Chapter 8

"Oh my God! Evelyn, are you okay?" Penelope gasped, feigning concern while her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Nathan immediately stepped forward to help Victoria up from the floor, but she stubbornly refused to move.

Tears welled up in Victoria's eyes as she whimpered, "Nathan, it hurts so much. Will you carry me?"

Her knees throbbed from the impact, but her pride hurt more.

Evelyn crossed her arms, watching the scene unfold with amusement.

Victoria was putting on quite the performance for Nathan's benefit.

"Nathan, Ms. Carter pushed me!" Victoria buried her face in Nathan's chest, then shot Evelyn a venomous glare.

"Victoria, what did you just say?" Nathan frowned, taken aback.

"Are you sure I pushed you?" Evelyn smirked, unfazed. She wasn’t angry—if anything, she was entertained by Victoria’s theatrics.

"Why else would I suddenly fall?" Victoria’s voice rose, her usual sweet tone sharpening with indignation.

"Not impossible," Evelyn mused. "You do look like a strong breeze could knock you over."

"How dare you!" Victoria’s face flushed crimson. "I felt your hand shove me from behind! Why won’t you admit it?"

"Ms. Sterling," Evelyn’s eyes darkened dangerously, "there are surveillance cameras everywhere. Stop trying to frame me. I could sue you for defamation once I pull the footage."

Nathan blinked, startled. This wasn’t the Evelyn he knew—the quiet, obedient wife who waited alone in Cliffside Manor.

Victoria, sensing she was losing, turned to Penelope for help.

"Oh, it’s all just a misunderstanding!" Penelope laughed nervously, glancing at the camera above them. "Victoria must have slipped because she wasn’t standing properly. She probably bumped into Evelyn and thought she was pushed!"

"Victoria," Nathan’s voice turned cold, "did you slip on your own?"

"I—I thought she pushed me..."

Nathan narrowed his eyes.

Flustered, Victoria lashed out. "If she hadn’t been in the way, I wouldn’t have fallen! She did it on purpose! And now my grandmother’s bracelet—a Blackwood heirloom—is broken! If it weren’t for her—"

She dissolved into dramatic sobs again.

Evelyn sighed. This woman had an endless supply of tears.

"First of all," Evelyn cut in, "I’m not upset about the divorce. In fact, I should thank you for freeing me from that prison. No more waiting like a discarded wife."

"Waiting?" Nathan frowned.

"Second," Evelyn picked up the broken bracelet and examined it under the light, "if this is a family heirloom, you should be thanking me."

She tossed it into the trash. "It’s fake. And filled with toxic glue—terrible for your health."

The emerald bracelet on Evelyn’s wrist gleamed mockingly.

"Mr. Blackwood, if you’re marrying Ms. Sterling, at least buy her real jewelry."

"Evelyn!" Nathan snapped.

"There’s a jade toad on my vanity at Cliffside Manor," Evelyn added sweetly. "I think it suits you, Victoria. You can turn it into a bracelet if you like."

A toad?! Victoria seethed. This woman was insulting her!

Before Victoria could retaliate, Evelyn strode away.

Outside the hospital, Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of Victoria’s furious expression.

"Evelyn!"

Nathan’s deep voice made her pause. She turned, the breeze tousling her dark hair, adding a wild edge to her elegance.

Nathan approached, his gaze intense. "Yes, Mr. Blackwood?"

Evelyn’s expression was unreadable. "If Ms. Sterling is still upset about her bracelet, tell her I’ll send her a truckload tomorrow."

"Earlier, in the ward, you told Grandfather—"

"Don’t overthink it," Evelyn interrupted. "I just didn’t want to upset Reginald." Her eyes softened slightly at the mention of him.

"We’re even now."

Evelyn blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You faked your identity to marry me. I won’t tell Grandfather or anyone else." Nathan’s voice was low, dangerous. "But you will tell me why."

Evelyn’s pulse spiked.

"No," Nathan corrected himself. "Not why you married me. Why did you use a false identity to get close to him?"

Evelyn’s breath hitched. She stepped back—

And forgot about the stairs behind her.

She stumbled, but Nathan’s hand shot out, catching her waist.

Their eyes locked. Evelyn’s cheeks warmed. Nathan’s breathing grew uneven.

Even now, she still found him devastatingly handsome.

She remembered the first time she saw those piercing eyes—thirteen years ago, when she was lost in a storm.

Nathan had saved her life.

Now, he’d shattered her heart.

Nathan released her abruptly.

"Thanks."

"Answer my question."

"I’m not your wife anymore. I don’t owe you anything."

Evelyn turned to leave, but Nathan grabbed her arm.

"The divorce isn’t finalized. Legally, you’re still my wife. You will tell me who you really are."

"No."

Evelyn’s eyes burned. "You want to talk about obligations? You never acted like a husband for three years. What right do you have to demand anything from me?"

"Evelyn," Nathan growled, yanking her close, "don’t test me."

Their breaths mingled.

Nathan rarely lost his temper, but this woman—

She infuriated him.

"Then investigate me yourself." Evelyn wrenched free and walked away.

Nathan watched her go, his chest tight.

Her crimson lips. Those lethal heels.

Who was she dressing like this for? Sebastian Kingsley?

"Mr. Blackwood!" Oliver rushed over. "Ms. Sterling says she’s sprained her ankle. She wants you to accompany her."

A roar of an engine cut through the air.

Nathan turned—

And froze.

Evelyn slid into a sleek black Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the epitome of power and luxury.

She drove past him without a glance.

Oliver gaped. "Damn. The ex-Mrs. Blackwood is loaded."

Nathan’s jaw clenched.

"Follow her."