Chapter 108

"No." Evelyn's voice was ice-cold. "You overestimate your importance. If I could, I'd erase every trace of you from my existence."

Her next words struck like daggers. "I wish I'd never loved you at all."

Nathan's pupils contracted violently. The words hit him with physical force, leaving his throat parched and burning.

Each syllable from her lips was sharper than the last.

By the time he regained his composure, Evelyn had already released his tie and strode past without a backward glance.

Theodore shot Nathan a venomous glare as he hurried after Evelyn. Though he hadn't heard their exchange, the tension between them spoke volumes.

"Nathan! Did you delete those photos?" Cassandra's shrill voice cut through the boutique. "That country bumpkin had the audacity to threaten me! Thank goodness you intervened before she could ruin our family's reputation!"

She reached for Nathan's arm, eager to flaunt their closeness, but recoiled at the glacial fury in his eyes.

"Were those photos actually doctored?" Nathan's question hung in the air like a guillotine.

Cassandra froze. "What?"

"Otherwise, why would Evelyn blackmail you?" His piercing gaze demanded truth.

Cassandra's blood ran cold. For the first time, she realized Nathan wasn't unquestioningly on her side.

His loyalty still belonged to Evelyn.

"I witnessed the incident myself," Nathan stated coldly. "You'll hold a press conference tomorrow night to apologize to the hotel staff."

"Apologize?!" Cassandra's face twisted in outrage. "I'm the paying customer! Their incompetent staff broke my necklace! Why should I—"

Her tirade was interrupted as the boutique's second-floor screen flickered to life.

Security footage from Monarch Grand Hotels played in crisp detail, capturing everyone's attention. The video showed Cassandra's two socialite friends preening before the elevator's mirrored doors.

"Ugh, Cassandra's insufferable since buying that tacky necklace," one friend sneered off-camera. "We only tolerate her because she pays for everything."

The other giggled maliciously. "The look on her face when she couldn't find it! Little does she know we hid it in the suite after breaking the clasp!"

The color drained from both women's faces as the footage ended. Cassandra advanced on them like a vengeful fury, her designer heels clicking ominously.

"Cass, it's not what it looks like!" they stammered, backing away. "Someone edited that!"

"You treacherous vipers!" Cassandra shrieked, abandoning all pretense of elegance. "After everything I've done for you!"

With a primal scream, she launched herself at her former friends, manicured nails bared like claws.