Chapter 47

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair's penthouse, casting golden patterns across the marble floors. She stood by the window, clutching her coffee cup, her mind replaying last night's disastrous gala. Nathan Blackwood's unexpected appearance had thrown her off balance, and she hated that he still had that effect on her.

Her phone buzzed. A message from Preston Whitmore, the director of her upcoming film. "Evelyn, we need to discuss the reshoots. The studio isn't happy with the chemistry between you and Sebastian Hart." She sighed. Sebastian, her co-star and ex-boyfriend, had been nothing but difficult since filming began.

Before she could reply, another notification popped up—this time from Lillian Graves, her assistant. "Victoria Hayes just leaked your private emails to the press. They're all over social media." Evelyn's stomach twisted. Victoria, Nathan's scheming secretary, had been trying to sabotage her for months.

She scrolled through the headlines, her jaw tightening. "Evelyn Sinclair's Secret Affair with Nathan Blackwood Exposed!" The article included intimate details only someone close to Nathan would know. Evelyn's fingers trembled as she dialed Serena Whitmore, her agent.

"Serena, we need damage control—now."

Serena's voice was calm but urgent. "I'm already on it. But Evelyn... this isn't just Victoria. Someone higher up is pulling strings."

Evelyn's breath hitched. "Nathan?"

"Possibly. Or his brother, Julian. He’s never forgiven you for walking away from the Blackwood empire."

A knock at the door interrupted them. Evelyn opened it to find Marcus Donovan, Julian's agent, standing there with a smirk. "Julian wants to see you. Tonight. Alone."

Evelyn's pulse raced. This wasn't a request—it was a threat.

She forced a smile. "Tell Julian I'll be there."

As Marcus left, Evelyn's phone buzzed again. An unknown number. She opened the message, and her blood ran cold.

"You shouldn’t have crossed the Blackwoods, Evelyn. Tonight, you’ll regret it."

The screen went black.

Evelyn clenched her fists. Whatever game Julian was playing, she wouldn’t back down. But as she stared at the ominous message, one thought haunted her: What does Nathan know about this?

And more importantly—whose side was he really on?

The moment Evelyn Sinclair voiced her thoughts, the usually composed Margaret Blackwood and Sophia Blackwood were overcome with fury.

This time, there was no hesitation—no waiting to inform the men at home. Margaret seized Evelyn’s wrist and marched straight toward the university.

As she stepped out of the car at the campus gates, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Genevieve. At least they wouldn’t have to search for her.

Clutching her phone, Margaret’s hands trembled. How could her once-dutiful, level-headed daughter suddenly become so deceitful? It was as if she had transformed into a stranger overnight. Who could accept such a drastic change?

Sophia snatched the phone and switched it to speaker, instantly drawing Evelyn’s attention as she leaned in curiously.

"Mom, were you looking for me?"

Evelyn thought, Her voice is eerily calm. She’s been completely brainwashed. Naturally, this version of Genevieve was even more unacceptable to her mother and sister.

"Who answered your phone just now?" Margaret demanded bluntly.

"A male classmate."

"Which one?"

"Mom, what’s with the interrogation?" Genevieve’s tone carried a sharp edge, as if she resented her mother’s controlling nature. She had no idea Evelyn had already exposed her.

"You—" Margaret’s anger simmered dangerously.

"Gen, where are you right now?" Sophia cut in sharply.

"Soph? I—I’m in the university’s art studio."

Evelyn smirked internally. Liar. Guilty much? Probably on a date with Damian. Let’s see…

Sophia’s voice turned icy. "We’re outside your campus. If you’re really in the art studio, get to Professor Holloway’s office in ten minutes. We’ll be waiting."

"Soph!" Genevieve’s composure shattered instantly. The mention of Beatrice Holloway confirmed her secret was out. "How—how could you just show up without telling me?"

"And how could you keep this from us?" Sophia shot back, her tone laced with the authority of an elder sister. "Ten minutes. Don’t be late."

She hung up and guided Margaret into the campus.

Evelyn mused, She won’t make it in time.

Sophia suspected Genevieve was off-campus, likely on a date. The realization only deepened her disappointment.

Then, Evelyn’s trailing thoughts reached them again.

She’s cleaning up her rented apartment.

Margaret and Sophia froze, exchanging horrified glances.

It wasn’t hard to guess—it had to be Damian’s place. Normally, at this hour, Genevieve would be in her studio, paintbrush in hand, lost in her art, oblivious even to smudges on her face.

What is she doing now?

Evelyn’s inner voice dripped with disdain. Has she lost her mind?

Margaret and Sophia thought in unison, Clearly. Love has made her reckless.

But the next moment, they realized how naïve they’d been. If Evelyn declared someone insane, the situation was far worse than they imagined.

Evelyn’s thoughts dropped like a bomb. Turns out, Genevieve didn’t just reconcile with Damian—she moved out of the dorms and is living with him!

The revelation was staggering.

Margaret’s legs buckled.

"Mom!" Sophia gasped, lunging forward to steady her.

Evelyn, who had been idly observing through the system, quickly stepped in to help.

Who knew Genevieve’s refusal to study abroad would hit Margaret this hard? If she finds out it was all for that loser—that they’re back together and living together—she might collapse right here.

Margaret was indeed overwhelmed, her voice shaking as she gripped Sophia’s arm. "Go… go to Gen’s dorm. Pack her things. She’s coming home."

Evelyn nodded approvingly. Good call. Margaret must sense something’s off. She needs to take Genevieve home and set her straight.

Sophia’s face was ghostly pale with fury. She handed Margaret over to Evelyn and stormed off with the driver, determined to drag Genevieve back by any means necessary.

Meanwhile, Evelyn escorted Margaret to meet Beatrice Holloway, a sharp-eyed professor who had taken a special interest in Genevieve’s talent. Out of respect for the Blackwood family, Beatrice had reached out to Margaret, hoping to talk sense into the girl.

The moment they met, Beatrice began dropping subtle hints, her gaze knowing.

Then Genevieve arrived, her manners flawless as she greeted them. "Mom, Soph, Evelyn, Professor Holloway."

But the expressions staring back at her were anything but welcoming—especially Margaret’s and Sophia’s.

Margaret’s anger had cooled into something far more dangerous—a quiet, seething fury. "So, you’re throwing away the dream you’ve chased for years… for him?"

Genevieve paled. Before she could speak, Evelyn’s mocking thoughts sliced through the air. Margaret’s already guessed. As a woman, she knows exactly what shatters a strong will—a man’s sweet lies.

Sophia’s voice was brittle. "Gen, I just went to your dorm. Dust everywhere—on your desk, your bed. Did you really think you could hide this? No wonder you haven’t come home in weeks. We thought you were buried in your work. You’ve betrayed us."

"It’s not—I didn’t mean to hide it—"

Evelyn’s inner voice was merciless. When you two got back together, Damian warned you your family would tear you apart. So you obeyed him instead of trusting the people who raised you. Twenty years of family… or one month with a boy? Pathetic.

Genevieve flinched, shame burning her cheeks.

Margaret and Sophia’s faces darkened further.

"After everything that happened last time, you still haven’t learned?" Margaret whispered, her voice raw. "You still believe we’re the villains here?"

Genevieve’s silence was answer enough.

"He's not some street thug. You've all completely misjudged him."

Genevieve's defiant words hung in the air for barely a second before Margaret's palm shot up, trembling with barely restrained fury. Only Sophia's quick reflexes prevented the poised society matriarch from striking her beloved daughter right there in the university hallway.

"Mother, let's handle the paperwork first," Sophia interjected smoothly, though her grip on Margaret's wrist betrayed her tension. "We can deal with Genevieve properly at home."

Tears sprang to Genevieve's wide eyes as she took an involuntary step back. "Mother... you were going to hit me?" Her voice cracked with disbelief. In their privileged world where even Julian had received stern reprimands, Genevieve had always been the golden child who could do no wrong. This sudden shift in her mother's demeanor left her reeling.

Margaret's own eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her raised hand now clenched into a fist at her side. For the first time in her life, she questioned whether she truly knew the daughter she'd raised with such care. The daughter who now defended a man their entire social circle had branded as dangerous.

Professor Holloway cleared her throat, breaking the charged silence. "The scholarship application deadline is tomorrow. Perhaps we should let Miss Blackwood submit her materials first?"

Sophia gave her younger sister a firm nudge toward the administration office. "Go on, don't make this worse."

But Genevieve stood rooted to the spot, her chin lifting stubbornly even as tears tracked down her cheeks. The usually docile socialite showed an unexpected spine, her designer heels planted firmly on the marble floor as if she'd grown roots.