Chapter 14

Nathan led Victoria into his office under the watchful eyes of the entire floor.

The moment the door clicked shut, Victoria dissolved into tears, throwing herself against Nathan's chest and clutching his waist desperately.

"Nathan, I'm so glad you came for me. I was terrified out there..."

Nathan's expression darkened. He placed his hands on Victoria's shoulders and firmly pushed her away.

"Nathan?" Victoria blinked in confusion.

"Why did you do this?" Nathan's voice was ice cold, his piercing gaze making her shrink back.

"Do what?"

"Why did you leak our engagement to Crestview Daily?"

Victoria exhaled discreetly before embracing him again. "Because I can't wait to be your wife. Don't you want to marry me?"

"I do. But this wasn't the way." His jaw tightened. The tenderness he usually reserved for her was conspicuously absent.

"What's wrong with it? You and Evelyn are already divorced!"

"The papers aren't finalized yet. We promised Grandfather we'd wait until after his birthday."

Nathan instinctively stepped back from Victoria. "Until then, she's still legally my wife. Your announcement affects all three of us. Now Grandfather will oppose you even more."

Nathan was a pragmatic man who weighed every decision carefully. Though he usually indulged Victoria, his words carried unusual sharpness today.

He'd assumed his childhood sweetheart would understand.

But Victoria missed the point entirely. Her eyes flashed with anger. "All three of us? Nathan, are you upset seeing Evelyn criticized as the other woman? Do you actually feel sorry for her?"

"No. But Evelyn isn't the interloper here. This situation shouldn't have happened." Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose, a dull throb building behind his temples.

"How isn't she? She stole my place!"

Victoria's shrill voice pierced his eardrums, worsening his headache. She stamped her foot petulantly. "If not for her, we'd be together! She occupied my position for three whole years!"

"Evelyn was only my wife on paper to appease Grandfather. Without her compliance, we wouldn't be together now."

As the words left his mouth, Nathan's chest constricted strangely.

It was true. Had Evelyn not agreed to their three-year contractual marriage, his grandfather would never have permitted his relationship with Victoria.

That woman had always greeted him with a warm smile. Prepared his clothes. Drawn his baths. Anticipated his every need without being asked.

No drama. No hysterics. Not even when she signed the divorce papers and walked out of Cliffside Manor without looking back.

Even though Evelyn had ultimately chosen Sebastian, she'd fulfilled her wifely duties impeccably. Nathan, meanwhile, had used her from the beginning - counting down the days until he could be with someone else.

The scales of debt between them tipped heavily in Evelyn's favor.

"Nathan, are you defending her now?" Victoria's voice snapped him back to the present. She stared at him as if he'd grown a second head.

"No. I'm stating facts."

His phone buzzed. Seeing Reginald's name, Nathan frowned.

Opening the door, he found Oliver waiting outside.

"Oliver, arrange additional security to escort Ms. Sterling home."

"Right away, Mr. Blackwood." Oliver gestured for Victoria to proceed.

"Nathan! I don't want to go! I'm scared!" Victoria clung to his arm, tears welling in her eyes.

"Don't be. Just avoid commenting to reporters. I'll handle the rest."

With a final stern look, Nathan closed the door behind her and answered the call, bracing against the pounding in his skull.

"Grandfather."

"Nathan! How dare you break your promise to me? Are you that desperate to marry that scheming little—"

"Grandfather, I had nothing to do with today's announcement."

"I know that Sterling girl leaked it! She's forcing your hand because you haven't proposed!"

"Victoria wouldn't do that. Please don't blame her."

Nathan's headache intensified. He loosened his tie, using the wall for support as he staggered to the sofa.

Guilt tightened his throat as he lied to the man who loved him most. But he had no choice.

"I forbid you to marry Victoria! You belong with Evelyn!" Reginald roared, caring only about uniting Nathan with his favorite.

"Grandfather, you promised I could choose after three years."

Cold sweat beaded on Nathan's forehead, his breathing uneven. "Evelyn has moved on. Victoria is my choice."

"Fine! Stay blind! I'll live long enough to watch you regret losing Evelyn!"

The line went dead.

Nathan exhaled shakily, pressing his palms to his temples. He stumbled to his desk for painkillers.

Oliver returned from escorting Victoria just as Nathan swallowed the pills. "Mr. Blackwood, another migraine?"

"I'm fine." Nathan sank into his chair, massaging his throbbing temples with closed eyes.

"You shouldn't rely on those. The young madam's acupuncture always helped. Why did you stop?"

Oliver sighed. "We could use her here. You always slept better after her treatments."

"Don't mention her." Nathan's voice was tight with frustration.

"About your other request..." Oliver hesitated. "The investigation is complete."

"Go on."

"The accounts attacking the young madam...they were traced to Ms. Sterling."

Nathan's head snapped up. "What? That's impossible!"

"I verified it three times."

Oliver lowered his voice. "The timing was too perfect. Your engagement breaks, and immediately Evelyn is smeared? This was calculated."

Nathan froze, then slumped forward as if punched.

Victoria...why?

He knew she loved him. Knew she resented Evelyn. But this? This was beyond petty.

"Handle it. I want every negative story gone by sunset!"

Meanwhile, at the Sterling residence...

Victoria's family erupted in celebration when she arrived.

"Brilliant move, darling!" Damian beamed. "The moment your engagement hit the news, our order cancellations reversed! Hotels are lining up to work with us again!"

Her father clapped her shoulder proudly. "You've saved our family business!"

Previously, Monarch Grand Hotels had returned all Luxe Furnishings products and terminated their contract, causing industry-wide doubts about Sterling Corporation's quality. The domino effect nearly bankrupted them.

Victoria's engagement announcement changed everything overnight. Association with Blackwood Industries was their lifeline.

Yet Victoria scowled. "Do you know what this cost me? Nathan was furious! That old man will hate me even more now!"

"What does it matter?" Damian smirked. "How long can that fossil last? Once he's gone—"

"Damian!" their mother chastised, though her eyes gleamed with matching greed. She stroked Victoria's hair. "As long as Nathan loves you, no one can stop this marriage. Look at your Aunt Penelope."

Victoria's confidence returned. She nodded firmly.

This time, she would become Mrs. Blackwood no matter what. The envy of every socialite in Crestview.