Chapter 202

The moment Evelyn Sinclair stepped into the grand ballroom, all eyes turned toward her. The chandeliers cast a golden glow over the room, but none of it compared to the way she carried herself—graceful, poised, and effortlessly captivating.

Nathan Blackwood watched her from across the room, his fingers tightening around his glass of whiskey. She was a vision in emerald green, the dress hugging her curves in all the right places. He had seen her in countless meetings, but tonight was different. Tonight, she wasn’t just his business rival—she was the woman who had unknowingly taken over his thoughts.

Victoria Hayes, his ever-watchful secretary, leaned in with a smirk. "She’s certainly making an entrance, isn’t she?"

Nathan didn’t respond. His gaze remained locked on Evelyn as she laughed at something Preston Whitmore, the renowned director, had said. The sound of her laughter was like music, and it irked him that he wasn’t the one causing it.

Serena Whitmore, Evelyn’s sharp-witted agent, appeared beside her, whispering something that made Evelyn’s eyes flicker toward Nathan. Their gazes clashed, and for a heartbeat, the room faded away.

Then Donovan Sharpe, the event’s producer, clinked his glass for attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, before we proceed with tonight’s auction, we have a special announcement."

Evelyn’s fingers curled around her clutch. She had been waiting for this moment—the reveal of the Blackwood Foundation’s newest project. But when Donovan continued, his words sent a ripple of shock through the crowd.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Blackwood Foundation will be merging its resources with Sinclair Enterprises for this initiative."

Nathan’s jaw tightened. This wasn’t part of the plan.

Evelyn’s lips parted in surprise before she schooled her expression into one of polite interest. But Nathan saw the fire in her eyes. She hadn’t known either.

Victoria’s smirk widened. "Looks like you’ll be working closely with her after all."

Nathan set his glass down with deliberate calm. "This changes nothing."

But as he watched Evelyn stride toward the stage, her chin lifted in defiance, he knew one thing for certain—this was far from over.

And he wasn’t sure if he was dreading it… or anticipating it.

Falling for you, fallen for you, fallen...

Evelyn's mind went completely blank. It was uncanny how Nathan's words always seemed to echo the unspoken questions in her heart.

After his little speech, a flush of embarrassment crept up Nathan's neck. His ears turned pink, the color spreading across his chiseled features like wildfire. He swallowed hard, his gaze flickering nervously to Evelyn's face.

The truth was, he was terrified. Terrified that if he laid his heart bare, this new version of Evelyn—the one who had finally started trusting him—might retreat back into her shell.

But if they were ever going to start fresh, he had to be honest.

Nathan held his breath, watching for any flicker of reaction. He half-expected some tender confession in return, but instead, Evelyn blinked rapidly and pushed him away with both hands.

His throat tightened.

When he saw the panic flashing in her eyes, he forced a shaky laugh. "That bad, huh?"

Nathan felt the sting of rejection like a physical blow. "If you need time to think, that's fine," he said quickly, his voice rougher than he intended. "But don't just... shut me out like that. I've never felt this way about anyone before."

Evelyn stared up at him. The usual confidence in his storm-gray eyes had been replaced by something vulnerable—something raw. Her pulse skittered wildly. She'd navigated boardroom takeovers and media scandals with ease, but this? This was uncharted territory.

If this were just another business arrangement, it would be simple. Money, power, even lust—those were currencies she understood. But love? Real, messy, inconvenient love? That made her feel like a fraud, like she was stealing something precious under false pretenses.

At her core, Evelyn respected genuine emotion too much to play games with it.

Nathan's sudden confession had left her scrambling for footing.

Since when had the script flipped? Wasn't he supposed to be the untouchable CEO, the man who never let anyone close? The one who kept his heart locked away behind steel walls?

Honestly, her reaction shouldn't have surprised him.

Seeing her struggle, Nathan did the one thing she least expected—he gave her space.

"Evelyn," he said softly, stepping back, "you don't have to answer me now. Think of this as me... courting you properly. We'll take it slow. Get to know each other without the contracts and cameras. When—if—you're ever ready, you'll tell me. And then..." His lips quirked in that devastating half-smile. "Then we'll have our real wedding."

The retreat was a masterstroke. Evelyn felt the tension leave her shoulders in a rush.

He wasn't bulldozing into her life like a hurricane. Instead, he was knocking gently at the door of her heart, waiting for permission to enter.

And God knew Evelyn hated being backed into corners.

"Okay," she breathed at last. "Okay, we can... try that."

Nathan's smile could have powered cities. "Good. Because Sinclair? I plan to woo you so thoroughly, you'll forget you ever doubted this."

The promise in his voice sent shivers down her spine.

This was either going to be the best decision of her life—or the most catastrophic.

With those words, Evelyn quickly slipped away, clearly unwilling to face the situation.

"I'm exhausted. I'm going to take a nap."

Though Nathan was disappointed, he didn’t try to stop her. He simply let Evelyn retreat into the house.

When he stepped through the front door, all traces of her had vanished. Not even the faintest whisper of her presence could be heard. It seemed she had barricaded herself in the bedroom.

Yet, she had barely eaten anything at dinner. Normally by this hour, she would’ve already raided the kitchen for a midnight snack, but tonight, she was conspicuously absent. Nathan chuckled to himself and went in search of the housekeeper.

Suddenly, he realized the house was eerily quiet. Where was everyone?

Since the family gathering had ended early, the Blackwoods should’ve been lounging downstairs.

Something felt off.

As Nathan passed by a room, he heard muffled voices. It sounded like a heated discussion.

Curious, he turned and found himself staring at the security control room.

He pushed the door open.

"Evelyn isn’t head over heels for Nathan. Would she really leave him?" Genevieve asked, her voice trembling with distress.

"What do we do? I adore Evelyn! I don’t want her to leave the Blackwood family," Sophia fretted.

"Calm down! She hasn’t rejected him yet. I have faith in Nathan!" Julian declared.

"Could this be the grand pursuit of love?" Margaret mused.

"No, no, no. It’s more like realizing love too late," Richard countered.

"Aren’t they already married?" Theodore pointed out.

"I believe Ms. Evelyn still has feelings for Mr. Nathan. They just need time to sort things out," the butler offered wisely.

"Exactly! They never had a proper courtship. Maybe Ms. Evelyn wants Mr. Nathan to woo her properly," the housekeeper added.

It was a sight to behold—the entire Blackwood family huddled in the security room, watching the drama unfold live. They were utterly engrossed in the gossip.

When they’d noticed Nathan’s car parked outside for so long, curiosity had gotten the better of them. Not wanting to interrupt a private moment, they’d resorted to spying through the security feed—only to stumble upon the juiciest gossip in ages.

The Blackwoods had all noticed the gradual improvement in Nathan and Evelyn’s relationship. He’d been treating her better lately.

But hearing the words "falling in love" come out of his mouth? That had shocked them all.

They’d assumed the couple would grow closer after Nathan cleared up misunderstandings at the gathering. But no one had expected such a confession from the usually stoic Nathan.

People praised his decisiveness in business, but who knew he’d be just as bold in love?

The family was deep in debate when they suddenly sensed someone watching. All heads swiveled to find Nathan standing at the door, his expression unreadable. He’d reached peak embarrassment, frozen in place.

Being caught gossiping didn’t faze the Blackwoods, though.

Julian was the first to speak. "Don’t worry, brother. Keep your chin up. I suggest you take her on a date tomorrow. A few romantic outings, and she’ll remember how she once felt about you!"

Genevieve immediately disagreed. "No, no. She’s been avoiding us all evening. Give her space. Push too hard, and you’ll scare her off."

Julian shot her a look. "That’s your perspective, but Evelyn isn’t like you."

Genevieve scoffed. "And you’re no expert either. Given your track record with women, maybe you shouldn’t be giving advice."

Julian nearly exploded. "Oh, like you’re any better! Your dating history isn’t exactly impressive."

Seeing the siblings about to brawl, Sophia interjected, "I think—"

Twin glares silenced her. Their eyes screamed, Stay out of this.

Sophia clamped her mouth shut. Fine. Not like I have any wisdom to share anyway.

"How did our romantic genes skip these four?" Richard muttered.

"Must’ve been a genetic mutation," Margaret replied dryly.

"Good point," Richard agreed.

Nathan massaged his temples. "Please, just stay out of it. Pretend you know nothing. Otherwise, she’ll be mortified."

Evelyn loved gossip—but being the subject of it? That was another story.

The family quickly promised to keep quiet before scattering from the room.

Nathan’s siblings were stunned by his earlier confession. When had he developed these feelings? And how deep did they run?

Nathan had no answers for them. He didn’t even know himself.

Strangely, his parents didn’t seem surprised at all. Almost as if they’d seen it coming.

Nathan Blackwood had always been guarded with his emotions—a trait deeply rooted in his troubled past. As a child, he'd endured phases of extreme introversion, often withdrawing from the world for weeks at a time.

Yet beneath that icy exterior, his emotions burned fiercely.

During one of his silent spells as a boy, his family had taken him on vacation, hoping to lift his spirits. That was when they'd stayed with Evelyn Sinclair’s family.

For three days, Evelyn had shadowed Nathan relentlessly, her sunny disposition unwavering despite his silence. He hadn’t spoken a single word to her the entire time.

But when the Sinclairs left, Nathan shattered. Tears streamed down his face, so sudden and violent that his parents panicked, calling a doctor, convinced he was ill. It never occurred to them that he might have been crying for Evelyn.

Afterward, once the doctor left, Nathan sealed himself off even further, as if that outburst had drained him of all feeling.

But emotions, when suppressed too long, always find a way to erupt. Perhaps that was what had happened with Evelyn all those years ago.

Now, the situation had reversed. Evelyn’s obsession with Nathan had always been puzzling. Before her adoption, they’d barely interacted. Nearly a decade had passed without them seeing each other.

As a child, Evelyn had been radiant—warm, cheerful, effortlessly kind to everyone. So when she’d first met Nathan, her affection toward him hadn’t stood out. To the adults, it was just two children playing.

Years later, when she moved into the Blackwood estate, she became a ghost—distant, untouchable. The family assumed grief had hollowed her out after losing her parents, so they tolerated her coldness, though it made them uneasy.

Julian had never warmed to her, barely acknowledging her presence. Genevieve, younger and more timid, quickly learned not to bother her. Sophia, meanwhile, had married young and left home.

Nathan, busy with university, rarely visited. Yet somehow, Evelyn had fallen for him at first sight. Every time he returned, she was the one who sought him out, her advances growing bolder with each encounter. Nathan remained polite but detached—until their arranged marriage.

In the two years that followed, Evelyn’s fixation spiraled into something unsettling, her actions toeing the line between devotion and desperation.

It was impossible to tell whether she truly loved Nathan or simply craved the security of being his wife.

Now, the tables had turned. Nathan was the one falling for her—exactly what the family had always hoped for.

But love, especially for someone like Nathan, was never simple.