Chapter 202

The Blackwood family was undoubtedly one of the most influential dynasties in Crestview. Had the news of Nathan and Evelyn's marriage been made public, their stock prices would have skyrocketed overnight.

But all those possibilities were now shattered.

The car glided through the inky darkness. Evelyn stared blankly out the window, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the chilled glass. A hollow ache spread through her chest.

She couldn't stop replaying the devastated look in Nathan's eyes when he'd demanded to know why she married him. That wounded expression haunted her - as if she'd been the one who betrayed him.

Evelyn clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms. She shook her head violently. "I can't afford to pity him!" Pity would only lead to heartbreak.

Nathan could never love her. If three years weren't enough to make him fall for her, why would he suddenly care now? That bitter resentment in his eyes was just an act for Harrison's benefit - another manipulation to justify his cruelty.

"So tell me," Harrison ground out through clenched teeth, his knuckles white, "why did you marry that bastard?"

Evelyn exhaled sharply, rolling her eyes. "Dad, drop it. It's ancient history."

"Ancient history my ass!"

Harrison's roar made both the driver and Theodore in the front passenger seat jump. "My precious daughter secretly weds that Blackwood scoundrel for three years and ends up divorced! If I hadn't attended Reginald's birthday today, were you planning to hide this from me forever?"

"So... why did you go anyway?" Evelyn attempted to deflect. "Did Leonard invite you?"

"Don't change the subject!"

"Well..." Evelyn nibbled her lower lip. "He was handsome?"

"Handsome?!" Harrison bellowed. "Every single one of my sons is more handsome than Nathan Blackwood!"

"But your sons can't marry me!"

Harrison momentarily choked on his fury before exploding again. "What did they offer you then? What were the wedding gifts? How many jewelry sets? Villas? Cars? What percentage of shares did you get? And why wasn't there a single media report about the wedding? When the president of Blackwood Industries gets married, knowing Leonard, he'd parade it like a damn peacock! Especially marrying into our family! Why wasn't he strutting around like a cat who got the cream?"

"Dad," Evelyn said quietly, "you forgot I used a fake identity. They never knew I was your daughter."

At first, the memory stung, but Harrison's indignant rant almost made her laugh despite herself. "Besides, I preferred keeping things low-key."

Remembering how the Blackwoods had disparaged "Evelyn Carter" earlier, Harrison seethed, itching to bankrupt them by sunrise.

"You endured three years of marriage under a fake identity?" Harrison stared at her as if she'd grown a second head. "Evelyn, are you insane? Stupid? Possessed? This isn't how a Kingsley behaves!"

Evelyn wasn't any of those things. She'd simply loved Nathan enough to marry him at any cost.

A bitter smile touched her lips as she reached for Harrison's trembling hand, covering it with both of hers. "Nathan never mistreated me these past three years. We had... good moments. Don't worry about me, Dad. See? I'm home now."

"Where else would you go?" Harrison's voice cracked with mingled rage and anguish. His strong features twisted in pain, suddenly looking years older. "Fine. Since you married as Evelyn Carter, Nathan's ex-wife is that nobody - not my precious Evelyn. My daughter remains the most dazzling gem no man is worthy of!"

"Exactly! Perspective is everything!" Evelyn hugged her father tightly, resting her head on his shoulder as the car carried them through the night.