Chapter 70

Evelyn had always been a refined young woman, raised with elegance by the Kingsley family. She never needed to resort to petty schemes to get what she wanted.

But after her divorce from Nathan, something dark awakened within her.

She remembered the exact moment Nathan's eyes shattered when Crimson Promise appeared on the auction stage. A pang of guilt shot through her - perhaps she'd gone too far this time.

She could have ignored the necklace. There was no need to publicly humiliate Nathan to this degree.

Yet Evelyn couldn't help her vindictive streak.

It wasn't the divorce that fueled her anger. She'd accepted that the love she'd chased for thirteen years was gone forever.

What infuriated her was how someone as intelligent as Nathan remained blind to Victoria's true nature.

"I went too far," she whispered to herself, pressing a hand to her aching chest. "This ends now."

This would be the last time she interfered in Nathan and Victoria's twisted relationship.

The bathroom door burst open with a violent kick.

Evelyn didn't flinch. She merely turned with icy composure.

Victoria stormed in, her elaborate dress nearly tripping her as she charged forward like a raging bull.

"Evelyn! You conniving witch!"

"Three years of insults and you still haven't expanded your vocabulary," Evelyn drawled, arching one perfectly shaped brow.

"It was you! You put Nathan's gift up for auction!" Victoria's face contorted with rage. "How could you be so vicious?!"

Her next step caught in her hem, sending her stumbling. The momentary humiliation made her forget her revenge plot.

"I was donating to charity," Evelyn said smoothly, stepping back warily. "Careful now, I'd hate to need rabies shots."

Victoria's eyes burned with hatred. "You're just bitter Nathan chose me! This pathetic attempt to drive us apart won't work! He'll never love you!"

Evelyn's gaze turned glacial. "You sold the necklace yourself. Its fate is no longer your concern."

She turned to leave, unwilling to waste another breath on this woman.

If not for Nathan forcing their paths to cross, Evelyn wouldn't spare a second glance for such a pretentious social climber.

"Come back here, you bitch!"

Victoria lunged, grabbing Evelyn's wrist with bruising force.

Evelyn gasped as pain shot up her arm.

With a vicious yank, Victoria tore the jade bracelet from Evelyn's wrist - Reginald's precious gift - leaving an angry red mark on her delicate skin.

"Give that back!" Evelyn's almond eyes turned deadly sharp.

Victoria clutched the bracelet triumphantly. She'd coveted this piece since first seeing it, furious when the old man gave it to her rival.

"You stole what's rightfully mine!" Victoria spat. "If I can't have it, neither can you!"

With a malicious smile, she raised the bracelet high and smashed it against the marble countertop.

"No!"

The sickening crack of jade breaking echoed through the bathroom.

Evelyn's heart shattered along with Reginald's gift, now lying in three irreparable pieces on the cold floor.