Chapter 270

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair’s penthouse, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. She lounged on her plush velvet sofa, a steaming cup of Earl Grey in hand, scrolling absently through her phone. But her mind wasn’t on the screen—it was tuned to the chaotic symphony of thoughts buzzing around her.

Ever since she’d discovered her uncanny ability to hear people’s innermost musings, life had become infinitely more… entertaining.

"Ugh, if Nathan Blackwood glares at me one more time today, I swear I’ll quit," grumbled Victoria Hayes, Evelyn’s ever-disgruntled secretary, from the next room. Evelyn smirked. Poor Victoria. If only she knew Nathan’s icy glares were just his way of hiding how utterly flustered Evelyn made him.

A ping from her phone interrupted her amusement. A message from Serena Whitmore, her agent:

"Emergency meeting at 11. Studio execs are panicking over Harrison Montgomery’s latest scandal. Bring popcorn."

Evelyn’s lips curled. Harrison Montgomery—Hollywood’s golden boy, Natalie Whitaker’s picture-perfect husband—was embroiled in yet another affair. This time with Vanessa Sterling, his co-star from "Midnight Whispers." The tabloids hadn’t caught wind yet, but the studio was in damage-control mode.

She took a sip of tea, savoring the drama. Then—

"I can’t believe Daniel’s cheating on me with Adriana. After everything I’ve done for him!"

The raw pain in Sophia Blackwood’s mental voice made Evelyn freeze. Sophia—Nathan’s sister, her soon-to-be sister-in-law—had just uncovered her husband’s infidelity. And Evelyn was the only one who knew.

Her phone buzzed again. Nathan this time.

"Dinner tonight. Wear the red dress."

A shiver ran down her spine. That dress was his favorite—the one that made his thoughts turn deliciously indecent. But now, with Sophia’s heartbreak hanging between them, could she really enjoy the evening?

Evelyn exhaled.

Looks like she had more than just Hollywood gossip to deal with today.

"Is the rumor actually true?"

Nathan was lost in thought when Evelyn's voice abruptly pulled him back to reality. Before he could even process her words, she had already seized his wrist, dragging him into motion.

They had planned to head to the underground garage after dinner, ready to retrieve their car and leave.

Instead, Evelyn yanked him behind a marble column, pressing a finger to her lips.

Then, the voices of a man and a woman drifted toward them.

At that moment, it clicked for Nathan. The Blackwoods and Holloways were supposed to have a private dinner gathering tonight—likely right here. After all, most of the city's elite restaurants were housed in this very mall, owned by Blackwood Enterprises.

Lucas Thornton shouldn’t have attended such a formal event, but he clearly knew the location. Timing-wise, by the time the gathering ended, Lucas was perfectly positioned to intercept someone.

What an absurd coincidence that they’d run into each other.

If there was a goddess of gossip, Evelyn was undoubtedly her favorite disciple.

Right now, she was practically vibrating with excitement, like a tabloid reporter who’d just stumbled upon a scandal involving A-list celebrities. She peeked out from behind a parked car, her head bobbing in and out of view like a mischievous child playing hide-and-seek.

Even the illustrious Nathan Blackwood had no choice but to crouch beside her. If the security team in the surveillance room saw their CEO engaged in such antics, they’d probably question their own sanity.

"What exactly is going on?" Beatrice Holloway asked, studying Lucas, who seemed to be struggling to find the right words.

This was, in fact, the first time the two of them had arranged to meet alone—an unfamiliar dynamic, despite having known each other for years. Soon, they would even be in-laws.

But Beatrice had serious doubts about whether they could ever get along. Their personalities were like oil and water.

She was the type who took time to warm up to people. Her friendships were always initiated by others, pulling her into their circles. She rarely made the first move.

Lucas, on the other hand, was naturally outgoing—yet he had never made an effort to engage with her. As a result, their relationship remained superficial, sustained only by circumstance and time.

He was warm and charming with everyone else, but with Beatrice? Cold. Distant. As if they were fundamentally incompatible.

So, when he had asked to meet her alone tonight, insisting he had something important to discuss, she had been genuinely stunned.

What could he possibly want to talk about?

The moment was tense, electric. Hidden behind a sleek black sedan some distance away, two figures held their breath, hearts pounding in their chests.

Is he really going to confess now? At this crucial moment? Evelyn Sinclair thought, her fingers tightening around the edge of the car door. Is it because he’s furious about what happened between Caleb and Luna? Is this about to turn into a full-blown scandal?

The more she considered it, the more exhilarated she felt. Beside her, Nathan Blackwood remained silent, though his sharp gaze never wavered from the scene unfolding before them. Even he wasn’t entirely sure what would happen next.

Then, Lucas Thornton finally spoke.

Evelyn’s excitement dimmed almost instantly, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. Nathan’s expression, on the other hand, smoothed into something unreadable—cool, detached.

Ugh. Not a confession after all.

Instead, Lucas had merely revealed the sordid affair between Caleb Moore and Luna Morgan.

“I’m sorry,” Lucas murmured, his voice rough with emotion. His gaze lingered on Beatrice Holloway, his expression a tangled mess of regret, frustration, and something else—something deeper.

Beatrice blinked, momentarily stunned. “He’s got nerve,” she said after a beat, shaking her head. “Messing around with other women is one thing, but to dare lay hands on his own cousin’s sister? He’s practically begging for a family war.”

“That’s the situation,” Lucas said quietly. “Whatever you decide to do, I’ll stand by you.”

Beatrice hesitated, then let out a dry laugh. “What do I want to do? Honestly, it’s not my problem. The Winters and the Willis families should be the ones panicking. It barely concerns me.”

Lucas froze. Then, to her surprise, he let out a low, humorless chuckle. It sounded almost self-deprecating. “Of course,” he muttered. “I should’ve known better than to think you’d fall apart over this.”

Beatrice frowned slightly at the look in his eyes—dark, intense, like he was holding back something unspoken. But she wasn’t in the mood to pry. With a careless shrug, she said, “Doesn’t matter if my future husband is a saint or a sinner. As long as my mother-in-law is decent, I can handle the rest.”

Lucas’s lips twitched into a faint, bitter smile. “Aunt Ava is a good woman,” he said softly. “She’ll treat you well.”

Beatrice nodded, her own smile polite but distant. “Thanks for telling me. If that’s all, I should get going.”

Being alone with Lucas always left her unsettled, like standing too close to an open flame.

He didn’t stop her.

As Evelyn and Nathan watched from the shadows, Lucas’s gaze followed Beatrice’s car until it disappeared around the corner. The moment she was gone, the air around him seemed to dim, his broad shoulders sagging slightly under an invisible weight.

Once they were back in their own car, Evelyn finally let out an exasperated huff. “Ugh! What a waste of my emotional investment!”

Nathan, however, didn’t seem surprised at all.

The Reckoning

Evelyn couldn't resist turning to Nathan, her voice laced with skepticism. "Do you think Lucas came here to warn Beatrice out of genuine concern—afraid she might be unaware of the viper lurking so close—or was he secretly hoping that once she learned the truth, she’d finally reject Caleb and call off their engagement?"

Nathan adjusted his grip on the reins, his expression unreadable. "Both. His primary motive was the former, but his deepest desire was the latter. He’s been in love with Beatrice for years. Of course, he’d want the alliance broken."

Evelyn’s eyes widened in shock. "You… you knew?"

A faint smirk played on Nathan’s lips as he glanced down at her from his horse. "I figured it out ages ago."

"You knew and didn’t tell me?" Evelyn huffed, crossing her arms. If she had only discovered this bombshell through the system, how had Nathan uncovered such a well-guarded secret and kept it to himself?

Ugh. I walked right into that one.

But Evelyn didn’t press further. Now that they were on the same page, it was time for some good old-fashioned gossip.

"If that’s the case, then Lucas is downright pathetic," Evelyn scoffed. "Too cowardly to fight for her himself, yet praying Beatrice would take the initiative? His unrequited love might seem tragic, but honestly, it’s just self-indulgent. He doesn’t deserve her."

Nathan understood Lucas’s dilemma—the weight of his debt to Lydia, the woman who had saved his life and shaped his future. But even he had to admit Lucas’s handling of the situation was… lacking.

"From his perspective," Nathan mused, "he already stole the inheritance meant for Lydia’s son. He couldn’t bring himself to take away the bride Lydia had carefully chosen for Caleb too. That’s why things ended up this way."

"But the Winters fortune was always meant for the most capable heir," Evelyn countered.

"And that’s where his guilt festers," Nathan said. "Without Lydia, he’d be dead. He believes every skill, every opportunity, even his right to inherit, was her doing. If she’d been selfish, ignored him as a child, everything would’ve gone to Caleb. And now, he’s convinced Caleb’s misery is his fault—that the constant comparisons between them ruined Caleb’s life."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. What a mess.

Of course, Beatrice was an outsider in this tangled web. She didn’t need to see things through the lens of a victim. Evelyn was just venting about Lucas’s spineless approach to love.

With emotions running high, the engagement party arrived.

Once again, the entire Blackwood family mobilized.

The Sinclairs never missed a chance to attend events with Evelyn.

The air was thick with anticipation—who knew what scandalous drama might unfold tonight?

It had to be said, the Blackwood family wasn’t the only one with a penchant for gossip. The moment Evelyn Sinclair stepped into the venue, she could feel the weight of countless eyes boring into her, sharper and more invasive than usual.

Ugh.

She suppressed the urge to fidget. The whispers were nothing new—just the usual petty murmurs, harmless on their own. But beneath the polished smiles and polite nods, she could sense the undercurrents of judgment, the unspoken questions.

Like that one over there.

Her gaze flickered toward Lucas Thornton, standing beside a poised, regal woman as they greeted guests. His exhaustion was palpable—dark circles shadowed his eyes, his smile strained.

Tough it out, coward. Evelyn’s lips curled slightly. This was your choice.

The Blackwoods followed her line of sight, their expressions unreadable.