Chapter 139

Evelyn's voice trembled with barely contained fury. "Nathan Blackwood, what exactly do you want before you'll finally leave me alone?"

Her palms grew clammy as she clenched the phone. "Do you have any idea how despicable you are, stalking me like this?" she hissed through gritted teeth. "I never refused to take responsibility for your injuries. My secretary Theodore has been trying to reach you. Why are you causing such a scene now?!"

"If you want this settled privately," Nathan's voice dropped to a strained whisper, "I'm giving you that chance right now."

She could hear his uneven breathing through the receiver. "Meet me tonight, and I'll drop all charges against your brothers for assault."

"You—!" Evelyn gasped, outrage stealing her breath.

This couldn't be the same cold, calculating Nathan Blackwood she'd known. The man on the phone sounded like some obsessed stranger. She wanted to scream.

"Fine. I'll meet you," she snapped. "But you'd better keep your word about the settlement."

The phone nearly cracked under the force of her grip when she ended the call.

Meanwhile, inside Cliffside Manor...

"Madam Hartwell," Frederick the butler intercepted Lillian in the hallway, his expression grave. "There's a suspicious Maybach with license plate EVA676 parked outside our gates. Two men in black suits have been standing guard for over an hour, watching the house. Should I activate the security protocols?"

Lillian's perfectly sculpted brows drew together. "Don't alert Harrison yet. I'll handle this."

As Frederick retreated, Lillian swiftly gathered Camille and Sophia into the solarium for an emergency strategy session.

"Girls, we have a situation," Lillian announced, her emerald eyes glinting like polished jade.

Camille blinked her doe-like eyes. "What kind of situation?"

"Spit it out already!" Sophia demanded, cracking her knuckles.

"That bastard Nathan is here," Lillian hissed. "Right outside our gates. Probably harassing Evelyn again."

Sophia's face flushed crimson. "That heartless monster dares show his face here? I'll tear him limb from limb!"

Camille threw her full weight against Sophia to stop her charge. "Think about Evelyn! If you cause a scene, Harrison will find out. Then everything will blow up!"

"But that snake came slithering to our doorstep!" Sophia's voice shook with rage. "After everything he put Evelyn through—the humiliation, the divorce—how dare he? You can stand there, but I won't!"

Lillian seized Sophia's wrist. "None of us want to stand by! But remember—Evelyn begged us to stay out of this. Beating Nathan might feel good, but it'll only make things worse for her. She wants a clean break from the Blackwoods."

"Lillian..." Camille bit her lip. "What if Nathan isn't here to cause trouble? I did some research—he's famously cold, never shown interest in anyone except Victoria Sterling. For him to drive all the way from Crestview to Fairhaven... Do you think he regrets the divorce?"

"Mr. Blackwood?" Sophia scoffed. "That ice sculpture has no heart to regret with! Even if he did, it's too late! Evelyn's love isn't some toy he can discard and reclaim whenever—"

"I just saw Evelyn slip out the back," Lillian interrupted, a calculating smile playing on her lips. "She's probably going to meet him right now."

Camille gasped. "What should we do?"

"Camille, stay here and distract Harrison. Sophia..." Lillian's smile turned predatory. "You wanted to make Nathan pay? Tonight, you'll draw blood."

Outside, the autumn wind howled through Fairhaven's streets.

Oliver Sinclair shivered in his tailored suit, watching his boss stand motionless in the biting wind like some tragic romantic hero. With a resigned sigh, he adjusted his stance beside the Maybach.

An old ballad floated through Oliver's mind—something about fools and unrequited love. Perfect soundtrack for this ridiculous scene.