Chapter 27

The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains of Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. She stretched lazily, her fingers brushing against the empty space beside her where Nathan Blackwood had been just hours before. The scent of his cologne still lingered, a tantalizing reminder of their stolen moments.

Her phone buzzed insistently on the nightstand. Lillian Graves' name flashed across the screen. "Evelyn, we have a situation," her assistant's voice was clipped, urgent. "Victoria Hayes just leaked photos of you and Nathan to the press. They're everywhere."

Evelyn's blood ran cold. She scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over the silk sheets in her haste to grab her tablet. The headlines screamed at her: Evelyn Sinclair's Secret Affair with Married Billionaire Nathan Blackwood! Accompanying the article were grainy but unmistakable photos of them leaving a private hotel together last week.

Her hands trembled. This wasn't just a scandal—it was a carefully orchestrated attack. Victoria had been waiting for this moment, biding her time to strike.

The intercom buzzed. "Ms. Sinclair? Mr. Blackwood is here," the doorman announced.

Nathan stormed in moments later, his usually impeccable appearance disheveled. "Evelyn, we need to—"

"Damage control?" she interrupted bitterly. "It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident. "This isn't just about us. My board is already calling for an emergency meeting. If this affects the merger—"

"Of course," Evelyn scoffed. "Always the business first." She turned away, wrapping her arms around herself. The warmth of last night felt like a cruel joke now.

Nathan's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and grimaced. "It's Margaret."

Evelyn's stomach twisted. Nathan's mother had never approved of their relationship, and this would only fuel her disapproval.

As Nathan stepped out to take the call, Evelyn's own phone rang again. This time, it was Preston Whitmore, the director of her upcoming film. "Evelyn, the studio is panicking. They're talking about recasting your role if this scandal doesn't die down soon."

Her career, her reputation—everything was crumbling because of one vindictive woman.

Nathan returned, his expression grim. "We need to make a statement. Together."

Evelyn met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "No. I'll handle this my way." She picked up her phone and dialed Serena Whitmore, her agent. "Serena, I need you to set up an interview. Today."

Nathan's eyes widened. "Evelyn, what are you planning?"

She gave him a small, determined smile. "If Victoria wants a war, she's going to get one."

Evelyn Sinclair found herself unemployed after her previous manager was blacklisted.

Even though she had decided to take a break and enjoy life, doing so indefinitely was proving far too dull.

After Theodore left for school, Sophia Blackwood was instructed by Richard to refamiliarize herself with the operations of the family’s hospital.

Margaret, meanwhile, spent her afternoons sipping coffee with old friends. That left Evelyn—friendless, jobless, and utterly bored.

After some thought, she decided it was a waste of her striking looks. Why not return to the entertainment industry and carve out a name for herself?

Not only would she get front-row seats to all the drama, but she’d also be surrounded by gorgeous men and women. It was the perfect way to scout her next romance while effortlessly padding her bank account. She could even stash away a divorce fund—just in case Nathan eventually left her for his first love.

Pleased with her plan, she mentioned it to Nathan.

He had promised to help her find a new agency, but Evelyn never expected him to let her interview potential managers herself.

Unfortunately, no serious candidates showed up. She was still a newcomer, after all.

And the entertainment industry? A notorious den of scandals. Finding someone with integrity was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Even if they tried to hide their true nature, Evelyn could see right through them.

The interviews were a complete disaster. Not a single promising candidate.

She worried Nathan might lose patience, but he remained silent, watching as no one stepped forward.

Finally, he sent her to Julian’s agency.

When she arrived, Evelyn was completely baffled.

The office held only two people.

Julian lounged lazily on the couch, scrolling through his phone. He glanced up when she entered, acknowledging her with a nod.

Surprisingly, since the incident, his attitude toward her had improved dramatically.

Ah, the trials of love—nothing like heartbreak to force maturity.

Julian’s movements were stiff, as if he were wrestling with his emotions.

At the conference table sat his manager.

Evelyn blinked.

This was going to be interesting.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Sinclair. I'm Marcus Donovan, Mr. Blackwood's agent. I've also received direct instructions from Mr. Nathan Blackwood himself. Starting today, I'll be guiding your career in the entertainment industry. Here's your contract. Once signed, you'll officially become the second artist under my management."

Marcus adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses with a practiced smile. The middle-aged man radiated warmth, but those familiar with the industry knew better—he was a shark in a tailored suit.

Evelyn's gaze flickered from Marcus to Julian Blackwood standing several feet away. The man practically vibrated with barely contained irritation.

"You agreed?" Evelyn arched an eyebrow. "Weren't you vehemently opposed to this arrangement last week?"

She wasn't about to let him backtrack later if this was some reluctant concession.

The muscle in Julian's jaw twitched. "What happened before... stays in the past. As my sister-in-law now, having you under my agency will give Nathan peace of mind."

"Really?" Evelyn suppressed a shiver. "Since when did you care about Nathan's peace of mind?"

Julian's expression darkened.

Marcus cleared his throat awkwardly. Nathan had warned him about their history—how Julian had threatened to walk out if Evelyn joined the agency. Their animosity was legendary.

Truthfully, Julian owed Evelyn for the Celeste incident. Without her intervention, he'd still be making a fool of himself. But years of hostility couldn't dissolve overnight.

When Nathan proposed this arrangement again, Julian acquiesced. With Evelyn's true identity needing protection in the industry, his agency could provide both shield and guidance.

Evelyn tapped the contract with a manicured nail. "Even as agency head, I won't blindly follow your directives. I choose my projects. Do we have an understanding?"

"Of course," Marcus said smoothly. "The contract reflects that. Please review clause 12-B."

Evelyn scanned the document—then froze. Her breath caught at the numbers staring back at her.

Evelyn had the freedom to choose any job she wanted—no restrictions, no strings attached. She could take breaks whenever she pleased, and the best part? Full profit sharing.

Back in her old agency, they’d taken a brutal 70-30 cut. But here? Julian was letting her keep everything. It was almost as if Marcus was working for free.

“Don’t you want a cut?” Evelyn blurted, baffled.

Marcus chuckled. “Oh, don’t worry. Mr. Blackwood covers our salaries.”

To him, this wasn’t strange at all. Just Julian looking out for his sister-in-law.

When the realization hit, Evelyn’s eyes widened, darting to Julian in disbelief.

Julian, assuming she had nothing left to say, kept his gaze fixed on his phone.

But then—

He’s really been destroyed by heartbreak. He doesn’t care about anything anymore.

Julian’s fingers stilled. He exhaled sharply. “Are you signing or not?”

Obviously, she wasn’t about to refuse free money. Evelyn snatched the pen and scribbled her signature.

Outwardly, she remained composed. Inwardly? A full-blown victory dance.

Her mental soundtrack was loud—completely off-key, but she didn’t care. She even threw in some improvised lyrics.

For someone like Julian, whose ears were trained for perfection, it was torture.

Marcus accepted the contract with a polite smile. “Ms. Sinclair, what kind of work interests you? From my research, you’ve mostly done print campaigns.”

Evelyn waved a hand. “Forget my past. Right now, I just want something easy with big paychecks.”

Marcus’s smile faltered. Julian’s expression flatlined.

Born into wealth, Julian couldn’t relate—but he also couldn’t be bothered to argue.

“Fine. High pay, low effort,” he muttered. Then, as an afterthought, “And no singing.”

Marcus, ever the professional, smoothed his expression. “Of course. I’ll find something suitable.”

He turned to Evelyn. “Unless you have objections?”

Julian gave her a weary glance. Arguing took energy—energy he’d lost that night.

Should I tell him Celeste is leaving the country?

No. Regret had no cure. Late affection meant nothing. Chasing lost love? Nearly impossible.

With no connections in Celeste’s circle, Julian was stuck. All he could do was obsessively refresh her social media, desperate for updates.

Same city, yet they might as well be oceans apart. If she left? Hopeless.

A flicker of panic crossed Julian’s face. He stood abruptly.

This time, he’d camp outside her lab if he had to. He needed to see her. There was so much left unsaid.

As Julian turned to leave, Marcus hesitated. “About tonight’s wine-tasting event… will you…?”

For Marcus, this was bittersweet. The upside? No more cleaning up Isabelle’s messes. Even as a non-manager, she’d dragged him into disasters—always with sweet words and zero remorse.

The problem was clear—Julian's golden goose had stopped laying eggs, hopelessly tangled in the web of love. A sentimental soul like him could take ages to recover, leaving his manager Marcus utterly exasperated.

As for the upcoming red wine tasting event, Marcus knew Julian wouldn’t attend. The original plan had been to accept the invitation to help Evelyn Sinclair expand her connections. Now, there was no reason for Julian to bother with such things.

Yet, just moments ago, Marcus had a sudden stroke of inspiration. "I think it would be beneficial for Ms. Sinclair to attend," he suggested. "There’s no immediate financial gain, but it could open doors for her future. Strictly speaking, she’s still a newcomer to our agency and needs industry recognition. That’s the only way offers will come in. Otherwise, if we’re always chasing opportunities, our options will be limited. I initially hoped you’d accompany her, but since you’re not interested, I’ll go with her instead. The event is out of town, so we might have to stay overnight."

Julian turned to Evelyn. "It’s your call. Just let Nathan know your decision—I’m busy right now. If you want to go, Marcus will take you."

Evelyn flashed an 'OK' sign with a playful grin.

With that, Julian turned and strode toward the door.

Curious, Evelyn asked Marcus, "Where’s the venue?"

Marcus chuckled. "The Silvinubis Hotel."

"That name sounds familiar..."

"Of course! It’s a five-star luxury resort."

But that wasn’t why it rang a bell. Oh—right! The scientific research sponsorship event Celeste had posted about on Instagram was being held there.

BANG!

Both Evelyn and Marcus jolted at the sudden noise, whipping around to see Julian caught halfway through the door—one foot out, the other still inside. The door had slammed shut on him before he could fully exit, an absurd sight for someone usually so composed.

Evelyn burst into laughter. "Pfft—!"

Marcus, on the other hand, barely managed to stifle his amusement.

"Ahem... you alright, Julian?" Marcus asked, bewildered.

"Uh... forgot something," Julian muttered, rubbing the red mark on his forehead as he shuffled back toward the couch. His gaze kept flickering toward Evelyn.

Wait... Evelyn can see Celeste’s Instagram posts? When did they even follow each other?

Nathan and Sophia didn’t have Celeste’s contact info, and Genevieve—after defending Julian a few times—had been promptly blocked by her.

How in the world had Evelyn pulled it off?

It was like having a golden ticket right under your nose but failing to see it.

The two women had swapped numbers when Evelyn lent Celeste a dress weeks ago. Since Evelyn had never reached out first, Celeste simply forgot to block her.

The event link had been shared casually—Celeste never imagined anyone would actually notice it.

Meanwhile, Marcus was still discussing hotel arrangements with Evelyn. "Think of it as a mini getaway, Ms. Sinclair. The place has endless activities. You won’t even feel tired."

Let me check… Just as predicted, Celeste and her classmates had already left for their fundraising trip. They’d probably stay at the hotel overnight—the perfect chance to invite her out. I’ve taken quite a liking to her. Thankfully, Julian isn’t tagging along. Otherwise, there’d be no way I could ask Celeste out. Sigh, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but you two are fated to cross paths, not to be together!

Julian was utterly speechless.