Chapter 141

The atmosphere froze into an icy silence.

Oliver Sinclair's hands trembled as he watched Nathan Blackwood and Evelyn Carter standing inches apart, their tension crackling like live wires. He desperately wanted to intervene before another explosive confrontation erupted between them.

Evelyn's laughter rang out, sharp and brittle. Tears glistened in her starry eyes, refracting the garden lights like shattered diamonds.

"Nathan," she said, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "I'll admit my mistakes. I overestimated my ability to make you love me. I foolishly believed persistence could melt your heart. All I gained was humiliation and regret. But you're wrong about one thing."

She drew a shuddering breath. "Even when you forced me away, I never hated you. I wanted a peaceful goodbye, but you keep tearing open old wounds. Now I have no choice but to remove you from my life completely - the unwanted ghost haunting my fresh start."

Her words struck Nathan like physical blows. His heart stuttered painfully, as if someone had pressed pause on his very existence.

"Mr. Blackwood," Evelyn continued coolly, "it's getting late. Please escort Mr. Sinclair home."

She turned abruptly, determined to walk away before her composure shattered. A man who couldn't recognize her love didn't deserve her tears.

Nathan's hand shot out, fingers clamping around her wrist with bruising force. When she whirled back in shock, she found herself staring into his bloodshot eyes.

"Let go!" She wrenched her arm free.

Before Nathan could respond, a cutting voice sliced through the tension. "Mr. Blackwood! Surely a man of your standing knows better than to manhandle my future daughter-in-law on my doorstep at this hour!"

Lillian Hartwell and Sophia Kingsley approached like avenging angels. Evelyn quickly put distance between herself and Nathan, her pulse racing.

"Future... daughter-in-law?" Nathan's voice sounded hollow, his mind reeling.

"Do we need to spell it out?" Lillian draped a protective arm around Evelyn's shoulders. "Sebastian brought Evelyn home for dinner tonight to formally introduce her to the family. She's perfect for him - beautiful, principled, utterly devoted. Even the chairman approves. We're just waiting to meet her parents and set the wedding date."

Evelyn nearly choked on her surprise. She appreciated their support, but this performance was beyond dramatic.

Nathan felt like his chest had been carved open, leaving only a howling void.

"If memory serves," Sophia added with lethal sweetness, "you recently announced your engagement through the media. Shouldn't you be with your fiancée instead of harassing Evelyn? We don't care if you ruin your reputation, but we won't tolerate you dragging her down. Cross that line again, and you'll regret it."

Evelyn knew Sophia preferred action over words. The fact she was speaking rather than throwing punches meant Lillian and Camille must have intervened.

Oliver rubbed his temples. For heaven's sake, why had Nathan come here asking for this humiliation?

Nathan's hands clenched into white-knuckled fists, trembling with suppressed emotion. He was losing his grip on her, and it terrified him. Why couldn't he let go when he'd been the one to push her away?

"Aunt Lillian, Aunt Sophia," Evelyn said gently, "it's chilly tonight. You'll catch cold dressed like that. Let's go inside."

Her casual use of "home" struck Nathan like a physical blow, erecting an invisible barrier that excluded him completely.

"Evelyn... is this true?" Nathan's voice was raw with anguish.

She took a steadying breath and committed to the charade. "Yes."

"Good. That's... good."

Nathan's ashen face betrayed his pain as he mechanically repeated the word. With shaking hands, he produced a velvet jewelry box.

"A wedding gift," he forced out, pressing it into her palm before turning away, his broad shoulders hunched against the cold night.