tonight. And you'll tell the press it was your decision."

Nathan's laugh was harsh. "Or what? You'll run to the tabloids? My family owns every major outlet in this city."

Evelyn reached into her clutch, withdrawing a slim USB drive. "Or I release these to Serena Whitmore. My agent has connections at the Wall Street Journal. Imagine what these will do to Blackwood Holdings' stock price when they hit before market open."

For the first time in their relationship, genuine fear flickered across Nathan's perfect features. He lunged forward, but Evelyn was already at the elevator, her thumb hovering over the call button.

"Your choice, darling," she purred, throwing his favorite endearment back at him like a dagger. "A clean break now, or financial ruin tomorrow."

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. As she stepped inside, Evelyn allowed herself one final glance at the man she'd almost married. His usually immaculate hair was disheveled, his tie askew. The great Nathan Blackwood, brought to his knees by his own arrogance.

The doors closed on his furious shout. Only then did Evelyn allow the tears to fall - not from heartbreak, but from the sheer exhilaration of having finally played his game better than he did. Her phone buzzed again. This time, the caller ID made her smile through the tears.

Serena Whitmore. Right on schedule.

Outside, the city lights twinkled like diamonds against the night sky. Somewhere below, paparazzi waited like vultures. Let them. Evelyn Sinclair had a performance to give, and this time, she'd be writing her own script.

Genevieve's tears shattered Margaret's heart. The older woman shot a sharp glance toward the doorway.

Hearing the commotion, Richard was about to intervene.

Seeing his youngest daughter in tears, his hands trembled. "What happened? Nathan would never insult anyone. There must be some misunderstanding."

Tears streamed down Genevieve's face as she sobbed, "Nathan wants Damian to be the company's driver."

For a moment, Richard didn't understand. "What's wrong with that?"

Margaret, however, caught on immediately. "Does Damian look down on the position?"

Choking back tears, Genevieve cried, "Dad, you invited him to join the company, so he prepared seriously—only to be offered a driver's job. You don't know how humiliated and furious he was. He confronted me, asking if I was mocking him. He accused me of toying with his feelings, using this as some twisted way to break up with him. He said I succeeded and told me never to contact him again. Then... he blocked me everywhere. I even reached out to Camille, but she's furious too. She said her brother has never been this upset before. He thinks he's not good enough for me and wants to erase our entire relationship."

She broke down, her voice raw. "Why? Why did you all deceive me? I thought you genuinely wanted to get to know him. Were you trying to sabotage my relationship? Is Damian right? You don't trust me at all, do you? You just want to control my life!"

This was her first heartbreak, and the pain made her words spill out in a jumbled mess. All she wanted was to unleash her anger.

Richard and Margaret were stunned. Genevieve had always been their sweet, obedient child—the easiest to raise. This outburst was unprecedented, leaving them scrambling to soothe her.

They swore they had no ill intentions, and neither did her siblings. It had to be a misunderstanding.

Watching Genevieve sob uncontrollably, Evelyn felt awkward. Just that morning, the younger girl had been thanking her, sharing pastries as a token of gratitude, excited for the future.

How had everything collapsed so suddenly?

Had Evelyn not seen the breakup in the Gossip System, she wouldn’t have believed it.

Damian was furious—shouting at Genevieve as if he’d been gravely insulted.

Evelyn re-examined the situation from Nathan’s perspective and nearly scoffed.

I almost fell for Damian’s tantrum. What’s his problem?

Genevieve, mid-sob, stiffened at Evelyn’s thoughts. Being dumped was painful enough, but hearing someone criticize Damian to her face? Even the gentlest soul would snap.

Richard and Margaret, sensing trouble, immediately restrained Genevieve. They knew Evelyn must have uncovered something damning—perhaps they didn’t even need Nathan’s explanation to understand the truth.

Evelyn thought, Damian did attend the interview expecting grandeur, and Nathan did inform HR. But HR never imagined the CEO’s recommendation would be... this unqualified. No formal education? Fine. But never holding a real job? That’s alarming. Has he been mooching off others his whole life?

Genevieve, catching fragments of Evelyn’s thoughts, paled. "That’s not true! He’s just... unappreciated! Damian is brilliant, but without a degree, he faced discrimination. No one recognized his worth until now—"

Evelyn barely held back an eye roll. Unappreciated? Please. He has zero skills. If not for his driver’s license, HR would’ve stuck him as a janitor. He doesn’t even meet security guard requirements.

Genevieve turned to Evelyn, desperate. "Bella, please—talk to Nathan. Give Damian a real chance to prove himself!"

Evelyn hesitated. You want me to vouch for him? Impossible.

Aloud, she said carefully, "Rosie... the driver position at Blackwood Group pays tens of thousands monthly, with top-tier benefits. People fight for that job. Yet Damian called it an insult. Worse—he name-dropped Nathan to HR, demanding if they knew ‘who he was.’"

Her lips thinned. Who does he think he is? Some spoiled heir? Even nepotism has limits. If Blackwood Group operated like that, it would’ve collapsed years ago.

Evelyn sighed inwardly. Poor Nathan. He humiliated himself at work just to help evaluate his sister’s boyfriend. This’ll damage his reputation.

Genevieve, catching every thought, burst into fresh tears. "He just... wants to build a career to earn your approval! You’re all judging him unfairly!"

This time, Richard and Margaret didn’t comfort her. Their expressions darkened.

"Genevieve," Richard said firmly, "this man is unacceptable. Arrogant, delusional, and utterly lacking self-awareness. His character is flawed."

Margaret nodded. "We meant well, but he twisted it. Nathan was right—your values don’t align. You’re not suited for each other."

Genevieve’s breathing turned ragged, her face flushed crimson. "No one understands him! He’s good, I swear! Just... give him one chance. Please, talk to Nathan!"

Evelyn exchanged a glance with her parents.

This wasn’t just a breakup.

This was an intervention.