Chapter 457

"Don't fret, Aunt Camille. I'm perfectly fine." Evelyn reassured her stunning stepmother while wrapping her arms around her in a warm embrace.

"You two should chat. I'll go whip up some snacks for you." Camille gestured subtly toward Harrison, indicating he was still upset by mimicking horns above her head with her fingers.

Evelyn flashed an OK sign and winked playfully as Camille excused herself. Quentin, ever the tactful assistant, slipped out as well.

"Dad," Evelyn settled beside her father and leaned into him like an old friend, resting her head against his shoulder. "I overheard your conversation with Aunt Camille from the hallway."

She exhaled softly before continuing, "You really underestimate me, you know. My so-called arrogance? It's just confidence. None of those caged songbirds could ever compete with a phoenix like me."

Harrison sighed, shaking his head. "You are my golden phoenix, but those wild hens keep pecking at you. Doesn’t it wear you down?" His voice softened. "Why provoke them? It only gives me more gray hairs worrying about the fallout."

"Wild hens?" Evelyn burst into laughter, her voice as light as a lark’s song. "Oh, Dad, you’re sharper than I am! I might have been a little harsh earlier."

"I just don’t want to see you hurt because of that stubborn streak of yours," Harrison murmured, pulling her into a tighter hug. Then, his expression darkened. "Speaking of fallout—you caused quite the scene at the Blackwoods’ event. As the president of Blackwood Industries, didn’t Nathan give you any trouble?"

Evelyn’s pulse flickered, but she shrugged. "Not at all. In fact, he played his own game in all this." She smirked. "I thought that reporter who exposed Cassandra was just lucky. Turns out, Nathan orchestrated it—he had her brought to the gala."

Harrison’s brow arched. "Oh?"

"He used the chaos to clean up his own mess. That man has more layers than an onion. No wonder he’s kept his throne all these years."

Harrison chuckled, unable to resist teasing. "Three years married to him, and he never outmaneuvered you? Impressive."

"Dad," Evelyn bared her teeth in a grin, fierce as a young lioness. "Anyone who dares cross me hasn’t been born yet."

Just then, Harrison’s phone buzzed. Evelyn grabbed it from the coffee table, her smile vanishing as she glimpsed the caller ID.

"Who is it?" Harrison asked.

Evelyn’s voice turned icy. "Leonard Blackwood."

Harrison smirked. "Ah, your former father-in-law."

"Dad!" Evelyn’s cheeks flushed scarlet—a rare sight for the unflappable heiress.

Clearing his throat, Harrison tapped the speaker button. "What can I do for you, Chairman Blackwood?"

"Chairman Kingsley," Leonard began, uncharacteristically subdued. "I’d like to discuss last night’s… incident."

Despite his usual arrogance, Leonard’s tone was almost diplomatic. "I’ll be in Fairhaven soon. Perhaps we could meet for lunch?"

Harrison’s smirk deepened as he ruffled Evelyn’s hair. "I doubt we have much to discuss. Besides, my daughter’s home—family time takes priority. If you have something to say, say it now."

A tense pause. Then Leonard forced a laugh. "Chairman Kingsley, there’s been a misunderstanding about the auction. That receipt wasn’t signed by Cassandra. It was forged—completely invalid."

"Chairman Blackwood," Harrison’s voice turned flinty, "if you’re here to debate your daughter plagiarizing mine, save it. Let our lawyers handle it."

"Chairman Kingsley!" Leonard’s composure cracked. "You’d really sue over something this trivial?"

"Trivial?" Harrison’s gaze turned glacial. "Anything involving my daughter is never trivial."

Evelyn, curled beside him like a contented cat, felt her chest swell. In that moment, she understood exactly why her mother had fallen for this fiercely protective man.

Leonard exhaled sharply. "So there’s no room for discussion?"

Harrison’s smile was razor-thin. "The older I get, the pettier I become. In business, I’ll weigh pros and cons. But with family?" His voice dropped to a growl. "You touch my daughter, I burn your world down."