Chapter 52

Camille's face paled as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "W-Why are you bringing this up now? How dare you meddle in private matters!" Her reaction wasn't one of indignation—it was pure guilt.

Julian smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Take a guess."

Camille trembled, her fingers curling into fists.

Evelyn was stunned. Why is Nathan suddenly questioning this? Did he uncover something? She bit her lip. They’ve been so careful. No one should have noticed. Unless...

Nathan, however, felt a pang of embarrassment. I didn’t actually find anything. I should’ve thought this through.

The Blackwood family exchanged glances. No one could have predicted this twisted dynamic.

Poor Genevieve, they thought. She’s been caught in the middle of this deranged sibling affair. Damian and Camille’s relationship wasn’t just complicated—it was forbidden. Though they weren’t blood-related, their upbringing as siblings made their romantic entanglement even more scandalous.

But secrecy wasn’t sustainable. Damian’s family had been pressuring him to settle down, hoping marriage would tame his reckless ways. Camille, unwilling to let another woman take her brother away, had devised a cruel plan—and Genevieve was her unwitting pawn.

A chill settled over the room as all eyes turned to Genevieve.

Her expression was blank, as if she were listening to a stranger’s story. This can’t be real. This can’t be happening to me.

Evelyn’s thoughts raced. Camille targeted Genevieve because she was naive, easy to manipulate. And Damian? He despises obedient rich girls—exactly the type Genevieve was raised to be. Camille knew that. She orchestrated everything, from the meals to the late-night texts. Those sweet nothings Genevieve swooned over? All Camille’s words, sent from Damian’s phone. And the separate bedrooms? Not out of respect—Camille forbade it. She couldn’t stand seeing them together.

A twisted thrill ran through Camille—she got to keep Damian while using Genevieve as both a shield and a stepping stone.

Richard’s voice cut through the tension. "Genevieve, your friend wants to leave. Are you going to let her?"

Camille stiffened. What does that mean?

Genevieve’s face drained of color. Her vacant gaze swept over the room before she turned and walked away, retreating to her bedroom in silence.

The Blackwoods understood her turmoil. Without concrete proof, it was hard to accept the truth. But the doubt had been planted.

Evelyn, ever the provocateur, couldn’t resist pushing further. She ordered three dishes and soup from a high-end restaurant, plating them herself and claiming she’d cooked them to cheer Genevieve up. The staff praised her effort, but the family’s reactions were… telling.

Three days later, Genevieve vanished.

No one knew if it was the shock of the revelations or something else that drove her to flee. Surveillance showed no one had come for her—she hadn’t eloped.

The Blackwoods tracked her quickly but chose not to intervene.

They wanted to see what she would do next.