Chapter 153

The morning sun cast golden streaks across Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse as she paced the marble floors, her silk robe fluttering behind her. Her phone buzzed incessantly with notifications from the Blackwood Industries board members, each message more urgent than the last.

"Miss Sinclair?" Lillian Graves, her assistant, hovered by the doorway. "Nathan Blackwood's team just confirmed the merger meeting for 10 AM. They're requesting your final proposal."

Evelyn's fingers tightened around her coffee cup. "Tell Mr. Blackwood I'll be there with bells on." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. The Blackwood heir had been playing corporate games for weeks, dangling the merger like a carrot while his lawyers picked apart her company's contracts.

Across town, Nathan adjusted his cufflinks in the floor-to-ceiling windows of his corner office. His reflection showed a man perfectly composed, but the tension in his jaw betrayed him. "Status on the Sinclair acquisition?" he asked without turning.

Marcus Donovan stepped forward. "All due diligence completed, sir. But our legal team found discrepancies in their intellectual property filings. Significant ones."

Nathan's lips curved. "How convenient." He'd known Evelyn Sinclair was hiding something since their first disastrous meeting at the charity gala. The way her emerald eyes flashed when challenged, the defiant tilt of her chin - she was a wildfire in Prada heels.

At 9:55 AM, Evelyn strode into Blackwood Tower's lobby, her stilettos clicking like a countdown. The elevator ride to the 50th floor gave her exactly thirty seconds to compose herself. She inhaled sharply as the doors slid open to reveal Nathan leaning against the conference table, his tailored suit emphasizing shoulders broad enough to carry the weight of his family empire.

"Ms. Sinclair." His voice was smooth whiskey. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten cold feet."

Evelyn dropped her portfolio with a thud. "Unlike some, Mr. Blackwood, I don't retreat from challenges." She flipped open the file to reveal not the expected contracts, but a series of damning photographs. "Though you might want to after seeing these."

Nathan's smirk faltered as he recognized the images - his sister Sophia's secret meetings with Evelyn's chief investor. "Where did you get these?"

"A woman never reveals her sources." Evelyn leaned in, close enough to catch his expensive cologne. "But I'll trade them for fair merger terms. Unless you'd prefer the tabloids to see how Blackwood Industries really does business?"

The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. Nathan's knuckles whitened against the table's edge. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, his phone vibrated with an alert: Incoming call from Margaret Blackwood.

Evelyn arched a perfectly groomed brow. "Shall we let Mommy weigh in?"

Nathan's eyes darkened to stormy gray. In one fluid motion, he swiped the photos into his briefcase and gripped Evelyn's wrist. "You and I," he said through gritted teeth, "are going to discuss this privately."

As he pulled her toward his private elevator, Evelyn's pulse raced - not from fear, but exhilaration. The game had just gotten interesting.

The unexpected accusation from Evelyn visibly incensed Claudia Bennett, her expression darkening instantly. It was no secret that Gabriel Ramirez was her pride and joy, treated like the most precious gem in her life.

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could my godson possibly be the thief?" Claudia snapped, her voice dripping with disbelief.

Evelyn pursed her lips. It was your godson who did it!

The Blackwoods found the exchange mildly amusing, but Claudia, mistaking their amusement for mockery, bristled with indignation. "Are you all accusing my godson now?" she retorted sharply. "Is there anything I wouldn’t give him that he’d need to steal?"

He’s spoiled rotten by you, but he wouldn’t dare ask you outright. The moment he did, it would expose his gambling habit—a secret he’s desperate to keep hidden.

"Claudia, don’t get so worked up," Margaret interjected smoothly, attempting to diffuse the tension. "Even detectives consider everyone a suspect at first. It’s only natural to question Gabriel since Evelyn doesn’t know him. Do you have any proof he’s never been inside your jewelry room?"

Claudia faltered at Margaret’s words. She had taken Vivienne Monroe and Gabriel there, but her focus had been entirely on Vivienne, eager to flaunt her influence as Gabriel’s godmother.

As for Gabriel… she honestly couldn’t remember what he’d been doing at the time.

For a brief moment, Claudia seemed lost in thought, but then she straightened, as if struck by sudden clarity. "Fine, if you won’t take my word for it, let’s look at the facts. Vivienne was the only one carrying a bag, and her outfit could’ve easily concealed something. But Gabriel was wearing a simple basketball jersey. How could he have possibly hidden a necklace under everyone’s noses?"

The Blackwoods paused, considering the logic. A strand of pearls that long would surely leave a noticeable bulge, wouldn’t it?

After the necklace vanished, they’d all searched frantically. No one was blind—if Gabriel had taken it, someone would’ve noticed.

Curiosity flickered among the Blackwoods. With no other leads, they had no choice but to rely on Evelyn to solve the mystery.

Fortunately, Evelyn was just as intrigued.

She’s quick with words, I’ll give her that. But let’s see—how exactly did he pull it off? Wait…

Evelyn’s thoughts suddenly sharpened, startling everyone present.

Oh my God. No way.

The Blackwoods exchanged puzzled glances. What’s happening? Why is she so shocked?

All eyes turned to Evelyn, who was now staring intently at Claudia’s necklace, her pupils trembling slightly. Then her gaze dropped to Claudia’s hand—the one that habitually toyed with her pearls—and—

The exchange of glances had nearly driven the Blackwoods to the edge of madness with curiosity.

All that echoed in Evelyn’s mind was the voice of someone who had narrowly escaped catastrophe. We were so lucky. Thank heavens Claudia was too arrogant to bother with the usual pleasantries of a handshake when she walked in. Otherwise, we’d need to scrub our hands raw…

The Blackwoods were utterly baffled by her thoughts.

Who would’ve guessed a pearl necklace of such exorbitant value had once been… there?

An uneasy premonition slithered through them at her musings.

There’s no way Gabriel could be gay, right? He’s so… enigmatic.

The Blackwoods jolted in shock, their minds racing. Wait—what? All of them? Each pearl is the size of a coin, and there are—what—twenty, thirty in total? Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

Oh, thank goodness. Evelyn exhaled in relief. I knew it couldn’t be true.

The entire room nearly choked on their collective gasp. How could anyone believe a man would go to such lengths just to steal a necklace? Clearly, Evelyn must have been mistaken.

How could that much possibly fit? The rest must’ve been strapped to his body, like wearing a— Evelyn’s thoughts screeched to a halt. No, no, no! Stop imagining that! I didn’t mean to picture it! I’m innocent! Scatter, scatter!

But it was too late. The Blackwoods’ minds had already conjured the scene, and the more they tried to banish it, the more vivid it became.

Fade away! Disappear!

Then they remembered Claudia’s earlier remark—that the pearl necklace had still been warm when it was found.

That warmth… probably wasn’t just body heat.

As one, their gazes snapped to the pearls gleaming around Claudia’s neck.

Is it just us, or does that pearl have a faint… yellowish tint?

Claudia’s expression darkened as she noticed the sudden shift in their faces—a kaleidoscope of horror, disbelief, and something uncomfortably close to pity.

"What’s wrong with all of you?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "After everything I’ve said, you still doubt Gabriel?"

Like any parent, she refused to entertain the idea that her beloved godson could be anything less than perfect.

The Blackwoods, however, only looked at her with deepening sympathy.

Claudia grew more agitated, especially when she caught their lingering stares at her necklace. Instinctively, her fingers brushed against the pearls—

A collective gasp filled the room.

She touched it. Oh, sweet heavens, she actually touched it!

Their expressions twisted further, particularly Margaret’s, who had known Claudia for years.

The sun cast long shadows across the Blackwood estate as the family gathered in the parlor, the air thick with unspoken tension. Claudia Bennett sat stiffly on the edge of her seat, her fingers nervously tracing the outline of the diamond necklace around her throat—the very same necklace that had once belonged to her ex-husband.

Nathan Blackwood leaned against the fireplace, his sharp gaze flickering between Claudia and his mother, Margaret, who wore an expression of thinly veiled disapproval. Sophia Blackwood, Nathan’s sister, exchanged a knowing glance with her husband, Daniel Prescott, while Julian Blackwood, the youngest of the siblings, sighed audibly, clearly bored with the entire affair.

“It’s been years,” Claudia muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “Surely, this isn’t still an issue?”

Margaret’s lips thinned. “It’s not about the time that’s passed, Claudia. It’s about the manner in which you acquired it.”

A heavy silence settled over the room. The story of the necklace was no secret—Claudia had given up custody of her daughter in exchange for it. A cold bargain, one that had left scars deeper than any gemstone could ever glitter over.

Sophia shifted uncomfortably. “We can’t exactly judge her for choices made in desperation,” she said softly, though even she couldn’t muster much sympathy.

“Desperation?” Julian scoffed. “She traded her own child for a piece of jewelry.”

Claudia’s face flushed with anger. “You have no idea what I went through!”

Nathan finally spoke, his voice calm but edged with steel. “No, we don’t. But we do know that Javier Ramirez—your godson—has been asking about you. Quite persistently.”

Claudia stiffened. “Javier?”

Margaret’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. The same Javier whose gambling debts you so generously paid off before disappearing. Odd, isn’t it? That he’d be so desperate to find you now?”

A flicker of panic crossed Claudia’s face before she masked it with indignation. “That’s ridiculous! He’s just a boy who misses his godmother.”

Nathan exchanged a glance with Julian. “Or a gambler who’s run out of luck—and funds.”

Claudia shot to her feet. “How dare you accuse me of—”

“Enough,” Margaret cut in sharply. “The point is, Claudia, this necklace isn’t just a trinket. It’s a reminder of choices—yours, Javier’s, even Gabriel’s. And until you face the truth of what it represents, you’ll never be free of it.”

Claudia’s hands trembled as she clutched the necklace, the diamonds biting into her skin. For the first time, the weight of it felt unbearable.

And in that moment, she wondered—was it really worth the price she’d paid?