Chapter 298

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair’s penthouse, illuminating the scattered scripts on her coffee table. She sighed, running a hand through her tousled auburn hair as she reread the latest revisions for the hundredth time.

This role could change everything.

Her phone buzzed—another message from Preston Whitmore, the director.

Preston: Evelyn, we need your final decision by noon. The studio is breathing down my neck.

She bit her lip. The project was risky—a psychological thriller that demanded raw vulnerability. But after years of being typecast as the charming romantic lead, this was her chance to prove she could do more.

A knock at the door startled her.

"Come in," she called.

Lillian Graves, her assistant, stepped inside, holding a tray with a steaming cup of coffee. "Thought you might need this."

Evelyn smiled gratefully. "You’re a lifesaver."

Lillian hesitated. "Nathan Blackwood just called. He wants to meet you."

Evelyn’s pulse spiked. Nathan—Hollywood’s most enigmatic leading man, the man she’d secretly admired for years. The man whose last film had shattered box office records.

"Why?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Lillian shrugged. "He didn’t say. But he mentioned it was about your new project."

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around her coffee cup. Nathan never involved himself in other actors’ projects. Unless…

Unless he wanted in.

Her mind raced. If Nathan joined the cast, the film would get instant credibility—and a guaranteed audience. But working with him meant long hours, intense scenes, and the kind of chemistry that could blur the lines between fiction and reality.

She exhaled sharply.

"Tell him I’ll meet him. But not at his usual spots—somewhere neutral."

Lillian nodded, already typing into her phone. "There’s a quiet café downtown. No paparazzi, no fans."

Evelyn glanced at the script again, her stomach fluttering.

This meeting could change everything.

Or ruin it all.

Nathan had always been perceptive. The moment he saw their expressions, he knew they were hiding something.

It might not be anything serious, but the way Lucas and Daniel exchanged glances when Adriana came looking for Marcus told him something was off.

Marcus had been whispering sweet nothings to Vivian just moments ago, their heads bent close together. Lucas and Daniel assumed Vivian was upset about something—maybe a lovers' quarrel—so naturally, they didn’t pry.

But then Adriana, the radiant bride herself, sought Marcus out, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she pouted, "I’ve been searching everywhere for you. Why weren’t you answering your phone?"

Her voice dripped with such honeyed sweetness that Lucas and Daniel shuddered. If they didn’t know better, they’d think Adriana was Marcus’s girlfriend, not his stepmother.

Marcus stiffened, but unlike Lucas and Daniel, neither he nor Vivian reacted with shock. There was something unspoken between them—a secret they carried in silence.

"What’s wrong?" Marcus asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"I don’t feel well," Adriana murmured, pressing a delicate hand to her temple. "I’m worried. Could you come with me?"

A flicker of something unreadable passed over Marcus’s face. Without another word, he stood and followed her.

The sight left Lucas speechless.

What the hell is Adriana playing at? If she was feeling unwell, she should’ve gone to her husband, Grayson. The way she looked at Marcus—like he was the only one who could save her—was downright bizarre.

And Marcus’s reaction? Even stranger. He’d never shown the slightest interest in any of his stepmothers before. Why was Adriana different? Was it just because she might be carrying his half-sibling?

Lucas glanced at Vivian, expecting fury or at least irritation. But she just sat there, eerily calm.

Are we overreacting?

Before they could dwell on it, Evelyn—who had been watching the entire scene with amusement—leaned in, her lips curling into a smirk. By then, Nathan and the rest of the Blackwood family had noticed too.

They exchanged uneasy glances. Something wasn’t right, but they couldn’t outright accuse Adriana and Marcus of anything inappropriate. The circumstances were complicated enough already.

Then, out of nowhere, Vivian Moore—ever the blunt one—dropped the bomb.

"What’s the deal here?" she drawled, arching a brow. "Why does this stepmother keep dragging her stepson into everything? Did she marry the father or the son? Or is there something else going on?"

Beatrice Holloway, mid-sip of her coffee, choked.

Lucas hastily handed her a napkin.

Beatrice shot Vivian a withering glare, but the damage was done. The air thickened with tension, and unspoken questions hung heavy in the room.

What exactly was happening between Adriana and Marcus?

And why did Vivian seem… unbothered by it?

"It's quite common abroad for step-relatives to get involved with each other," Vivian smirked, her tone dripping with amusement. "Besides, there's no blood relation between them."

Nathan's actions were questionable, and considering they were around the same age, it was only natural to avoid suspicion. The whole situation was inappropriate from the start. What baffled Evelyn even more was Marcus. Since when had he become so polite? Instead of helping his father greet the guests at the door, he ignored his girlfriend and meddled in his stepmother’s affairs. That wasn’t like him at all. Something was definitely off.

Under normal circumstances, Evelyn would have eagerly gossiped with Vivian about Marcus and Adriana. But they knew the truth—Marcus had only cooperated because of the miscarriage incident. It wouldn’t be fair to accuse him now. All they could do was listen and exchange knowing glances.

After finishing her piece, Vivian didn’t care about the stunned expressions around her. She reached out and pulled Vivian Grant into a tight, reassuring hug. "Vivian, don’t worry. If Marcus dares to wrong you, we’ll stand up for you!"

Catching her breath from the suffocating embrace, Vivian waved her hands frantically. "No, you’ve misunderstood!"

Vivian shrugged. "Let’s hope I’m overthinking it."

Vivian Grant, despite the overwhelming urge to deny everything, suddenly froze as if struck by a realization. Her pupils trembled slightly before she finally spoke with firm conviction. "Marcus wouldn’t do something like that!"

That’s odd. Is she suspecting something between Marcus and Adriana too? Evelyn couldn’t help but wonder. After all, a girlfriend’s intuition was often right.

Evelyn’s inner thoughts caught the attention of the Blackwoods, who stood nearby.

There’s something going on between Marcus and Adriana? Is it what we think it is? Is he not treating her differently because of the miscarriage?

Just then, Evelyn’s thoughts continued. Whoa! What? A photo?

The Blackwoods were instantly intrigued, even Nathan pausing mid-motion as he adjusted his wife’s coat.

Evelyn’s thoughts spilled out. That photo must have been taken years ago—Adriana and Marcus sitting together, sharing drinks. Vivian wanted to confirm if it was really him in the picture, so she grabbed Adriana’s hand, the one holding the phone. The sudden movement startled Adriana, causing her to fall and tragically miscarry. In the chaos, Vivian forgot about the photo. Now, it’s resurfacing in her mind, making her question whether Marcus was telling the truth when he claimed he didn’t know Adriana.

Nathan frowned. They knew each other?

The other Blackwoods were equally shocked. Is Adriana Marcus’s ex-girlfriend? How dramatic.

If Marcus deceived her, she’d be heartbroken. She still remembers how Adriana sobbed, curled up in Marcus’s arms, trembling as she whispered his name and murmured, "My child… oh, my child…" Vivian can’t shake that scene, but she doesn’t know how to feel about it. After all, she’s the so-called culprit responsible for the death of an innocent child. The guilt weighs on her, making it hard to focus on anything else.

The Blackwoods were speechless. This sounds like something straight out of a soap opera.

Nathan, clueless about intricate emotions, simply thought that if he were in Marcus’s shoes, he’d find Adriana bothersome and would want nothing to do with her.

Evelyn let out a weary sigh. Why does Adriana seem so insincere? From Marcus's reaction, it was clear he had no recollection of her. He was only humoring Adriana out of fear she might expose Vivian.

The Blackwoods exchanged relieved glances. Good. There's nothing between them.

Nathan, however, remained skeptical. He knew Evelyn's Gossip System was subjective. If Marcus genuinely didn’t remember Adriana—or believed he’d never met her—then to him, she was just another stranger.

It was like passing someone on the street. Adriana hadn’t left an impression on Marcus, so he didn’t recognize her. Yet, Adriana remembered him vividly, convinced they shared a past. Worse, there were photos of them together—proof that complicated everything.

Vivian shifted uncomfortably before abruptly standing. "Excuse me," she murmured, heading toward Marcus.

Her unease unsettled everyone. They’d watched this couple fight for their love, and now they wanted to protect it. Silently, they resolved to pull Marcus aside later and remind him to be mindful of his relationship with his stepmother.

Meanwhile, Marcus stood frozen, staring at the woman before him. Her pleading gaze made his stomach twist. Disbelieving, he dug a finger into his ear. "What did you just say? Did I mishear you?"

Adriana’s eyes brimmed with sorrow. "Must you pretend not to understand? Fine, I’ll spell it out. I want you to give me another child. That’s the only way we can keep this secret."

At that exact moment, Evelyn tuned in through her system. Let me check if they’ve reached a decision— Her thoughts screeched to a halt. Oh my God!

Her shock rippled through the Blackwoods. What the hell is happening?!

They do have a past! She wants to have a baby with her stepson?! Evelyn’s mind reeled.

The Blackwoods’ mental outcry was deafening. WHAT?! We must—