Chapter 446

The grand ballroom fell into stunned silence before erupting into shocked whispers.

Evelyn Carter is Alexa? Nathan Blackwood's mind went completely blank.

His entire body went numb as if his soul had been violently ripped from his chest. His knees nearly buckled beneath him.

Evelyn is Alexa! The realization hit him like a freight train. She's the world-renowned jewelry designer everyone worships.

She had been watching his pathetic attempts to meet Alexa this entire time. She must have been secretly laughing at his humiliation.

Nathan felt like the ground had disappeared beneath his feet. His lips trembled uncontrollably as his breathing became ragged. His eyes burned crimson with barely contained fury. He couldn't tell if he was more furious or devastated.

"You lied to me again, Evelyn. You actually lied to me again!" he seethed internally.

She possessed this extraordinary talent yet played the role of a meek housewife for three years. She scrubbed floors while hiding her brilliance behind an apron.

"Why would you degrade yourself like this?" His jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. "Were you mocking me this whole time?" His hand instinctively clutched at his chest where his heart pounded violently. "Is this some twisted game to you, Evelyn? How could I possibly love someone who's never been honest with me?"

"Alexa?!" The heiress of Monarch Group is Alexa?! This is unbelievable!

"Could this be fake?"

"The diamonds can be forged, but her identity?"

"Besides, Giselle Dubois herself confirmed it!"

Even the most dignified socialites abandoned all pretense of decorum, pulling out their phones to snap pictures like rabid paparazzi.

With Alexa looking this breathtakingly stunning, not capturing this moment would be criminal. Tonight would go down in history!

Alexander Whitmore observed the crowd swarming around Evelyn with quiet amusement. She shone like the moon surrounded by insignificant stars. Adjusting his glasses, his lips curved into a fond smile.

No other woman could electrify him like Evelyn. She made him believe love might not be the foolish fantasy he'd always thought it was.

The scene descended into chaos as the crowd pressed closer, desperate to get near the legendary designer.

Concerned for Evelyn's safety, Alexander rose to intervene when a sudden gust of cold air rushed past him.

His eyes narrowed dangerously as Nathan shoved through the crowd with single-minded determination, fists clenched like a man possessed. Alexander's fingers twitched with the urge to tear him limb from limb.

Evelyn blinked in surprise when Nathan suddenly positioned himself as her human shield. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded coolly.

"Too many people. You could get hurt," Nathan replied stiffly, refusing to meet her gaze.

Evelyn scoffed. "Theodore is right behind me, and this hotel has excellent security. We don't need your heroics."

"You lied to me again, Evelyn," Nathan said slowly, turning to face her at last.

His dark eyes burned with intensity. "Don't you have anything to say about your deception?" His voice trembled with barely restrained emotion.

Evelyn's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Does it sting being on the receiving end? Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

Nathan inhaled sharply, coughing to disguise how thoroughly she'd winded him. She infuriated him beyond reason.

The uproar only subsided when Theodore dispatched a team of bodyguards to restore order.

"Oh my God! You're really Alexa?!" Isabella Wang rushed forward, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to form coherent words. "How is this possible?"

"I never meant to hide my identity," Evelyn explained gently. "These titles mean little to me. I simply love creating jewelry without the spotlight." She smiled warmly at her starstruck fan. "Your admiration means the world to me."

Such effortless grace! Such poise!

"Ms. Carter—no, Ms. Alexa! Please forgive my earlier rudeness!" Isabella was practically groveling, wishing she could turn back time.

Evelyn waved her hand dismissively. "As both Alexa and Monarch Grand Hotel's manager, I understand confidentiality breaches better than anyone. There are no hard feelings."

Now came the moment to expose Cassandra and Penelope's deceit.

"'Celestial Tear' is one of Alexa's most private works, rarely displayed publicly," Giselle declared, fixing Cassandra with a piercing stare. "Aside from Alexa herself, no one else possesses it. Therefore, the piece Ms. Blackwood gave Ms. Wang is undoubtedly counterfeit."

Giselle's voice turned icy. "Forging Alexa's work constitutes serious infringement of her reputation and creative rights. Each piece carries exorbitant insurance. You're not legally ignorant, Ms. Blackwood. You understand the severe penalties awaiting you, correct?"