Chapter 265

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. "To find Victoria's illegitimate daughter, we'll need to draw them out of hiding."

Evelyn's eyes gleamed with quiet determination. "Dominic let it slip that only Victoria's mother knows where the child is. So, we'll have Margaret lead us straight to her—no need for our own investigation."

Nathan chuckled, a mysterious smile playing on his lips. "And what about Victoria? How do you plan to handle her?"

Evelyn's expression darkened. "If you want to destroy someone, you have to break them first—make them lose control."

She stifled a yawn, rubbing her tired eyes. "She's about to get engaged to Nathan, right? If we don't let her enjoy the spotlight, how can we crush her completely?"

Nathan's thoughts flickered back to the situation. He added, "Speaking of Nathan, that man is truly blind."

Evelyn scoffed. "It doesn't matter if he's blind or not. I know my worth now. A man like him means nothing to me anymore."

Suddenly, Evelyn's eyes widened as she remembered something. She quickly pulled out her phone and scrolled through her gallery, revealing a series of covertly taken photos of Alexander.

"Seb," she said, her voice laced with curiosity, "look at this man. Do you recognize him?"

She continued, "The day Dominic almost got the upper hand on me, this gentleman intervened just in time. That's why I only ended up with minor injuries."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Really? You should thank him properly, then."

Evelyn sighed. "He’s being annoyingly mysterious."

A playful smirk tugged at her lips. "I asked him who he was, but he refused to tell me. What’s even more interesting? He already knew exactly who I was."

The image of Alexander’s sharp, striking features flashed in her mind. Her curiosity burned brighter.

Beneath her composed exterior, Evelyn thrived on control. The idea of someone slipping through her grasp unsettled her.

Sebastian leaned closer, studying the man in the photo.

Then, his eyes widened in recognition. He looked at Evelyn in disbelief. "Evie, you seriously don’t recognize him?"

Evelyn blinked. "Should I?"

"When you were little, I remember you two were practically inseparable."

"What?!" she exclaimed, scrutinizing the photo again. He did seem familiar, but the memory remained just out of reach.

Sebastian continued, "Alexander Whitmore, from the Whitmore family. He was quiet as a child—barely spoke to anyone. You were the only one he ever played with. You’ve really forgotten?"

Evelyn gasped. "That’s Critter?!"

She stared in disbelief. "What kind of miracle diet did he have to grow up like that?"

Late that night, Alexander’s private club, Vertigo, buzzed with energy.

Under the dim, moody lighting, laughter and clinking glasses filled the air. Couples whispered in corners, lost in their own worlds.

Amid the chaos, Alexander sat alone in a secluded booth, exuding an aura of quiet authority. His presence alone kept women at bay. He was infamous—cold, ruthless, and intolerant of fools. No one dared cross him unless they wanted to vanish from Crestview.

A tipsy man stumbled toward him, slurring his words. "I can’t make it to the yacht party in two days."

He swayed, leaning heavily against Alexander. "My father’s forcing me on a blind date. Burp! Who the hell gets married in their twenties? Only Nathan Blackwood would rush into something like that."

Alexander took a slow sip of red wine. "If you don’t want to go, say no."

"I can’t," the man groaned, loosening his tie. "She’s the daughter of Harrison Kingsley—the richest man in Fairhaven. What’s her name? Evelyn—"

Alexander’s grip on his glass tightened. His eyes darkened. "I have a solution."

The man perked up. "Tell me."

Alexander finished his wine. The shifting lights cast shadows across his sharp features, making him look even more dangerous.

He smirked. "You go to the yacht party. I’ll take the blind date for you."