Chapter 19

The morning sun cast golden streaks across Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse as she paced the marble floors, her phone pressed tightly to her ear.

"Lillian, I need you to pull every record on Nathan Blackwood's past investments," she demanded, her voice sharp with urgency.

On the other end, Lillian Graves hesitated. "Evelyn, are you sure about this? If he finds out—"

"I don't care if he finds out," Evelyn snapped, her fingers curling into a fist. "He's hiding something, and I intend to uncover it."

The truth was, Nathan had been acting strangely ever since their last encounter—distant, distracted, his usual sharp wit dulled by something unspoken. It gnawed at her, this sudden shift, and Evelyn had never been one to let mysteries linger.

Meanwhile, across town, Nathan stood in his office, staring at the encrypted file on his screen. His jaw tightened as he scanned the contents—documents that could unravel everything.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Mr. Blackwood?" Victoria Hayes, his ever-efficient secretary, stepped in, her heels clicking against the hardwood. "Your sister, Sophia, is on line two. She says it's urgent."

Nathan exhaled sharply. Sophia never called unless it was serious.

He picked up the phone. "What's wrong?"

Her voice was strained. "It's about Daniel. He's been seen with Adriana again."

Nathan's grip on the receiver tightened. His brother-in-law's infidelity was an open secret, but Sophia had always turned a blind eye—until now.

"I'll handle it," he said coldly.

But as he hung up, his gaze flickered back to the file on his screen. The timing couldn't be worse.

Because buried in those documents was a truth that could destroy more than just his sister's marriage.

It could destroy him.

And if Evelyn got her hands on it first?

Nathan's phone buzzed—a message from an unknown number.

"I know what you're hiding."

His blood ran cold.

Someone else was already one step ahead.

When Celeste reappeared after changing her outfit, Evelyn Sinclair hesitated, her lips parting then closing as words failed her.

Having witnessed Celeste's heartbreaking past through the Whisper Network, Evelyn felt an unexpected tightness in her chest.

Orphaned since childhood, Evelyn had believed her own life was a tapestry of hardships. Yet nothing could have prepared her for the revelation that Celeste—despite her wealthy upbringing and living parents—endured a loneliness far deeper than Evelyn's own.

Twins by birth, Isabelle had been born fragile, her health hanging by a thread. Edward and Penelope Cowell had no choice but to whisk her away overseas for specialized treatment, dragging Celeste along like forgotten luggage.

Though physically present, Celeste became a shadow in her own family—overshadowed by the constant medical crises surrounding Isabelle. There were nights she'd been left behind at hotels, mornings when no one remembered her birthday.

Eleanor Cowell, the family matriarch, had intervened upon hearing of the neglect, bringing Celeste home to raise as her own. This separation from her parents at such a tender age left Celeste emotionally adrift, her grandmother becoming her only anchor.

Meanwhile, Isabelle grew up drowning in affection, her every whim indulged. The sudden appearance of a mirror-image sister threatened her universe of privilege.

From the moment the "perfect family" reunited under one roof, Celeste's smile became a rare artifact. Yet her unwavering focus on academic pursuits revealed a quiet resilience that astonished Evelyn.

As they descended the grand staircase together, Evelyn finally voiced the question burning in her throat. "You're really ending things with Julian?"

The Whisper Network had revealed Celeste's secret—she'd carried a torch for Julian Blackwood since age five. Evelyn couldn't fathom what her friend saw in that arrogant aristocrat.

Celeste's nod came swift and decisive, her usual hesitation absent.

Evelyn squeezed her hand. "Good riddance. That man never deserved you. Trust me, your future just got infinitely brighter without that emotional anchor dragging you down."

Celeste's eyes widened—Evelyn had somehow articulated the exact truth she'd been too afraid to admit.

Celeste had not only abandoned Julian but had also lost all faith in her parents and Isabelle. From that moment on, she vowed to seize every chance to sever ties with her family—permanently.

All she desired was a life untouched by Isabelle’s shadow.

“I’m certain I will. Thank you,” Celeste replied with a practiced smile.

As they stepped into the grand ballroom, the Cowell family was just stepping forward to offer their congratulations to Sophia.

The trio seemed to have entirely forgotten they had another daughter.

Edward and Penelope flanked Isabelle, their pride evident as they basked in the spotlight.

“What joyous news that Theodore has been found! May brighter days grace your family, Sophia. Congratulations!”

“Indeed, congratulations! When Julian mentioned this earlier, I was so moved I nearly wept. Truly, a kind soul like yours is blessed by fate. Oh, and Isabelle brought you a gift.”

Edward and Penelope worked tirelessly to keep Isabelle at the center of attention, but after their deceitful claim about being life-savers, the Blackwoods regarded them with thinly veiled discomfort.

“Hmm? Where’s Celeste?” Margaret inquired, her gaze sweeping the room.

Edward and Penelope froze, as if suddenly remembering Celeste’s existence.

“That girl has no manners. Who knows where she’s wandered off to?” Penelope muttered irritably, her disdain clear. To her, Celeste was nothing but an embarrassment.

From across the room, Isabelle watched Julian, noting the stormy expression he’d worn since returning earlier. She knew him well enough to recognize his foul mood.

Celeste must be the cause, she thought smugly. She probably threw herself at him again and got rejected. No wonder she’s hiding now.

Suppressing a smirk, Isabelle feigned concern. “Should I go look for my sister? She must be upset. I’ll bring her back.”

Her dutiful act only highlighted Celeste’s absence, painting her as the unreasonable one.

Then—

A voice cut through the murmurs.

Isabelle stiffened under the sudden scrutiny of the crowd, wishing the floor would swallow her whole.

Celeste approached, her expression unreadable. Isabelle forced a smile. “Oh, you changed your clothes. I thought you were angry with me, Celeste.”

A chill ran down Isabelle’s spine. Did Julian tell her about the proposal? Is that why she looks so furious?

She barely contained her triumphant grin as she shot Celeste a subtle, gloating look.

If this hadn’t been someone else’s event, Celeste would’ve unleashed her fury then and there. She was certain Isabelle had orchestrated the restroom incident, framing her for it.

Clenching her fists, Celeste sat down in silence, ignored by her family as they resumed their socializing.

Across the room, Julian’s distracted gaze snapped to Celeste the moment she appeared.

His face darkened with turmoil.

This can’t be. The person who saved me all those years ago was definitely…

“Tell me,” he muttered under his breath, “what are Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood’s full names?”

Julian turned sharply, his gaze landing on Evelyn who was murmuring something to Nathan.

The moment Nathan responded, an electric tension crackled through the Blackwood family—everyone except Theodore subtly straightened in their seats. Though they continued their polite conversations, their eyes gleamed with barely concealed intrigue, bodies unconsciously tilting toward Evelyn as if drawn by an invisible force.

What the hell is happening?

"I understand now," Evelyn said, her voice carrying just enough to be heard. "I couldn’t fathom how I’d mistaken my rescuer. Turns out, that entire family orchestrated an elaborate deception!"

The Blackwoods had suspected as much, but the pieces still didn’t quite fit. How could Celeste have been oblivious to it all?

Julian’s expression darkened again, his jaw tightening as he shot Evelyn a sidelong glare. He was itching to see how she’d twist this tale—and whether she’d dare implicate him in the process.