Chapter 229

Julian Montgomery's face drained of color in an instant.

He hadn't noticed when Evelyn had drawn the blade. Before he could react, the cold steel was already pressed against his throat.

The butterfly knife was notorious—a silent, deadly weapon. A single flick of the wrist could be fatal.

And Evelyn had chosen to use it on Julian. Ruthless.

"Stop bothering me, Julian."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes, tapping his cheek lightly with the sharp edge. "Even if you were the last man on earth, I wouldn’t pick you."

"But if there were only two men left—me and Nathan—who would you choose?" Julian's voice trembled, his pulse racing beneath the blade.

Evelyn smirked. "Still not you."

Julian, always so proud and unshakable, felt his pride shatter into a million pieces.

The office door swung open.

"Evelyn, what are you doing?" Sebastian Kingsley stood in the doorway, stunned.

Evelyn's expression shifted instantly. She retracted the knife with a fluid motion and beamed at her brother.

"Seb, you didn’t tell me you were coming!"

The transformation was so swift Julian barely processed it.

He rose stiffly, casting one last devastated glance at Evelyn before storming out, his eyes burning with humiliation.

Sebastian watched him go, recognizing the utter defeat in the usually arrogant prince. He sighed, unsure whether to laugh or pity him.

In all of Crestview, only Evelyn Carter could reduce Julian Montgomery to this state.

"Seb!"

Evelyn threw her arms around Sebastian's neck, her earlier ferocity gone. "How are you? Is your injury healed?"

"What do you think? I don’t even need bandages anymore."

Sebastian lifted her off the ground, spinning her playfully like he used to when they were children. "Just a scratch. Your brother isn’t that fragile."

Of course not. Even Harrison would be shocked if he knew Sebastian’s past.

Who would guess that this gentle, composed man had once been a crime lord?

Years ago, something had made Sebastian abandon that life. He turned over a new leaf, dedicating himself to morality and faith, severing all ties with his dark history.

Evelyn still couldn’t reconcile it—how a man who never harmed anyone, never drank or smoked, could have led an underworld empire.

There had to be a secret buried beneath her brother’s serene smile.

"What happened between you and Mr. Montgomery?"

Sebastian chuckled. "Julian may be ruthless with others, but he’s sincere with you. Even if you don’t want him, you shouldn’t humiliate him with a knife. A man needs his pride—especially the heir of the Montgomery family."

"If I didn’t, he’d never give up."

Evelyn pinched the bridge of her nose. "Most men back off when rejected, but Julian? Relentless. If I hadn’t scared him off, he’d keep chasing me. Now that I’m Evelyn Carter again, I refuse to be tangled with Nathan’s circle. I know I went too far, but it had to be done. Better to end it brutally than let it fester."

"Sometimes I wish Anna Brown and Evelyn Carter could merge into one," Sebastian murmured.

"Impossible. I buried Anna for good."

Exhausted, Evelyn slumped onto Sebastian’s lap.

He smiled, his elegant fingers massaging her temples.

"Seb, did you come because you have news?" She closed her eyes, relaxing under his touch.

"You’ve always been the cleverest. You already know."

"Have you found a way to handle the Blackwoods?" she asked lazily.

"If Victoria Sterling is too much trouble, I can deal with her." Sebastian’s tone was light, but his eyes held something darker.

"No. Victoria is mine." Evelyn’s eyes slitted like a predator’s. "If I let you handle her, I’d regret it. She dared to cross me—she’ll pay for it personally."