Chapter 32

Victoria left in tears.

The household staff had never liked her. Every time she visited, she would put on a dramatic performance—only to storm out weeping moments later.

Nathan sat rigidly on the sofa, his gaze fixed on the ruined suit in front of him.

"Young Master Nathan, you should rest. Have some warm milk before bed."

Agnes entered with a steaming glass, but when she saw the shredded fabric, she couldn't help but sigh. "What a waste."

Her words carried a deeper meaning.

"Next time Victoria comes, make sure she doesn't enter my room—or Evelyn’s," Nathan ordered in a low voice.

"Of course, Young Master. I won’t let her near either!"

Agnes nodded firmly. "Thankfully, I locked the young madam’s door today. Otherwise, Ms. Sterling might have barged in and destroyed her things too."

"Agnes," Nathan frowned. "Victoria isn’t malicious. I owe her for the past three years."

"And what about the young madam?" Agnes retorted, her voice rising. "What did Evelyn ever do to deserve this? You divorced her. Don’t you feel any guilt?"

"Grandfather forced my hand back then. She didn’t have to marry me if she didn’t want to."

"So you’re saying she brought this upon herself?"

Nathan’s lips thinned into a pale line.

"You should rest. I won’t disturb you further."

Agnes stormed out, taking the milk with her.

Nathan blinked in disbelief.

Was she seriously angry at me? I wanted that milk.

A bitter thought crossed his mind. When did Evelyn bribe Agnes? What a conniving woman.

Victoria returned home humiliated, delivering the devastating news.

Without the Blackwood family’s backing, the Sterling empire would collapse. Recovery would be nearly impossible.

"What the hell is Nathan thinking?" Damian slammed an ashtray onto the table, his eyes burning with fury. "He claims to love you, yet he refuses to lift a finger to help us! Does he think we’re fools?"

"He does love me!" Victoria sobbed. "He divorced Evelyn for me!"

"He’s just weighing his options!" Damian scoffed. "You’re a Sterling—an heiress. Who the hell is Evelyn? Some nobody from the countryside! Any man with half a brain would choose you!"

Victoria flinched. Though her brother meant to defend her, his words stung like an insult.

"Rose," her father pressed urgently. "Why did Nathan suddenly change his mind? What happened?"

"I don’t know!" she cried. "He met with Sebastian Kingsley today. After that, he refused to help us. Father, Damian—did you do something behind his back? He seems to despise us now!"

"Damn it!" Damian’s eyes darkened with realization. "It’s because of Evelyn, isn’t it?"

Victoria froze. "What do you mean?"

"A few nights ago, I was at Julian Montgomery’s new club when that crazy woman started trouble. Nathan showed up out of nowhere to rescue his ex-wife—and forced me to apologize to her!" Damian spat, still seething.

Victoria’s blood boiled. Jealousy twisted her insides.

I knew it. Nathan’s falling for that witch. This is exactly what I feared. I won’t let Evelyn steal him back.

"Enough," her mother interjected coldly. "Once Rose marries Nathan and becomes the lady of Blackwood Industries, none of this will matter. Evelyn is nothing—just a discarded woman. How much trouble can she possibly cause?"

"Our priority," she continued, "is to salvage our company’s reputation. And for that… we need a scapegoat."

"A scapegoat?"

Damian’s lips curled into a sinister smile. "I know just the man."