Chapter 198

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 sipped her latte, scrolling absently through her phone, when an unexpected notification popped up—a message from her assistant, Lillian Graves.

"You won’t believe what I just overheard."

Evelyn’s fingers hovered over the screen. Lillian wasn’t one for dramatics, so if she was intrigued, it had to be good.

Lillian: Nathan Blackwood’s sister, Sophia, just had a screaming match with her husband, Daniel Prescott, in the middle of the Blackwood Enterprises lobby. Something about a mistress named Adriana?

Evelyn nearly choked on her coffee. Adriana? That name rang a bell—wasn’t she the same woman Daniel had introduced as his "business associate" at last month’s gala?

Her phone buzzed again.

Lillian: And get this—Sophia stormed out, shouting that she’d expose Daniel’s entire family if he didn’t cut ties with Adriana by tonight.

Evelyn’s lips curled into a smirk. The Blackwood family drama was always delicious, but this? This was juicy.

Before she could reply, another message lit up her screen—this time from Preston Whitmore, her agent.

Preston: Emergency meeting at the studio. Harrison Montgomery’s wife, Natalie Whitaker, just filed for divorce. Rumor has it she caught him with Vanessa Sterling in their penthouse.

Evelyn’s eyebrows shot up. Harrison Montgomery—Hollywood’s golden boy—caught cheating? The media frenzy would be brutal.

She quickly typed back: On my way.

As she grabbed her coat, her phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number: You might want to check the security footage from last night’s charity event. Someone’s been keeping secrets.

Evelyn’s pulse spiked. Who was this? And what secrets?

She hesitated, then tapped out a reply: Who is this?

The response was instant.

Unknown Number: Let’s just say… you’re not the only one who can read minds.

A chill slithered down her spine.

Was this a threat? A joke? Or—

Her phone rang, startling her. The caller ID flashed: Nathan Blackwood.

Evelyn exhaled sharply. Of course he’d call now.

She swiped to answer, her voice deliberately light. "Nathan. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

His tone was ice. "We need to talk. Now."

Evelyn’s grip tightened on her phone. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t good.

And she had a sinking feeling the real drama was just beginning.

Evelyn stared at Nathan in utter disbelief.

The room fell into stunned silence. Even as the CEO of Blackwood Enterprises, could Nathan truly wield such extensive influence overseas?

"Nathan, you're really going this far." Even the typically composed Lucas looked shocked. He can't possibly be serious about this.

Given the earlier conversation, Evelyn was certain the only information Nathan could uncover would confirm her stay at the nursing home. She wasn’t foolish enough to lie about something so easily verifiable.

This reckless move was unlike Nathan. It was impulsive—what if he couldn’t get an answer? Worse, what if the answer matched Evelyn’s claims? He’d be humiliating himself.

Since when did Nathan care so little about his own dignity?

Cassandra watched Nathan, confusion flickering in her eyes. She, too, thought his approach was rash. Wasn’t this indirectly proving Evelyn’s story?

Her mind raced, spiraling into wild speculation.

Does he truly believe Evelyn is lying? Is that why he’s treating her this way? Now he’s desperate to confirm the truth, and then…

Nathan shot her an irritated glare, as if reading her thoughts.

"Let’s wait for the call before jumping to conclusions," he said sharply, his tone laced with displeasure.

Noticing his darkening expression, Cassandra reined in her imagination.

Truthfully, he shouldn’t have resorted to such an aggressive tactic. Nathan never acted without certainty.

But Evelyn had just tried to manipulate him with her so-called deep affection, all while subtly dragging Cassandra into the mess as a comparison. If left unchecked, by the end of the night, rumors would spread—Evelyn’s undying love for Nathan, and Cassandra’s selfish rise to becoming his wife.

How could he stand by and let Evelyn target Cassandra like this?

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Evelyn hadn’t expected Nathan to doubt her to this extent. Her heart shattered.

Finally, reality crashed over her. Nathan had never loved her. And now, he wasn’t even sparing her basic courtesy.

Biting her lower lip, resentment burned inside her. Fine, let him ask. If Nathan confirms I stayed there, it’ll only prove my story further.

Tonight, Evelyn Sinclair was determined to cement her position as the pitiable victim.

The Sinclair family had retreated to their homeland, humiliated and broken. If she didn't maintain her carefully crafted image, it would reflect poorly on the entire family. A woman drowning in unrequited love always garnered more sympathy than one exposed as deceitful and manipulative.

This wasn’t just about her reputation—it was about the Sinclair family’s standing in high society.

When the time came, Nathan Blackwood would surely drown in guilt. Even if there had never been love between them, guilt could be a powerful motivator. She refused to believe she would lose to Cassandra, a woman with no pedigree, no connections, and nothing but empty charm.

Nathan’s phone rang. Though most assumed it wouldn’t change anything, curiosity still had everyone leaning in, waiting for the outcome.

Nathan switched to speakerphone without hesitation.

A customer service representative’s voice, speaking in a crisp foreign accent, filled the room.

Though it wasn’t Uprian, many in attendance understood it perfectly.

At first, Evelyn thought she wouldn’t comprehend a word—another frustrating disadvantage. But to her shock, the moment the words reached her ears, they translated effortlessly in her mind.

The thrill of understanding nearly eclipsed her excitement for the impending gossip.

For someone who had struggled with languages her entire life, this sudden fluency felt like unlocking a hidden skill.

But it was strange. Inheriting memories was one thing—inheriting language proficiency? That defied logic.

Still, gossip came first. Thanks to the original body’s unexpected gift, she now had a free language upgrade.

"Hello, Mr. Blackwood," the voice on the line began. "This is the General Services Department of Astoria’s Grace Nursing Home. How may we assist you?"

Nathan’s response was smooth, his foreign accent flawless. "I have a friend..."

The moment had arrived. Cassandra instinctively held her breath, mentally reviewing every detail to ensure nothing could go wrong.

"...who has contracted a rare illness and hopes to be admitted to your facility."

Silence.

Everyone blinked in confusion.

Wasn’t he supposed to ask if Cassandra had ever stayed there? What kind of question was this?

The staff member politely requested the patient’s details.

Nathan spun an elaborate tale about a childhood friend from his hometown.

The room watched, stunned, as he wove the lie with effortless conviction.

The crisp voice from the phone carried an unmistakable apology. "I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Blackwood, but our facility has strict policies. We exclusively serve nobility from Astoria. We cannot accommodate patients from other backgrounds."

Nathan's piercing gaze softened at once, a flicker of realization passing through his storm-gray eyes.

Among the gathered crowd, Roland—ever the sharp-eyed detective—was the first to react. His attention snapped toward Cassandra, suspicion darkening his expression.

Cassandra herself seemed to freeze, her delicate fingers tightening around her clutch. Her doe-like eyes widened, lips parting in silent horror, but it was too late to stop Nathan's next words.

His voice dropped to a dangerous timbre, laced with barely restrained fury as he addressed the staff member. "A Ms. Sinclair was a long-term resident at your institution. She personally confirmed this to me, and as far as I'm aware, she still holds our nation's citizenship. That's precisely why I sought your services for my associate. And now you claim it's impossible?" A cold chuckle. "I suggest your director provide me with an explanation—immediately."

Even elite establishments knew better than to provoke individuals of Nathan's standing—men whose influence spanned continents.

The staff member, already aware of Nathan's formidable reputation, scrambled to clarify. While patient confidentiality prevented medical disclosures, general information was fair game—especially when dealing with someone whose family name opened doors worldwide.

"Mr. Blackwood, allow me to clarify. There's no need to involve the director. Ms. Sinclair did reside with us for several years, but she wasn't a patient. She accompanied someone—a noble family member under our care. Our records show we've never treated any citizens from your country. Our policies are absolute—"

By then, the damning truth had already shattered the room.

She hadn't been a patient. She'd been a caretaker.

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd.

"Good God—she lied!"

"Unbelievable! The audacity!"

"Wait—that staff said their patients are aristocrats. Since when does the Sinclair family rub shoulders with foreign nobility? What was their precious heiress doing there?"

A knowing gasp. "Oh! This reminds me of that scandal overseas—where she was tending to her fiancé's ailing mother. The rumors were vile."

"So you're saying... she was trying to marry into nobility? And that's why she played nurse?"

"Exactly! And clearly, it didn't work."

A scornful laugh. "No wonder she came crawling back—straight into Nathan's arms the moment she returned!"

The whispers crescendoed, each revelation stripping away Cassandra's carefully constructed facade.

Nathan's expression remained unreadable, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his fury. The woman he'd once loved—the one who'd claimed she'd been receiving elite treatment abroad—had been nothing more than a glorified servant.

And she'd dared to lie to him.

The game had just changed.

Evelyn clung to Nathan desperately, her fingers digging into his arms as if he were her only lifeline.

Dear readers, the truth has finally come to light!

The scandal was so explosive that the entire room erupted into chaos. Whispers turned into shouts, voices rising in shock and disbelief. Naturally, Evelyn heard every word.

Cassandra’s face turned deathly pale, her lips trembling as if she had just been struck by lightning. The moment this phone call ended, she knew—her fate was sealed.

There was no going back. No excuses left.

The damning truth about her had already spread like wildfire through the crowd, igniting a storm of judgment.

"So she was just using Nathan as a rebound? Settling for second best? Has she lost her mind?"

"If it weren’t for Nathan’s sharp instincts, he would’ve been dragged through the mud by her schemes. She’s absolutely ruthless!"

"What a performance! Cassandra really knows how to put on a show."

The most damning part? She had orchestrated everything. Had she stopped for even a second to reconsider, her true nature might never have been exposed. But now?

She had brought this upon herself.

Before Cassandra could even react, a sharp crack echoed through the room—a slap so forceful it silenced every other sound.