Chapter 175

Eavesdropping on Scandalous Thoughts

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 velvet chaise, sipping her matcha latte, when an unexpected wave of thoughts crashed into her mind—thoughts that weren’t hers.

"Nathan Blackwood is insufferable! How dare he ignore me at the gala last night?"

Evelyn nearly choked on her drink. That voice—sharp, venomous—belonged to Victoria Hayes, Nathan’s scheming secretary.

A slow smirk curled Evelyn’s lips. Oh, this is going to be fun.

She focused, tuning into Victoria’s mental tirade like a radio station.

"After everything I’ve done for him—covering up his messes, handling his ridiculous schedule—and he has the audacity to fawn over Evelyn Sinclair like some lovesick puppy?"

Evelyn’s brows shot up. Lovesick puppy? She’d never seen Nathan as anything but infuriatingly composed.

Victoria’s thoughts spiraled. "I should’ve sabotaged that deal with Preston Whitmore when I had the chance. Maybe then Nathan would realize how much he needs me."

Evelyn’s amusement vanished. Sabotage? That crossed a line.

Before she could delve deeper, another voice interrupted—Serena Whitmore, her agent.

"Evelyn, darling, you’re late for your fitting. The Dior gown won’t alter itself."

Evelyn sighed, reluctantly pulling herself away from Victoria’s mental meltdown. But as she stood, a final, damning thought from Victoria slithered into her mind:

"If Nathan won’t appreciate me… maybe it’s time someone else did."

Evelyn froze. Oh no, you don’t.

She grabbed her phone, typing a quick text to Nathan:

"We need to talk. Your secretary’s plotting something. And no, I’m not being paranoid."

His reply was instant. "Meet me at The Vault. 1 PM. And Evelyn… try not to enjoy her misery too much."

She grinned. Too late.

The moment these thoughts surfaced, the Blackwood family suddenly grasped that the entertainment industry was on the brink of a seismic shift.

Stars would be arrested, blacklisted, and contracts torn apart. Countless productions would grind to a halt. Worse yet, these celebrities might drag down even more people in their fall—just imagining the chaos awaiting industry insiders in the coming days sent shivers down their spines.

This scandal could trigger a full-scale purge, wiping clean every shadowy figure lurking in Hollywood’s glittering facade.

And all of it? Sparked by a humble stage play starring a retired police K-9. Who could’ve seen that coming?

“Blackwood Group owns an entertainment subsidiary. What about their artists?” Richard frowned.

Julian chuckled. “No wonder Nathan left in such high spirits this morning.”

“Could their roster be clean?” Evelyn asked.

Julian shrugged. “Hard to say. Knowing Nathan, he’d treat this as a chance to weed out the rotten apples. Strengthens the company’s future.”

Just then, Margaret gasped. “Breaking news!”

Everyone scrambled for their phones. At the top of the trending list was an official statement—Gabriel Ramirez’s drug trafficking charges had been confirmed. A prison sentence was inevitable. The motive? Gambling debts. The investigation had even exposed an underground casino frequented by his celebrity circle, now shut down.

The truth obliterated earlier rumors.

One viral comment read: He claimed it was obsessive love? Disgusting.

Another: His whole crew ganged up to pressure her into marriage. Were they hunting an easy target?

A reply shot back: Using love as a weapon? Soul-crushing.

A thread unfolded: When manipulation failed, they set traps. This is why I’m terrified of dating.

A counterpoint emerged: Not all men are monsters. Don’t generalize.

But the most damning post stated: Ladies, if he gambles or dabbles in shady deals, RUN. You can’t fix him.

And then, the knockout punch: Remember Gabriel’s interview? He idolized his military veteran relatives. Look how he honored them.

The irony was brutal.

The fluorescent lights of the police station buzzed overhead as Gabriel Ramirez clutched the bars of the holding cell, his voice cracking with desperation. "Mom—Mom, please! You have to help me! I never meant for things to go this far! I don’t belong in here—call someone, anyone—!"

Before he could finish, Claire Harrison’s palm struck his cheek with a sharp crack. The officers nearby didn’t intervene.

"Family?" Claire’s voice trembled, her eyes red-rimmed with fury and grief. "You dare speak of family now? What about your grandparents? Your ancestors who built our name with integrity? Did you even consider the shame you’d bring upon us?"

Gabriel recoiled, his cheek stinging. Of course he’d thought of them—that’s why he’d lied, why he’d hidden the truth. Why couldn’t she see that?

"Your father would be ashamed of you," Claire spat, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.

Gabriel’s head snapped up, his gaze burning with venom. "You did this to me!" he snarled. "You want to know why I started gambling? Because of you! Your rules, your expectations—I couldn’t breathe!"

Claire staggered back as if struck. "What?"

"It was never enough for you!" Gabriel’s voice rose, raw with years of resentment. "I just wanted one thing to take the edge off, one way to feel free! And when I got in too deep, I lied because I didn’t want to disappoint you again. But you know what? You failed me first. You’re a terrible mother—so don’t you dare judge me!"

The officers exchanged uneasy glances. Claire’s knees nearly buckled.

She had been strict. After Randall’s death, she’d been terrified of failing as a single parent. She’d pushed Gabriel toward stability—military service, law school—anything respectable. But when he’d chosen music, she’d swallowed her disapproval. She’d supported him, even as he floundered.

And this was her reward?

Just then, Daniel Wright stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension. "You’re a grown man. You made these choices. And instead of owning them, you’re blaming the woman who sacrificed everything for you? Pathetic."

Gabriel’s face twisted, but as the officers hauled him away, his bravado shattered. "Mom, please—!" he begged, reaching for her.

Claire turned away, her heart in pieces. Maybe she had failed.

As they dragged Gabriel past the interrogation rooms, Claudia Bennett’s shrill voice pierced the hallway. "This is a mistake! My godson would never traffic drugs! Release him immediately!"

The detective interviewing her sighed in exasperation. "Mrs. Harrison, we’ve been over this. Your own charges aren’t resolved yet. Sit down."

"Stop worrying about others! Tell us again—why did you take him to that supermarket studio? Were you aware of their illegal dealings?"

Claudia Bennett had been interrogated repeatedly. Now that Gabriel Ramirez was being escorted away, she threw a tantrum. "You're treating me like some common criminal! My father owns Pearson Holdings! I...I won't say another word until my lawyer arrives. I'll sue every single one of you!"

"Cooperate, Ms. Bennett!"

Claudia refused, even daring to challenge the officers' authority, which only deepened their stern frowns.

Finally, someone arrived. Claudia expected her parents with a team of high-powered attorneys, but instead, a young woman walked in.

Dressed in a sleek navy pantsuit, the woman announced she was there to handle Claudia's case.

Claudia narrowed her eyes. "Who are you? Who sent you? Are you even a lawyer? Why would they send someone so inexperienced?"

The woman ignored her, calmly introducing herself to the officers.

The name made Claudia's face contort in shock. Standing before her was Sophia Reed—her estranged biological daughter.

Sophia had only returned to visit her grandparents when news of Claudia's scandal broke, distressing them terribly. Left with no choice, she stepped in to manage the mess.

Claudia hadn't known about Gabriel's drug trafficking, but her suspicious behavior and unwilling involvement complicated matters. She wouldn’t be leaving the station tonight.

"Stay put. I’ll arrange legal counsel," Sophia said coldly, not even glancing at her.

Bristling with resentment, Claudia snapped, "Why are you here? To gloat over my humiliation? Planning to sabotage me for revenge?"

Sophia let out a sharp laugh. "Revenge? You’re not worth the effort. If not for our grandparents, I wouldn’t bother. I just never expected..." Her voice trailed off, heavy with unspoken disappointment.