Chapter 242

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over Evelyn Sinclair’s penthouse. She stretched lazily, her mind still half-asleep, when suddenly—bam!—a flood of thoughts that weren’t her own crashed into her consciousness.

"Oh my god, did Nathan Blackwood really say that to Victoria Hayes last night?"

Evelyn bolted upright, nearly spilling her coffee. That voice—sharp, gossipy, unmistakably Victoria’s—was crystal clear in her head. But Victoria wasn’t even in the room.

She blinked. Wait… am I hearing her thoughts?

A slow smirk curled her lips. This was gold.

Downstairs in the Blackwood Enterprises lobby, Victoria Hayes adjusted her blazer, her mind racing. "Ugh, Nathan’s been so distant lately. Is it because of Evelyn? That woman is insufferable. But if he thinks I’ll just step aside—"

Evelyn, casually sipping her latte nearby, nearly choked. Oh, this is too good.

She leaned against the reception desk, feigning interest in her phone while tuning into Victoria’s mental monologue.

"Maybe I should ‘accidentally’ bump into him at the gala tonight. Wear that red dress he likes. Though, honestly, if he’s still hung up on Evelyn, maybe I should just—"

Evelyn’s grip tightened on her cup. Red dress? Gala?

Her phone buzzed. A text from Nathan: "Dinner tonight? 8 PM. Wear something stunning."

Her heart skipped, but then—Victoria’s smug inner voice cut in: "Perfect. The gala starts at 7:30. He’ll have to cancel on her."

Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. Oh, it’s on.

By noon, she’d “conveniently” run into Preston Whitmore, the director Nathan was meeting before the gala.

“Preston!” She flashed her brightest smile. “You’re still coming to the charity auction tomorrow, right?”

Preston blinked. “Auction? I thought that was next week—”

“Oh no, it’s definitely tomorrow,” Evelyn said smoothly, planting the seed. “Nathan mentioned it this morning.”

Two hours later, Preston’s rescheduled meeting forced Nathan to push dinner to 9 PM—after the gala.

Victoria’s mental scream when she found out? Priceless.

That evening, Evelyn slipped into a sleek black gown—not red—and smirked at her reflection.

Nathan’s text came through: "Running late. Meet you at 9?"

She typed back: "Take your time. I’ll be the one turning heads."

Then, just because she could, she tuned into Victoria’s thoughts one last time.

"Why is he late?! Ugh, this dress is wasted on—wait, is that… Evelyn?!"

Evelyn sauntered into the gala, catching Nathan’s gaze from across the room. His lips parted, his thoughts a delicious, unfiltered mess in her mind.

"Damn. She’s breathtaking."

Victoria’s mental screech? The cherry on top.

Evelyn sipped her champagne, grinning. This mind-reading thing? Best. Power. Ever.

Two hours later, Sophia Reed stirred awake. The first thing she saw was Daniel Wright’s concerned gaze fixed on her. As the fog of her memories cleared, heat rushed to her cheeks, and she yanked the blanket over her face.

She remembered the reckless plea she had made to Daniel. The drugs had played their part, but she hadn’t been entirely out of her mind. If it had been Mason Wright, she would’ve fought tooth and nail. But with Daniel… she had let herself surrender.

"Sophia, are you okay?" Daniel’s voice was awkward, muffled by the covers.

She burrowed deeper, like a flustered rabbit, before mumbling, "I’m sorry."

His own cheeks tinged pink as he reassured her. "Don’t apologize. None of this was your fault. Mason was the one who drugged you."

"Thank you for saving me," Sophia murmured, lowering the blanket just enough to feign composure.

But when their eyes met, the tension from earlier crackled between them again. And there it was—the faint mark on Daniel’s lower lip where she had bitten him in her desperation.

One second later, Sophia vanished beneath the sheets while Daniel spun around, hastily gathering scattered documents and stacking them on the nightstand.

Clearing his throat, he said, "About Mason’s crimes—I have proof of his drug purchase and can testify. But to ensure a full conviction, we’ll need the security footage as evidence. The choice is yours. If you want the video destroyed, I’ll respect that."

Sophia emerged, her face pale but her eyes dark with resolve. "I want him prosecuted. I’ll provide whatever evidence is needed. He deserves to pay for what he did."

Her voice trembled as she hugged herself, her body shaking.

Daniel frowned and stepped closer, resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You’re not alone in this. I’ll stand with you."

Two victims, united against a predator.

"Th-thank you," Sophia whispered, lifting her gaze—only for both of them to immediately look away, cheeks burning.

Later, the Reed family arrived, joining Daniel in handling the legal proceedings.

Days passed, and news broke—Mason had been sentenced to prison, with deportation awaiting him after his term. Additional charges might follow abroad, but one thing was certain: he wouldn’t escape justice.

A week later, the storm surrounding the Reed family finally quieted.

With no further updates from Daniel and Sophia, Evelyn Sinclair lost interest in the gossip.

Evelyn Sinclair arrived at Blackwood Enterprises with a box of homemade pastries prepared by Margaret. She had every intention of delivering them personally to Nathan Blackwood.

Earlier, Sophia and Lillian had gossiped relentlessly about a stunning businesswoman who had been shamelessly pursuing Nathan. Not that Evelyn cared—she wasn’t here to stake her claim as the official wife. No, she was just… curious.

The moment she stepped into the lobby, the receptionists’ eyes flickered with poorly concealed intrigue. Their exchanged glances screamed scandal, though they still offered her the same polite deference as always.

As she passed Nathan’s office on her way to the CEO’s suite, the assistants stiffened, their gazes darting nervously between her and the closed door. The implication was obvious.

Ah. So the homewrecker is inside? Perfect timing.

Evelyn, ever the picture of grace, instructed the nearest assistant to announce her arrival.

The woman blinked in surprise. “Mr. Blackwood left strict instructions—you’re to go in whenever you please.”

Evelyn’s lips twitched, warmth creeping into her cheeks. Just as she raised her hand to knock, voices spilled through the door.

“I’ve assigned a board member to host your team. I have dinner with my wife every evening and don’t indulge in unnecessary socializing. If you consider this disrespectful, we can terminate our collaboration.”

A woman’s voice, honeyed and deliberate, replied, “Mr. Blackwood, you’re far too clever not to understand my intentions.” The suggestive lilt in her tone was unmistakable.

“After stepping into this office, you still haven’t gotten the message?”

“That ring is just for show.”

Evelyn’s brows shot up.

What in the world are they talking about?

A beat of silence. Then the woman pressed on, “Nathan, I genuinely admire you. I don’t expect anything official—I just want—”

“Let me make this clear.” Nathan’s voice turned razor-sharp. “There isn’t a woman in this world who compares to my wife. I want her, and only her. Save your efforts for someone who cares.”

Evelyn’s breath hitched.

Oh my God. Did he just—? A giddy laugh bubbled in her chest. Turns out I’m so irresistible he’s completely smitten.

Inside the office, the usually ice-cold Nathan suddenly smirked, a faint flush dusting his cheeks. The woman across from him gaped.

Nathan didn’t spare her another glance. His wife rarely visited the office—today was a good day.

He stood and strode toward the door.

“One more thing,” he added, pausing. “I’ll be notifying your company to assign a new project lead. Blackwood Enterprises is happy to collaborate—but only if you’re removed from the equation.”

The door swung open.

Evelyn barely had time to school her expression before Nathan’s piercing gaze locked onto hers.

“Darling,” he murmured, lips curving. “You’re just in time.”

The woman's expression twisted in shock. Even if her attempt to seduce him had failed, she didn't deserve such blatant disdain. What kind of man is he?

Little did she know, Nathan Blackwood was fiercely protective of anything concerning Evelyn Sinclair. The moment Evelyn had spotted them together, he had to make his stance crystal clear—no room for misunderstandings, no hint of scandal touching his wife.

Evelyn sighed at her husband's overbearing CEO tendencies, but just then, the office door swung open unexpectedly, sending her stumbling forward.

She could have caught herself—if only someone hadn't been so quick to react.

Nathan's arms wrapped around her, pulling her flush against his chest. The scene looked far too deliberate, as if she had thrown herself into his embrace.

A low chuckle rumbled through him, vibrating against her.

"Why are you here?" His voice was deep, intimate, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"Your mother sent desserts," Evelyn replied, holding up the box.

Nathan released her only to tug her inside, shutting the door behind them.

Evelyn's gaze flicked to the other woman—tall, striking, dressed to impress. She didn’t bother with pleasantries.

The woman had done her research. She knew exactly who Evelyn was, but seeing her in person was a different kind of blow. Photos didn’t capture the effortless elegance, the way Evelyn carried herself with unshakable confidence. The woman’s earlier bravado crumbled under the weight of Evelyn’s sheer presence.

With Nathan’s cold dismissal, she had no choice but to leave, pride in tatters.

Evelyn barely spared her another thought. Her attention was stolen by the office she hadn’t visited in months.

Her breath hitched.

The walls, once adorned with prestigious artwork, were now plastered with her—glamorous shots, candid moments, magazine covers. It looked less like a CEO’s office and more like a talent agency obsessed with a single star.

Oh god.

She finally understood the conversation she’d overheard earlier.

Her cheeks burned. If any of the staff walked in now… No. Don’t even think about it.

Nathan pretended not to notice her reaction, calmly taking the dessert box and guiding her to the sofa. But the tips of his ears? Burning red.

This wasn’t for show. Nathan wanted Evelyn close, even when she wasn’t physically there. At Quirk Group’s artist division and her own studio, her face was everywhere—why should his office be any different?

If he had his way, she’d be by his side every day. But Evelyn would never agree to that, so this was his compromise.

And he wasn’t sorry about it.

This would also make everyone recognize Evelyn's position.

Evelyn couldn't read Nathan's thoughts, so she feigned indifference toward the posters to avoid an awkward situation by asking about them.

"Try some of Mom's cooking," Evelyn said.

Nathan opened the box and stared at the golden-yellow pastries, momentarily speechless.

"My mom is a disaster in the kitchen. Remember?"

Evelyn smirked. "Relax, others have already tested it. It's rare for her to succeed, so she insisted I bring it to you."

Dad and Theodore had survived eating it—otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared hand it over to Nathan. Imagine the CEO collapsing from food poisoning and being rushed to the hospital. The scandal would be legendary.

Nathan felt a warm satisfaction settle in his chest. His wife did care about him.

Despite the questionable taste, he couldn’t waste Margaret’s effort. They the meal together, snapping a photo to send back to her.

On her end, Margaret had already received word from Richard’s informant that the troublemaker had been dealt with thoroughly. She could finally relax.

After eating, Evelyn showed no signs of leaving, and Nathan certainly wouldn’t suggest it. He wanted her to stay longer, so she scrolled through her phone while he worked.

Then, Nathan’s phone rang.

Seeing it was Grayson, he answered on speaker.

"Hey Julian, free tonight? I’m throwing a pool party at XX Club. You and Evelyn should come. Everyone else will be there."

Nathan frowned. Grayson never invited him to these kinds of events. Why the sudden change?

"Are you coming? No? Fine, just Evelyn then." Grayson’s tone was impatient.

Nathan’s jaw tightened. Something felt off. He rarely got alone time with Evelyn—maybe they could have a private date instead. But...

"I’ll ask Evelyn."

Respecting her opinion, he turned to her.

Evelyn blinked. She’d never attended anything like this before.

A pool party? Swimsuits? A sea of gorgeous men and women?

Hearing her eager tone, Nathan felt his eye twitch.

Sure enough, Evelyn was grinning mischievously. At this moment, he really wanted to decline.

Nathan in swim trunks. Oh my. I'd kill to see that. Maybe I could even run my fingers over those sculpted abs! A godlike man emerging from the water—what a vision.

Nathan's cheeks flushed pink as Grayson kept insisting over the phone.

"Are we... actually going?" Nathan's gaze darted away nervously.

"Absolutely!" Evelyn answered without hesitation.

Nathan cleared his throat and relayed their acceptance to Grayson.

The moment the call ended, Evelyn practically dragged Nathan to the nearest boutique for swimwear.

Meanwhile, Grayson was frantically texting everyone, scrambling to throw together this impromptu party. His friends in the group chat were baffled by his sudden enthusiasm, but Grayson was too preoccupied to notice their confusion.

A few even tagged Nathan and Evelyn directly, skeptical about their attendance.

As curiosity about Grayson's bizarre behavior grew, Evelyn decided to investigate.

What she uncovered was... enlightening.

Unbelievable! Just because Gwendolyn had been giving him the cold shoulder, Grayson convinced himself she was playing hard to get. His brilliant plan? Throw this party where she'd be working, casually show up with another woman on his arm to make her jealous, then "magnanimously" give her a second chance.

And the reason he wanted Evelyn there? Pure manipulation. He knew Gwendolyn would approach Evelyn if she saw her. Using me as bait? Really?

Nathan's eyebrows shot up when Evelyn explained. "That's... pathetically transparent. Does Grayson really need public humiliation to realize how ridiculous he's being?"

But Evelyn was already giggling with mischief. "Oh, this will be delicious."

She randomly grabbed a swimsuit from the display.

Nathan suddenly choked. "You're... choosing that one?"

In Evelyn's hands was what could barely be considered a bikini—more like strategically placed strings. She blinked, realizing she hadn't actually looked at it properly. Tilting her head, she asked, "Got any suggestions?"

Having never attended such events before, she genuinely didn't know what was appropriate.

Nathan's eyes immediately darted toward a modest one-piece with childish ruffles.

"Good lord, Nathan," a woman's voice drawled from the entrance. "That's the most tragic swimsuit I've ever seen. Are you seriously recommending that to your wife?"

They turned to see a stunning woman leaning against the doorway, her crimson lips curved in amusement.