Chapter 165

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Evelyn Sinclair’s penthouse, casting golden streaks across the marble floors. She sipped her latte, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly—until a particular headline caught her eye.

"Seraphina Delacroix Spotted Leaving Sebastian Hart’s Hotel at 3 AM—Are They Rekindling Their Flame?"

Evelyn nearly choked on her coffee. Oh, this is too good.

Her mind-reading ability, usually a curse, was about to become her favorite pastime.

Across the city, Nathan Blackwood sat in his sleek office, reviewing contracts. His phone buzzed—a message from his sister, Sophia.

"Did you see the news? Seraphina and Sebastian? Again?"

Nathan sighed. He had no interest in celebrity gossip, but Sophia lived for it. Before he could reply, another message popped up.

"Lillian just sent me screenshots of Seraphina’s private texts. This is JUICY."

Nathan frowned. Lillian Graves, Evelyn’s assistant?

Evelyn, meanwhile, had already tuned into Seraphina’s thoughts.

"Ugh, why does the press always twist things? I was just picking up my earrings! Not everything is a scandal!"

Evelyn smirked. Sure, sweetheart. And I’m the Queen of England.

Then, another voice cut in—Sebastian’s.

"If Danielle finds out about this, she’ll kill me. Why did I even agree to meet her?"

Evelyn’s eyes widened. Oh-ho. Someone’s in trouble.

She quickly texted Lillian: "Get me everything on Sebastian and Danielle. Now."

Nathan’s phone buzzed again. This time, it was Marcus Donovan, his brother Julian’s agent.

"Heads up—Evelyn’s digging into Seraphina’s mess. You know how she gets with drama."

Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course she was. Evelyn had a knack for uncovering secrets, and once she started, she wouldn’t stop until she had the full story.

He typed back: "Keep an eye on her. And for God’s sake, don’t let Julian get involved."

Evelyn, now fully invested, had switched to listening in on Danielle’s thoughts.

"That idiot. I told him to stay away from her. Now the whole world thinks they’re back together?"

Evelyn grinned. This is better than reality TV.

Then, a new voice entered the mix—Adrian Cross, Seraphina’s current boyfriend.

"If she thinks I’m just going to ignore this, she’s got another thing coming."

Evelyn gasped. Oh, this is about to explode.

She quickly dialed Preston Whitmore, the director of Seraphina’s latest film.

"Preston, darling, you might want to reschedule tomorrow’s shoot. Things are about to get… messy."

Nathan, sensing the impending chaos, decided to intervene. He called Evelyn.

"Whatever you’re planning, stop."

Evelyn feigned innocence. "Me? Planning? Nathan, I’m just an innocent bystander."

"Bullshit. You’re about to set Hollywood on fire."

She laughed. "Maybe. But think of the entertainment value."

Nathan sighed. "Just… try not to get sued."

Evelyn winked, even though he couldn’t see it. "No promises."

By noon, the tabloids were ablaze with fresh rumors, leaked texts, and a very public shouting match between Adrian and Sebastian outside a Beverly Hills café.

Evelyn reclined on her sofa, sipping champagne.

Best. Day. Ever.

Meanwhile, Nathan buried his face in his hands.

Why do I even bother?

Gabriel knew he needed to stall for time. The perfect moment would come when he could intimidate Vivienne, stopping her from doing anything reckless.

"Gabriel, what are you talking about?" Claire suddenly spoke up, her voice sharp. "We would never negotiate with a criminal."

"Mom, this isn't the time—" Gabriel cut in, but he couldn’t stop her.

Claire took Vivienne’s hand, her expression softening. "Sweetheart, I’ve said it before. This mess started because of Gabriel, so it’s our family’s responsibility. If you want to pay to settle this, I’ll provide the funds. If you’d rather go to the police, leave it to me. I may not have many talents, but I do have military connections. I promise you, the culprit won’t escape. But…" She hesitated. "I should warn you—I can’t guarantee those photos or videos won’t leak before then. Desperate people do desperate things."

Though Vivienne resented Gabriel, she couldn’t bring herself to direct that anger at Claire. Hearing those words, her eyes welled up. That an elder was willing to step forward and handle everything for her—it was more than her own family had ever done.

Unlike them…

"Thank you, Mrs. Harrison," Vivienne said firmly. "I want to call the police."

Lillian nodded, already pulling out her phone.

Gabriel’s face twisted instantly.

Hah. Didn’t see this coming, did you, Gabriel? The one to bring you down isn’t your ex-girlfriend—it’s your own mother. A bitter smirk curled Vivienne’s lips. But I wonder… What will Mrs. Harrison do when she finds out the real culprit is her precious son?

Gabriel didn’t give Claire the chance to dial. He snatched the phone from her grip. "No, Mom!"

"What the hell are you doing?" Claire snapped.

Isabelle frowned, studying Gabriel’s erratic behavior. "Gabriel, Vivienne already said you’re not in the videos. This doesn’t affect you. And let’s be honest—you’re not her boyfriend anymore. You don’t get a say in this."

Vivienne met his gaze, her stomach twisting. Even now, after everything, he still acted like some possessive ex who couldn’t stand the thought of other men seeing her body.

Then Evelyn spoke, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

"Are you afraid the police will come for you if she reports this?"

Gabriel’s composure shattered. "What the hell are you talking about? Why would they come for me? This has nothing to do with me!"

You’re panicking. You’re actually panicking.

Claire’s brows furrowed as she took in her son’s odd behavior. "Gabriel… why are you so worked up?"

Evelyn arched a perfectly sculpted brow, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "My, my, why so defensive? The compromising media was leaked from your device. If authorities investigate, isn't it standard procedure to examine your electronics?" She tilted her head, feigning concern. "I merely suggested sparing you bureaucratic hassles. But your reaction... one might think you're hiding evidence with police sirens already wailing outside."

Gabriel's fingers twitched near his blazer pocket. The man might as well have worn a neon sign flashing Guilty.

While Evelyn maintained an expression of playful innocence, Gabriel's face cycled through emotions like a malfunctioning kaleidoscope - panic, fury, then forced calm.

Julian barely suppressed a laugh. His sister-in-law was a maestro of psychological warfare, dangling truth just beyond reach while maintaining deniability. When he noticed Gabriel's telltale sweat stains, he pounced. "Fascinating. Summer in October? Or perhaps..." His gaze dropped meaningfully to Gabriel's clenched fists.

Perfect. Evelyn mentally applauded. With Julian's unexpected assist, they might corner Gabriel before he could destroy Vivienne's reputation further.

Neither noticed Julian's phone blinking urgently on the side table.

The tension thickened as speculative glances ricocheted around the room. Claire Harrison frowned at her son. "Gabriel, what aren't you telling us?" Her maternal instincts warred with dawning horror - her golden boy couldn't possibly be involved in something sordid. Could he?

Gabriel's composure shattered. "This is absurd!" He wheeled on Evelyn, spittle flying. "What possible motive would I have to harm Vivienne? Because I misplaced my phone, I'm suddenly a criminal mastermind?"

Julian's chuckle was ice-cold. "Interesting choice of words. I merely wondered..." He stepped closer, invading Gabriel's space. "...if your panic stems from still having those private files. After all, only the guilty fear scrutiny."

Gabriel's hand jerked toward his inner pocket before he caught himself. "Everything's deleted!" he snapped.

Evelyn's smile turned razor-sharp. "Then you won't mind proving it." She extended her palm. "For Vivienne's sake - and your own credibility."

The room held its breath as Gabriel's jaw worked soundlessly. When he finally spoke, each word dripped venom. "Don't. Push. Me."

Evelyn blinked with exaggerated innocence. "Darling, why resist such a simple request between... friends?" The pause before the last word hung like a guillotine blade.

Vivienne Monroe and Claire Harrison exchanged bewildered glances. After everything that had happened, they had assumed Gabriel Ramirez would have deleted those compromising photos and videos immediately. What kind of person would keep such incriminating evidence, knowing full well the risks if his phone fell into the wrong hands?

Yet, judging by Gabriel’s defensive reaction—his stiff posture, the way his fingers twitched toward his pocket—something wasn’t right.

Isabelle Laurent narrowed her eyes. In this industry, she had seen it all. She already knew about Gabriel’s gambling debts and reckless behavior. But now, a darker suspicion took root in her mind.

Had this entire ordeal been staged?

With a sharp inhale, Isabelle spoke up. "The person in those photos and videos is Vivienne. Taking them without consent is already illegal. You claim they’re deleted, but without proof, we have every right to verify that ourselves… unless you’re lying."

Gabriel flinched.

Vivienne’s expression darkened. For the first time, she allowed herself to see the man she had once loved in the worst possible light.

This wasn’t just about gambling or unpaid debts.

Claire’s voice turned icy. "Hand over your phone."

Gabriel’s jaw clenched. "You’re all being irrational. I won’t entertain this nonsense any longer. My phone is private property, and I won’t show it to anyone." With that, he spun on his heel and strode toward the exit.

He was running.

This was exactly what Evelyn Sinclair and Julian Blackwood had feared. Legally, they had no grounds to stop him.

But they couldn’t let him leave.

Before Gabriel could reach the door, three sharp knocks echoed through the room. Without waiting for an answer, the door swung open.

"Police. We’re here to investigate a case."

A deep, authoritative voice cut through the tension as two uniformed officers stepped inside.

The moment Gabriel saw them, his face paled. Instinct took over—he bolted, shoving past the officers in a desperate bid to escape.

The sudden movement startled the policemen. The younger officer reacted instantly, grabbing Gabriel’s arm and twisting it behind his back in one fluid motion. Within seconds, Gabriel was pinned face-first against the floor.

"Identify yourself! What are you trying to pull? Handcuff him!"

No one had expected this turn of events.

The room fell silent.

Evelyn Sinclair stood frozen in shock. She hadn't dialed the police—she was certain of that. And since she had been present the entire time, no one else could have slipped away to make the call without her noticing.

More importantly, without the victim's explicit consent, who would dare take such a reckless step?

Her mind raced, replaying the events of the past hour. Every face, every whisper, every movement—nothing had seemed out of place. Yet here they were, the distant wail of sirens growing louder by the second.

A cold realization settled in her chest.

Someone had betrayed her.

And worse—they had done it right under her nose.

The question was… who?

Her fingers tightened around her phone, the screen still displaying the damning evidence—photos she had thought were long deleted.

Nathan Blackwood’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, sharp and accusing.

"You kept them."

Evelyn’s breath hitched.

His gaze burned into her, dark and unreadable. "After everything, you still have those photos."

She opened her mouth to deny it, but the proof was right there, glaring back at her in high definition.

And now, with the police on their way, those very images could destroy everything.

The sirens were deafening now.

Time was running out.