Chapter 28

The waitress who had been Evelyn's puppet earlier scrambled to her feet, her legs trembling visibly as she approached.

"I was terrified! Mr. Blackwood is so striking—his presence alone made my face burn. Did I mess up, Ms. Carter?"

Evelyn handed her an envelope with a faint smile. "No, you performed perfectly. This is for you."

The waitress gasped as she felt the thick stack of bills inside. "Thank you, Ms. Carter!"

At that moment, Theodore stepped forward, extending a confidentiality agreement.

"I trust your integrity, but for everyone's protection, it's best to sign this."

Evelyn's gaze sharpened. "If word of today's conversation with Mr. Blackwood reaches anyone, I'll consider it a breach of contract and pursue legal action."

The waitress nodded frantically, scribbled her signature, and swore secrecy before hurrying out.

Theodore chuckled. "Nathan Blackwood, the so-called ruthless tycoon? More like a lovesick fool! Don't you agree, Ms. Carter?"

Evelyn snapped out of her daze with a dry laugh. "Indeed. He'd sacrifice his pride for Victoria Sterling without hesitation."

"I heard his ex-wife suffered terribly under him. Now Victoria's reaping the rewards of that poor woman's misery."

Evelyn slammed her palm on the desk, her glare freezing Theodore mid-sentence.

He recoiled, bewildered by her sudden fury.

"Ms. Carter, with tensions high between you and Nathan, what's our next move?" he asked hastily.

"We wait."

"For what?"

Evelyn's lips curled. "When the Sterlings can no longer bear the scandal and send Damian to defend their tainted reputation, we strike. And this time, it'll be fatal."

"Theodore hesitated. "Will Nathan intervene again?"

"Not a chance."

Evelyn's eyes flicked to the calligraphy Nathan had admired earlier. "He was blind to the Sterlings' deceit before. Now that he sees the truth, he'll abandon them. His heart belongs solely to Victoria—he never wastes energy on others. His earlier interference was purely to shield his company from collateral damage. Every move he makes is calculated."

She laughed bitterly, recalling how Nathan had scaled ten flights for Victoria yet couldn't spare a glass of water for Evelyn.

"Nathan, my stomach hurts. Could you bring me water?"

"I'm busy. Ask Agnes."

Her laughter dissolved into red-rimmed eyes.

"You and Victoria deserve each other. Both equally despicable."

Outside, rain hammered the hotel windows, thunder rattling the glass as Nathan departed—his mood as stormy as the weather.

The car's atmosphere was suffocating. Nathan massaged his temples, the beginnings of a migraine prickling behind his eyes.

"Sir, what's Ms. Carter really like?" Oliver ventured. "You've never let anyone unsettle you before."

Nathan's mind flashed to Evelyn's childhood photo—so unlike the sharp, formidable woman they'd just faced. Puberty could explain the transformation, but something gnawed at him.

"Dig deeper into the Kingsley-Sterling feud. I want full reports on Damian and Richard Sterling's recent activities. Immediately."

Back at Blackwood Industries, Nathan plowed through meetings and paperwork until exhaustion forced him back into his chair.

He exhaled heavily, believing his path with Victoria would now be unobstructed—that his restless heart had finally found its anchor.

Yet Evelyn's mocking smile haunted him.

Anchor or noose? The question lingered, unanswered.