Chapter 244

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair’s penthouse, painting the sleek marble floors in warm hues. She stood by the window, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup absently as she gazed at the city below. The view was breathtaking, but her mind was elsewhere—lost in the whirlwind of emotions that had consumed her since last night.

Nathan Blackwood had done it again.

Just when she thought she had finally moved on, he had reappeared in her life like a storm, leaving chaos in his wake. His words from their heated argument replayed in her mind, each syllable sharp enough to reopen old wounds.

"You think you can just walk away, Evelyn? You and I—we’re not ."

A shiver ran down her spine. She hated how easily he could unravel her composure.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, pulling her from her thoughts. It was a message from Lillian Graves, her ever-efficient assistant.

Lillian: "The meeting with Preston Whitmore is confirmed for 2 PM. Also, Victoria Hayes called—again. She insists it’s urgent."

Evelyn’s grip on her cup tightened. Victoria Hayes, Nathan’s sharp-tongued secretary, had been relentless in her attempts to reach her. Whatever game Nathan was playing, she wasn’t interested.

She typed back quickly.

Evelyn: "Tell her I’m unavailable. Indefinitely."

Setting the phone down, she exhaled sharply. She had a script reading later with Donovan Sharpe, and she needed to be focused. The last thing she needed was Nathan’s drama bleeding into her career.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

As she turned to head to her closet, the intercom buzzed. The doorman’s voice crackled through.

"Ms. Sinclair, there’s a Mr. Blackwood here to see you. He says it’s important."

Evelyn’s pulse spiked. Of course he would show up unannounced. That was Nathan’s specialty—disrupting her life when she least expected it.

She hesitated, then pressed the intercom button.

"Tell him I’m not home."

A deep, familiar chuckle echoed through the speaker before the doorman could respond.

"Nice try, Evelyn. But I can see your shadow moving from here."

Her breath hitched. Damn him.

She marched to the door and yanked it open. Nathan stood there, looking infuriatingly composed in his tailored suit, his dark eyes glinting with amusement.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

He smirked, stepping forward without invitation. "We need to talk."

She blocked his path. "We said everything last night."

His expression darkened. "No, you ran. Again."

The air between them crackled with tension. She wanted to slam the door in his face, but something in his gaze held her still.

Then he said the words that shattered her resolve.

"Eleanor’s back."

Evelyn froze.

Nathan’s first love—the woman who had once torn them apart—was back?

Her stomach twisted. This wasn’t just a game.

This was war.

"Hey gorgeous, can I get your digits?" a woman purred, batting her lashes at Nathan.

He acted deaf, smoothly stepping around her without breaking stride.

Another beauty intercepted him near the champagne fountain. "That suit looks custom-made. Are you VIP section?" She twirled a lock of hair around her finger. "Let's ditch this crowd."

Nathan's jaw tightened as he sidestepped her spilled cocktail.

"Wait!" A third woman blocked his path with a manicured hand. "Don't I know you from the Blackwood Tower opening?"

His patience thinning, Nathan brushed past without acknowledgment.

The rejected trio huddled like wounded songbirds.

"Stone cold."

"Probably married to his work."

"Or his personal trainer."

These weren't ordinary club girls - each carried themselves like runway models, though none recognized the elusive Blackwood heir. Their designer heels tapped impatiently as they plotted their next move.

Then they saw her.

Evelyn Sinclair moved through the crowd like liquid moonlight, her emerald cocktail dress catching every eye. Normally makeup-free, tonight's smoky eyes and bloodred lips transformed her into someone unrecognizable to casual observers. The rejected beauties exchanged knowing smirks - another lamb to the slaughter.

Nathan saw her coming. Saw the mischief sparking in those usually serious eyes.

Before he could speak, Evelyn hooked a finger in his silk tie. "Big spender," she murmured, lips brushing his ear. "Buy a girl a drink?"

The crowd held its breath.

Nathan's response sent shockwaves through the room: "Your wish, my command."

Evelyn's triumphant grin could've powered the city as she draped herself over his arm. The walk to the rooftop pool became a victory march, every step burning with the heat of a hundred jealous stares.

She missed how Nathan's muscles locked beneath his tailored suit. Missed the way his pulse jumped where her bare thigh pressed against him. The thin silk of her dress left nothing to imagination, and the Blackwood heir found himself drowning in sensory overload.

By the time they reached the pool's edge, Nathan's self-control hung by a thread. Evelyn's laughter as she kicked off her heels? The final snap.

Evelyn's curious gaze swept across the crowded venue. Among the vibrantly dressed guests, a dozen uniformed staff members moved discreetly in black and white attire. Yet Gwendolyn was nowhere to be seen.

Their entire circle had arrived early. Marcus and Vivian were splashing about in the pool, their laughter carrying across the water. Beatrice, Lucas, and Daniel lounged at the poolside lounge area, greeting them with knowing smiles as they approached.

"Evelyn, you're truly remarkable," Lucas remarked with an amused chuckle. "We've been trying to get him to attend these gatherings for years without success."

Daniel turned his head with an identical smirk. "Refreshing change, isn't it?"

Beatrice merely arched an eyebrow, her playful grin speaking volumes.

Normally, Nathan would ignore their teasing entirely.

"Where's Grayson?" Evelyn inquired curiously.

"Fetching his latest conquest," Vivian answered from her floating perch in the pool.

Marcus gave her float a playful shove. "Another replacement? I rather liked the last one."

"Apparently she caught Grayson watching Vivian's overseas fashion competition footage," Lucas explained with a laugh. "Even rebounds have their breaking points."

"I don't approve of Grayson's behavior," Beatrice stated firmly.

"Playing with hearts brings bad karma," Daniel added sagely.

Evelyn couldn't help protesting, "Why is everyone so convinced Gwendolyn has feelings for Grayson?"

The group exchanged startled glances. Evelyn wondered if they'd all been charmed by Grayson's charisma or fooled by Gwendolyn's Oscar-worthy performance. The notion that a rebound could fall for the leading man seemed straight out of a soap opera.

Lucas leaned forward conspiratorially. "Between us? I think he's developed real feelings too. He's just too proud to admit it. That 'rebound' might have become something more in his heart."

Their conversation halted as Grayson approached, his arm possessively around the waist of a stunning brunette.

"Discussing me behind my back again?" Grayson asked with his trademark arrogance.

Keep that smug attitude, Evelyn thought as Nathan guided her to a seat. Your comeuppance is coming.

As they settled into their seats, Nathan casually remarked, "We ran into an old friend while shopping for swimwear earlier. They'll be joining us soon."

Grayson barely reacted, his attention clearly elsewhere. In his mind, such trivialities weren’t worth acknowledging—not when he was impatiently waiting for a certain rebellious woman to arrive.

Since Grayson didn’t press for details, Nathan felt no need to elaborate. The others, however, were burning with curiosity, but before they could ask, Grayson introduced his new date.

Only Evelyn didn’t recognize the striking woman beside him. The rest of the group exchanged knowing glances, their expressions turning slightly uneasy at the sight of her.

The newcomer was Lila Carter, a woman with undeniable influence. Though she greeted them with a polished smile, there was an unmistakable sharpness in her gaze—a silent warning that she wasn’t one to be crossed.

Once Evelyn and Nathan were seated, Nathan leaned in, lowering his voice to share the latest gossip. "Lila used to be obsessed with Grayson. Personality-wise, she’s a lot like Vivian—same intensity, same persistence. After dealing with Vivian, Grayson wanted nothing to do with Lila. He rejected her multiple times… until now."

Tsk, tsk. Grayson, you never learn, do you? Evelyn thought smugly. You break one woman’s heart to win back another, then repeat the same mistake. Is this really the only trick you know? No wonder you keep failing. Karma’s a bitch, and I can’t wait to see how this blows up in your face.

Grayson, oblivious to their whispers, pulled Lila closer, draping an arm around her waist as he signaled for the waiter. He laughed at something she said, their intimacy so exaggerated it made the others avert their eyes.

Lucas, ever the gossip, had heard about Daniel and Sophia’s situation and couldn’t resist prying. "So, I heard you played the hero for her. What happened after that?"

Daniel rubbed his temples, exasperated. "Drop it. It was nothing. Once she sorted things out with Mason, she left the country with her father."

"No way," Beatrice chimed in, unusually invested. "You two seemed like a good match."

"Don’t worry about me," Daniel chuckled. "It wasn’t serious. We barely knew each other—just a strange, fleeting moment."

Sophia had left an impression, sure, but they’d exchanged numbers more out of politeness than anything else. After everything with Amelia, Daniel wasn’t in the mood for romance. Right now, his priority was his mother. Maybe, in the future, if their paths crossed again… but for now, they were worlds apart.

Seeing that the conversation was going nowhere, Evelyn—who had the full scoop thanks to her Gossip System—decided to let the topic die.

Just then, a line of waiters approached, each carrying a tray of cocktails.

A sharp gasp cut through the hum of the nightclub.

Evelyn Sinclair’s gaze flickered across the room—only to lock onto the wide, startled eyes of Gwendolyn Brooks.

.

Since they’d entered from the side closest to Evelyn, Gwendolyn hadn’t yet spotted Grayson Hart at the far end of the VIP section.

“What a surprise!” Evelyn arched a brow, lips curving. “Working here tonight?”

Gwendolyn’s cheeks flushed pink. “Ms. Sinclair! It’s—it’s so good to see you. I’m covering a shift for a coworker. What are the chances?” Her fingers twisted in the hem of her server’s vest. “I can’t believe I get to see you again so soon.”

The rest of the group noticed her instantly. Expressions shifted—some skeptical, others amused.

Coincidence? Hardly. Is she stalking Grayson now?

He called it. She’s totally playing games.

But ignoring him completely? Bold move.

Oh, this is going to be good. Lila’s right there—will they throw down?

Grayson’s arm tightened around Lila Carter’s waist. His stare burned into the two women chatting, yet Gwendolyn still hadn’t so much as glanced his way.

She and Evelyn were clearly deep in conversation.

Grayson’s jaw worked. Once. Twice. Then—

A loud, pointed cough.

Gwendolyn finally turned. Her smile froze.

“Are staff here permitted to socialize instead of serving?” Grayson’s voice dripped ice. He tugged Lila closer, smirking. “Or is there special treatment for certain guests?”

Internally, he scoffed. Let’s see how long the act lasts.

Across the club, Vivian Moore wove through the crowd. Recognition flashed across faces—followed by shock. Their breakup had been scandalous back in the day.