Chapter 188

Nathan's declaration hit like a thunderclap, silencing the room.

Even Evelyn froze, her pulse stuttering.

Good Lord, has he lost his mind? she screamed internally. Since when does he spout such nonsense?

Nathan's lips curved with amusement.

His goal? To rattle the infuriating Evelyn—just a little.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. Since when does Nathan have the patience for petty revenge?

With a lazy shrug, Nathan thought, It’s not nonsense. I mean every word.

Initially, Evelyn’s restlessness and the chaos she’d caused had delayed their wedding indefinitely.

But now? The image of her in white sent an unexpected thrill through him.

Before Evelyn could process further, the eerie quiet registered. Her tablemates gaped, transfixed by something behind Nathan.

She didn’t need to turn.

Tsk. Of course. I’m being used.

Nathan blinked at her reaction.

Evelyn’s mind raced. He must’ve spotted Cassandra arriving. That’s why he dropped that sickeningly sweet "Eve" and those cringe-worthy lines—just to provoke his precious first love. Master manipulator indeed.

Nathan nearly choked. What twisted logic is this? But—Wait. Is Cassandra here?

Evelyn sighed. Suddenly, I envy Gwendolyn. At least she gets paid to torment her ex. Me? Just an unpaid prop. If Nathan skimps on alimony post-divorce, he’s officially a heartless miser.

Nathan’s jaw clenched. I’m picturing our wedding, and you’re drafting divorce papers?

He almost laughed aloud. Navigating Evelyn’s imagination was more exhausting than corporate mergers. How does she concoct these scenarios?

Evelyn squared her shoulders. Fine. Let’s see this legendary "first love."

Though she’d seen photos, meeting Cassandra in person was different.

Following the crowd’s stares, she turned—

Wow. She’s stunning.

And—Wait, are those tears? How… predictable.

She fought to maintain her composure, pretending indifference. But he...

Nathan caught himself mid-thought. There is no "he" anymore.

Without hesitation, Nathan turned away. Tonight, he would prove once and for all that his past with Cassandra was just that—history. No lingering emotions, no un business.

When he turned back, his gaze collided with Evelyn’s.

Nathan froze. It had been years since he’d last seen her, and for a fleeting moment, she felt like a stranger.

But the expression on Evelyn’s face? That was unforgettable.

The last time they’d parted, she had looked exactly like this—pale as moonlight, eyes brimming with shattered dreams and unshed tears. Fragile, like a willow branch trembling in a storm.

Back then, Nathan had thought, She’s clearly devastated, yet she still insists on ending things. Her mind’s made up. No point in fighting it. All I can do is wish her well.

So they’d gone their separate ways. No calls. No messages. No chance encounters.

Until now.

A realization struck him like lightning.

She wouldn’t show up to a reunion looking like this. Unless…

Unless his words had cut deeper than he intended.

Unless, all those years ago, that broken expression had been a silent plea for him to ask her to stay.

Nathan, who had accepted their breakup with a polite nod and a hollow wish for her happiness, suddenly felt like a fool.

Evelyn smirked internally. That look on his face—priceless.

Nathan blinked. Why are you pitying me?

Evelyn’s thoughts raced. Violet’s makeup skills are next-level.

Nathan’s jaw nearly dropped.

Evelyn continued, The perfect "wronged woman" façade. Men would never suspect. Women might notice if they looked closely, but Violet’s work is flawless.

Nathan’s eyes narrowed as he studied Cassandra. I’m a man. Of course I wouldn’t see it at first glance.

But that didn’t stop him from falling into his usual trap—overthinking.

Was it all an act? A performance?

Cassandra noticed Nathan’s intense scrutiny and inwardly preened. She let her lashes flutter, her shoulders slump—the picture of wounded vulnerability. As if rooted to the spot, she hesitated, too fragile to take another step.

Perfect.

Evelyn's mind raced. So it was Adrian who found the makeup artist for Cassandra, helping not just her but me too? She'd killed two birds with one stone by targeting Nathan and Mason specifically!

Nathan's jaw tightened. Mason might be clueless, but one thing's certain—I'm no fool.

The silence stretched, thick with tension. Every guest held their breath, eyes darting between the trio like spectators at a tennis match.

This is better than reality TV, someone at the neighboring table whispered. A man reunites with his first love at a reunion while his wife watches, right after he's vowed eternal devotion. The emotional whiplash must be brutal.

Evelyn bit back a smirk. Who knew I'd become the main attraction? Though she couldn't fully enjoy the drama unfolding, she'd gladly take front-row seats. Come on, show me those reactions already!

Nathan's fingers twitched against his glass. Is this really how little my wife values our marriage?

Enough was enough. He wouldn't indulge Evelyn's games tonight.

His gaze swept past Cassandra with deliberate neutrality—no cold dismissal, no warm recognition. Just the polite nod one might give a distant colleague. The same detached courtesy extended to the forgotten figure behind Cassandra: Lillian Jenner, Cassandra's ever-present shadow from their school days.

Now Lillian glared daggers at Nathan, her lips pressed into a thin line.

The crowd deflated like a punctured balloon. That's it? Disappointment hung heavy in the air. No tearful reunion? No explosive confrontation?

Evelyn's sidelong glance at Nathan turned incredulous. That's all the reaction his first love gets? Either he was an Oscar-worthy actor or—

Or he genuinely doesn't care.

Nathan resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Let Evelyn spin her theories; the truth was simpler. Some Chapters were meant to stay closed.

A flicker of hurt crossed Cassandra's face before vanishing. She knew Nathan better than most—his restraint wasn't pretense, just his nature. Expecting grand gestures from him was like waiting for rain in the desert.

The longer someone managed to maintain a harmonious bond with Nathan, the more they earned his affection.

Even though Nathan was a married man who took his vows seriously, Cassandra refused to lose hope. After all, she had been the woman who stood by his side the longest.

Having left once before, she was convinced she held a special place in Nathan’s heart.

Determined, Cassandra was ready to reclaim what she believed was hers.

At that moment, she exchanged a glance with Claire.

Claire immediately spoke up. "Cassandra, Lily, welcome back! I didn’t think you’d make it in time for the reunion, but here you are."

Claire started to rise, then hesitated, casting an awkward look at Evelyn before adding carefully, "Our table is the only one with empty seats. Everyone else is..."

"What’s the big deal?" Grayson cut in bluntly. "We’ve known each other forever. Would you rather sit with strangers?"

Mason seized the opportunity to stir the pot. "Exactly. Anyone here got a problem with that?"

Though the atmosphere grew tense, the group quickly waved off any objections, plastering on smiles.

Truthfully, everyone wanted Cassandra to join them. No one wanted to miss the drama unfolding.

Yet Cassandra herself seemed reluctant, scanning the room for another seat—until Lily dragged her forward.

"We’re sitting here," Lily declared, shooting Evelyn a challenging glare. "And I’d like to see anyone try to stop us."

Nervous glances darted toward Evelyn, fearing a repeat of past outbursts.

But Evelyn’s reaction was… nonexistent.

Cassandra’s gaze swept over her. After hearing Victoria’s endless descriptions of Evelyn as foolish, clumsy, and volatile, she couldn’t hide her disdain. But when their eyes met, she froze.

Evelyn’s expression was utterly serene—even expectant—as if she were watching a play.

What is she up to? Cassandra’s confidence wavered. Didn’t Claire say just mentioning my name would set her off?

She had expected Evelyn to explode the moment Nathan so much as glanced her way, causing a scene that would humiliate her in front of everyone.

But Evelyn just… smiled.

And that unsettled Cassandra more than any tantrum ever could.

This clever maneuver allowed Cassandra to paint herself as the blameless victim, while Evelyn Sinclair stood condemned as the woman utterly unworthy of Nathan Blackwood's affection.

Yet Evelyn's unexpected composure in the face of these accusations left Cassandra seething with frustration. The reaction she'd anticipated—tears, public humiliation, perhaps even a dramatic confrontation—never materialized.

But Cassandra wasn't defeated yet. Nestled in her designer clutch lay the ultimate weapon—that reckless email Evelyn had sent weeks ago. One press of a button, and the carefully crafted message would detonate across social media like a digital grenade, shredding Evelyn's reputation beyond repair.

A smirk curled Cassandra's perfectly glossed lips as she tapped her phone screen. Perhaps I won't even need to lift a finger. This foolish girl has already handed me the knife to slit her own throat.