Chapter 204

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse, illuminating the scattered scripts on her coffee table. She sighed, running a hand through her tousled auburn hair as she reread the same line for the tenth time.

Why can't I focus?

Her phone buzzed—another message from Lillian Graves, her ever-efficient assistant.

Lillian: The meeting with Preston Whitmore is in two hours. Don’t forget, he’s expecting your final decision on the script.

Evelyn groaned. She had been avoiding this conversation. The role was perfect—a strong, complex lead in a major studio production. But something held her back.

Her thoughts drifted to Nathan Blackwood.

Ever since their explosive argument at the gala last week, they hadn’t spoken. His words still echoed in her mind: "You’re running away again, Evelyn. When will you stop hiding behind your career?"

A sharp knock at her door startled her.

"Evelyn? It's me."

That voice.

Her breath hitched. Nathan.

She hesitated before opening the door. He stood there, his dark eyes stormy, jaw clenched. The scent of his cologne—something woodsy and intoxicating—flooded her senses.

"We need to talk," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Evelyn crossed her arms. "About what? You made your opinion of me very clear."

Nathan stepped closer, his gaze burning into hers. "I was wrong."

Her heart stuttered. What?

Before she could respond, he continued, "I shouldn’t have said those things. But I meant what I said about you running. You’re considering turning down Preston’s film because you’re scared—not because it’s not right for you."

Evelyn’s cheeks flushed. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."

Nathan smirked, that infuriating, charming smirk that always unraveled her. "Then prove me wrong. Take the role. Show me—and yourself—that you’re not afraid."

Her pulse raced.

A beat of silence stretched between them, charged with unspoken tension.

Then, her phone rang again. Preston Whitmore’s name flashed on the screen.

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Well? Are you going to answer it?"

Evelyn exhaled sharply, her fingers hovering over the screen.

This was it. A choice.

She swiped to accept the call.

Preston: Evelyn, darling. Have you made your decision?

She met Nathan’s gaze, a challenge in her eyes.

"Yes," she said, her voice steady. "I’m in."

Nathan’s lips curved into a slow, approving smile.

But as Preston’s delighted response filled her ear, Evelyn couldn’t shake the feeling that this decision would change everything.

And not just for her career.

For them.

Evelyn Sinclair: Violet Carter's family suddenly faced a financial crisis and urgently needed funds. She tried borrowing from others but hit dead ends everywhere. With no other options left, she hesitantly approached Mason Hunter for help, secretly hoping this might mend their strained relationship—if he came through and finally told her the truth. But Mason's reaction shocked her. He accused her of lying and demanded she confess, leaving Violet utterly devastated. Even as she swore she was being honest, Mason stormed off in a rage.

The Blackwoods were speechless. He didn’t believe her? What was there not to believe? The sheer audacity of him—accusing her of deception when he was the one who had lied! Was this his guilt talking, deflecting blame onto her despite knowing he was the one at fault?

Evelyn: Mason’s an absolute fool. But that’s not even the worst part—Claire Morgan is still in the picture!

The Blackwood Family: What? What did she do?

Evelyn: After setting her initial trap, Claire expected Violet to confront Mason immediately. To her surprise, not only did Violet stay silent during the reunion, but she vanished afterward without a trace. Even more shocking? Mason announced he’d bring his girlfriend to the next family gathering. The unexpected turn left Claire unsettled. She wasn’t sure if Violet knew the truth, but she couldn’t risk it. After some digging, she discovered Violet had been desperately borrowing money. So, she went to Mason…

The Blackwoods leaned in, nerves taut. What did she say? Spill it!

Evelyn: Claire told Mason his efforts were pointless—his true identity wasn’t some well-kept secret. She insinuated Violet might already know his background and was pretending not to care about his financial struggles, all to manipulate his feelings. Worse? She hinted Violet’s "helpless" act was just a ploy to eventually extort money from him. Damn, she’s vicious!

The Blackwoods: Ugh, she knew exactly how to poison his mind!

Evelyn: At first, Mason dismissed her claims, but Claire kept needling him to "verify Violet’s true intentions." She even warned him that Violet’s sudden financial plea might be part of her scheme. Honestly, Claire’s a master at weaving traps.

The family exchanged stunned glances. Who’d have guessed that beneath Claire’s polished socialite exterior lurked such cunning?

Nathan Blackwood, who’d once been Claire’s classmate, felt a chill. His opinion of her had shattered. How could Mason fall for her manipulations so easily? Especially when he claimed to genuinely care for Violet.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Blackwoods buzzed with anticipation. What happened next?

Then came the twist.

Evelyn: Initially, Violet had borrowed money from others. When Mason found out, he remembered Claire’s warnings. Though skeptical, he questioned Violet’s motives and discreetly investigated. But—plot twist—his people found zero evidence of the Carter family seeking loans.

The Blackwoods gasped. A setup? Had Violet’s family deceived her?

Evelyn: The Mandor family was tangled in something illegal—something they dared not reveal. That’s why Violet couldn’t confide in anyone…

Why did they depend on Violet Carter, who lived miles away, to bail them out of their financial crisis? If this got reported, their situation would be catastrophic. Yet Mason Hunter remained clueless, relying solely on rumors. If Nathan Blackwood were in his place, he would’ve dug deeper—Mason deserved to stay single forever!

The Blackwoods: We see.

Nathan: Did she just sneak in a compliment about me?

Evelyn Sinclair: After his half-hearted investigation revealed the Meadows family hadn’t borrowed money, Mason immediately concluded Violet was lying. He even assumed she knew his true identity and was scheming to extort money from him. Heartbroken, he nearly ended things with her on the spot.

After catching up on a week’s worth of drama, Evelyn finally snapped. Damn it, Mason. How dare you give Violet the silent treatment? You have the audacity to even think about breaking up with her?

Though it seemed like a chain of misunderstandings, Mason’s actions were downright infuriating!

The Blackwoods gasped in unison, horrified by the emotional toll Violet had endured.

Even if Violet confessed the truth now, Evelyn was certain Mason would still suspect her of being a gold-digger. But wasn’t this his own fault? He was the one who started their relationship with lies! Go ahead, keep making a fool of yourself. Soon, you’ll realize you’re the biggest idiot of all. Because of his rejection, Violet had no choice but to accept Claire Morgan’s offer—becoming the personal makeup artist for his mother and sister-in-law.

Even the Blackwoods couldn’t stay silent. Claire is truly ruthless, isn’t she? Was the breakup not enough? Now she’s humiliating Violet like this? While no job was beneath anyone, Claire hiring Violet to serve her family was pure malice.

Evelyn: I can’t wait to see Mason’s face when he runs into Violet.

After finishing her gossip session, Evelyn glanced at the invitation in Nathan’s hand. "So… are you going?"

She’d seen him decline similar wine-tasting invitations before. If he refused, she’d have to attend alone—something she wasn’t looking forward to. "It’s at your friend’s estate. You’ll be there, right?"

Nathan’s heart skipped a beat at the hopeful glimmer in Evelyn’s eyes.

He turned to her, lips curling into a soft smile. Though he usually avoided such events, he’d gladly accompany her—he knew how much she adored them.

He hummed thoughtfully. "So, just the two of us—"

Before he could finish, Margaret Blackwood cut in, "Isn’t this a family invitation?"

Richard Blackwood nodded. "It’s been ages since we last attended a wine-tasting. I’m sure Liam Bennett would love to have us."

Sophia Blackwood piped up, "I’m free too!"

Julian Blackwood cleared his throat. "I’ve been meaning to shop for gifts to take overseas anyway."

"The wine selection from the Hampton estate seems exquisite."

"I—I've been considering that now might be the perfect time to educate myself on wine appreciation," Genevieve added, seizing the opportunity to justify her attendance at the event.

"In that case, let's all go together!"

Evelyn: Perfect! Now I won’t have to face Nathan alone anymore. Hallelujah!

Nathan was utterly speechless.

His sharp glare swept over them, prompting the entire family to lower their heads in unison, avoiding his piercing gaze. We’d love to give you space, but your relationship is moving at a snail’s pace. There’s no way we’re missing out on potential drama just to respect your privacy. Sorry, not sorry!

At that moment, not a single Blackwood was willing to sacrifice the chance to witness whatever spectacle might unfold later.

Nathan’s sorrowful, accusing stare only deepened the collective guilt weighing on the family.

The Blackwoods: Oh, come on! Worst-case scenario, we’ll entertain ourselves and leave you two alone. Stop being so dramatic!

Despite his vehement reluctance, Nathan ultimately found himself attending the Hampton family’s wine-tasting soirée—dragged along by his meddling relatives.

They arrived before any other guests, eager to catch even the slightest hint of tension.

After all, the makeup artist would surely arrive early.

They couldn’t risk missing a single unexpected development.

What would be the point of coming if they didn’t witness something juicy?

Given the Blackwoods’ status and influence, a single representative would have sufficed for such an event. The only connection between the two families was Mason’s strained relationship with Nathan.

So when the entire Blackwood clan announced their attendance, the Hamptons were visibly stunned. They scrambled to greet them with excessive enthusiasm, their warm reception almost suggesting a potential business alliance between the two families.

The Hamptons failed to notice that, despite the polite exchanges, the Blackwoods’ attention was subtly—but unmistakably—fixed on Mason and Claire. Of course, the down-to-earth older brother, Ethan, also garnered some curious glances.