Chapter 232

Victoria Sterling's ex-lover clenched his fists. "I'm not stupid enough to fight in those illegal underground matches! I'll keep squeezing money out of Victoria instead."

The truth was simple - Nathan Blackwood had moved on with someone new.

Tears streamed down Victoria's face, her eyes bloodshot. "He doesn't love me anymore. What can I do? I'm barely surviving myself now. Even if you threaten to kill me, I have nothing left to give."

"Is there really no other way?" Her ex's face twisted with desperation, as if he was the one who'd lost Nathan's affection.

Victoria's swollen eyes gleamed with sudden malice. "If that woman disappeared... Nathan might reconsider me."

"You want me to..." He drew a finger across his throat.

"She's the only thing standing between me and Nathan. Once she's gone, he'll marry me. Then I can give you anything." Victoria's icy fingers traced his jawline, her gaze hypnotic. "Fifty million dollars. However much you want."

"Fifty million?!" Greed flashed in his eyes as he pinned her against the wall. "Who is she? Give me the name."

The next morning, Nathan stood in his corner office at Blackwood Industries, staring through floor-to-ceiling windows at Crestview's skyline. The untouched coffee in his hand had gone cold.

"This is outrageous! What is Leonard thinking?" Oliver Sinclair crumpled the draft appointment letter bearing Penelope Whitmore's name. "That gold-digging actress has no qualifications! If she deserves to be Vice Chair, I deserve to walk on water!"

Nathan's expression darkened. "Leonard assigned her to the Westridge project specifically to pave her way onto the board."

A bitter taste filled his mouth as he forced down the cold coffee.

"Doesn't the Chairman trust you at all?" Oliver's voice shook with anger. "Your brother can't even manage his own health, let alone the company! No matter how much Leonard favors him, it's pointless. You're his son too - why does he keep sabotaging you? Using Penelope to spy on you... What kind of father does that?"

"Enough, Oliver." Nathan massaged his temples. "I appreciate your loyalty, but these words stay in this room."

"What's our move then, Mr. Blackwood?" Oliver asked through gritted teeth.

"I'd planned to reveal certain things gradually." Nathan's knuckles whitened around his coffee cup. "But if Leonard wants to play this game, I'll have to accelerate my plans."

His phone buzzed. Julian Montgomery's name flashed on the screen.

Too irritated to talk, Nathan almost ignored it - but the persistent buzzing grated on his nerves.

"What?"

"Nathan... I'm devastated." Julian's voice sounded hollow. "Can you... be with me tonight?"

"Go to hell." Nathan's reply was ice.

"Wait!" Julian's panicked shout stopped him from hanging up. "Evelyn dumped me! For real this time - she held a knife to my throat! It's over... My love... My heart... She's really gone..."

A smirk tugged at Nathan's lips.

"Serves you right."