Chapter 280

Mind Games and Juicy Revelations

The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over Evelyn Sinclair’s bedroom. She stretched lazily, her mind already buzzing with the latest scandal she’d overheard at last night’s gala.

Oh, the things people think when they believe no one’s listening.

A smirk played on her lips as she recalled the mental chaos she’d absorbed—Victoria Hayes’ frantic internal monologue about her dwindling influence, Nathan Blackwood’s conflicted thoughts about their latest argument, and the most delicious tidbit of all: Seraphina Delacroix’s secret rendezvous with Sebastian Hart, despite her very public relationship with Adrian Cross.

Evelyn reached for her phone, scrolling through the morning’s headlines with amusement. The tabloids hadn’t caught wind of Seraphina’s little indiscretion yet, but it was only a matter of time.

Should I drop a hint to the press? she mused, tapping her fingers against the screen. No, better to let it simmer. Explosions are more fun when they’re unexpected.

Her assistant, Lillian Graves, knocked lightly before entering with a tray of coffee and pastries. “Morning, Evelyn. You look… scheming.”

Evelyn grinned. “Because I am. Did you know Seraphina was spotted leaving Sebastian’s penthouse at three in the morning?”

Lillian’s eyes widened. “You’re joking.”

“Oh, I wish I were.” Evelyn took a sip of her coffee, savoring the rich flavor. “The best part? Adrian has no idea. He’s still gushing about her in interviews.”

Lillian shook her head. “That woman has a death wish.”

“Or a talent for self-destruction.” Evelyn set her cup down. “Either way, it’s going to be spectacular when it blows up.”

Her phone buzzed with an incoming message from Preston Whitmore, the director of her latest project.

Preston: Emergency meeting at noon. Studio’s panicking over the reshoots.

Evelyn sighed. Drama on and off-screen.

She typed back a quick reply before turning to Lillian. “Cancel my morning appointments. I need to mentally prepare for whatever fresh hell Preston’s about to unleash.”

Lillian nodded, already pulling out her tablet. “Anything else?”

Evelyn’s smirk returned. “Keep an ear out for any whispers about Seraphina. I have a feeling today’s going to be very entertaining.”

As Lillian left, Evelyn leaned back against her pillows, her mind already racing with possibilities.

Who needs reality TV when you can read minds?

"No wonder she was so animated earlier. What a performance!"

.

"Looking back at how she shamelessly tarnished her own brother's reputation makes my stomach churn."

"They're deranged! Both mother and daughter are completely unhinged, treating their own flesh and blood like this."

"Not only are they twisted, but downright vicious. The words 'wicked' and 'ruthless' might as well be carved into their foreheads. Lucas is cursed to have relatives like them."

"Colluding with outsiders to betray your own son? That’s a level of depravity beyond comprehension."

"Caleb isn’t any better. He just called Lucas an animal. Ironic, considering he’s the one who truly fits the description."

"Still playing the victim? He should look in the mirror—does he even have the intellect to pull it off?"

"What a disgrace! He plotted to sabotage his own cousin, even offering up his own fiancée. Look at the Carney family’s expressions—utter humiliation!"

The Bennett family members wore equally grim expressions. All eyes flicked toward Lydia. As Caleb’s mother, they expected fury. Yet, to everyone’s shock, she remained eerily composed, seated with unsettling calm.

Penelope, witnessing this, seethed. Her eyes burned crimson with rage. Had she not been gagged and restrained, she would’ve lunged at Lydia by now.

Evelyn, who’d been enjoying the spectacle, suddenly sensed something amiss. Penelope’s hatred for Lydia was blatant. Was it just because Lydia had them restrained?

By now, Caleb had spilled everything. Seeing Lucas’s stormy expression, Caleb smirked. "I’ve been fair. I never touched Beatrice, and now she’s yours. Consider her a trade for the heir’s position. You’re already . Once Beatrice returns, it’s over."

Pausing, Caleb added arrogantly, "Kneel and beg, and I might spare you some dignity. But the heir’s position? Don’t even dream of it. You were always destined to lose to me."

Lucas’s demeanor shifted. He scoffed. "Lose? You resorted to underhanded tricks and call that victory? Aunt Lydia would be ashamed."

"Shut up! I gave you a chance, but you’re throwing it away? Fine. Then I’ll make sure you’re convicted for assaulting Beatrice." Caleb’s rage flared at Lucas’s defiance.

"You really think Beatrice would still cooperate after you drugged her?"

"She’s a woman who slept with her fiancé’s—"

The air crackled with tension as Caleb Moore smirked, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "Oh, she'll play the victim soon enough. But even if she tries to pretend nothing happened, it won't work. The choice isn't hers—it's mine."

Lucas Thornton let out a low, humorless chuckle. "You really think this will go your way?"

Too absorbed in his own twisted scheme, Caleb missed the dangerous edge in Lucas's tone.

"Don't underestimate me," Caleb sneered. "All we need is a doctor to examine Beatrice. If she refuses, then we'll know she's hiding something!"

A sharp crack echoed through the room as Lucas's fist connected with Caleb's jaw.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Lucas growled, his composure slipping.

Even Evelyn and Nathan hadn't anticipated Caleb's vile plan—a blatant attack on Beatrice's dignity as a woman of high society.

All eyes turned to Beatrice on the stage. Her gaze was lowered, her expression frozen in ice.

"Go ahead, hit me again," Caleb taunted, wiping blood from his lip. "The more you do, the worse you'll look when we expose the truth!"

Lucas exhaled sharply, then smirked. "You're delusional, Caleb. Nothing happened between Beatrice and me."

Caleb scoffed. "Liar! Then why were you two hiding?"

"Do you even know how long the drug you gave me lasts?" Lucas's voice was glacial. "If we'd done anything, do you think I'd be standing here awake?"

For the first time, doubt flickered in Caleb's eyes.

"I was drugged. So was Beatrice. But I stayed conscious—cut my own hand to keep my mind clear until help arrived," Lucas continued.

A realization dawned on Caleb. "Nathan and Evelyn."

"Exactly. They brought a doctor. We were treated and just returned," Lucas said coldly. "Your plan failed. Beatrice is still untouched. You can't touch her."

Caleb's amusement vanished, replaced by fury. His glare was venomous, but then—he laughed.

"Is that so? Then why did you meet me alone? Even if you deny it, who will believe you? We found evidence!" Caleb spat. "I can still demand—"

The room held its breath. The game wasn't over yet.

The investigation into Beatrice would proceed, whether she consented or not. Nathan had made his suspicions clear—he refused to believe the Blackwood family would still name her as the heir with such damning accusations hanging over her.

"What crime scene?" Lucas's brows furrowed instantly.

Caleb, ever the smug opportunist, smirked. "The one left behind after your little encounter, of course."

"Bullshit!" Lucas's voice was sharp, laced with fury. "That room was another one of your setups."

"So what if it was?" Caleb shrugged, his grin widening. "Call it bad luck. That room? It was mine and your sister’s doing. You were the one who hid away like a coward. When someone stumbled upon it, I thought—why not let you take the fall?" His laughter echoed, cruel and mocking.

As always, Caleb took pleasure in twisting the knife from the angle of family betrayal. Flaunting his involvement with Luna and their conspiracy to trap Lucas—it was all part of his sick satisfaction.

But for Lucas, none of it mattered anymore. His heart had shattered the moment he realized how deeply his own mother and sister had manipulated him.

Gasps rippled through the ballroom.

The guests exchanged horrified glances. No wonder Luna had turned against her own brother—she had chosen an outsider over blood. The wealthy elite thrived on scandal, but even this was too much. Poor Lucas, caught in the crossfire of his family’s treachery.

Luna’s face burned crimson. She had willingly entangled herself with Caleb, but she never expected him to expose her so publicly. The man had no filter, no sense of discretion. Now, her reputation was in ruins.

It was truly over.

Yet no one noticed Penelope—who had been thrashing in despair moments before—suddenly go still. At Caleb’s words, all fight left her. She stood frozen, her expression hollow, as if her soul had been ripped away.

The silence around her was deafening.