Chapter 203

Richard set down his whiskey glass with a knowing smirk. "Winning someone's heart isn't as complicated as you think, Nathan. It's about persistence—and timing."

Margaret nodded, her eyes warm with encouragement. "You and Evelyn share something rare. Fate won't let that go to waste."

Yet for seven long days, Evelyn avoided Nathan like a storm she refused to weather.

Then, the invitation arrived.

The Hampton family's gala.

Evelyn's fingers froze around the embossed cardstock. A memory flickered—un business.

Has Violet ended things with Mason yet? Did Anders really sabotage her makeup career? She scoffed. No, Claire's married to Ethan now. She should focus on being the perfect wife instead of stirring drama.

But that wasn't the point.

The real question is—are Violet and Mason still together?

A slow, wicked smile curved her lips. I have to go. This train wreck deserves an audience.

She turned to find Nathan watching her, the invitation dangling from his fingers like a challenge.

The tension in the penthouse was palpable as Evelyn Sinclair paced the length of the marble floor, her heels clicking sharply with each step. Outside, the city lights twinkled like distant stars, but she barely noticed. Her mind was consumed by the events of the past twenty-four hours—Nathan Blackwood’s sudden disappearance, the cryptic message left on her phone, and the unsettling feeling that someone was watching her every move.

Lillian Graves, her ever-loyal assistant, hovered nearby, clutching a tablet filled with updates. "Evelyn, we still haven’t heard from Nathan. His last known location was the Blackwood estate, but security says he left hours ago."

Evelyn exhaled sharply, raking a hand through her hair. "And no one thought to track his car?"

Lillian hesitated. "His GPS was disabled."

A chill ran down Evelyn’s spine. Nathan never went off-grid unless it was deliberate. Something was wrong.

Her phone buzzed—an unknown number. The message was brief, but it sent her pulse racing:

"If you want to see him again, come alone. Warehouse 17. Midnight."

Lillian’s eyes widened as she read over Evelyn’s shoulder. "You can’t seriously be considering this. It’s obviously a trap."

Evelyn’s jaw tightened. "I don’t have a choice."

Meanwhile, across town, Nathan Blackwood stirred in a dimly lit room, his wrists bound to a chair. The last thing he remembered was leaving his office, then—nothing. A sharp pain throbbed at the base of his skull.

A shadow moved in the corner.

"Awake at last," a familiar voice drawled.

Nathan’s blood ran cold. Vincent Holloway.

The notorious playboy stepped into the light, a smirk playing on his lips. "You really should’ve stayed out of my business, Blackwood."

Nathan’s mind raced. This wasn’t just about him—Evelyn was in danger.

Back at the penthouse, Evelyn slipped a small blade into her boot, her movements swift and precise. She had no intention of walking into this blind.

Lillian gripped her arm. "At least let me call Marcus Donovan. He can—"

"No," Evelyn cut in. "If they see backup, they’ll kill him."

As the clock struck eleven, Evelyn stepped into the elevator, her reflection a mask of steely determination.

The game had changed.

And she was done playing by their rules.

Nathan's father Richard sank the final ball with a smooth stroke. "Winning a woman's heart isn't complicated," he said, leaning against the pool table. "It's about persistence and..."

"You two share something special," Margaret added, swirling her cocktail. "Mark my words, you'll end up together."

Yet for seven long days, Evelyn deliberately avoided Nathan. Every call went unanswered, every text ignored.

Then the Hampton invitation arrived.

The embossed cardstock triggered Evelyn's memory.

Violet and Mason - are they still together? Did Mason really hire her as his personal makeup artist? But Claire's already married to Ethan now... Why should I care? Unless...

A wicked smile curved her lips. They haven't broken up yet! This gala just became irresistible.

She turned to find Nathan studying the invitation, his stormy gaze lifting to meet hers. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

Let the games begin.

The entire week, the Blackwoods had been more restless than anyone else.

The family had eagerly anticipated Nathan’s pursuit of Evelyn, actively rooting for them to get together. But they had all underestimated Evelyn’s ability to read his intentions. There was absolutely no visible progress—after all, Nathan wasn’t the type to effortlessly charm women.

Evelyn, too, was at a loss, drowning in awkwardness. This is all his fault. I can barely look him in the eye anymore.

Unlike those soap opera CEOs who spent their days chasing women while their businesses miraculously ran themselves, Nathan was a real CEO with a grueling schedule. This left little time for in-person meetings, so most of their interactions happened through texts.

He always knew the perfect moments—sending her morning greetings just as she was likely still lounging in bed, initiating light conversation, and bidding her goodnight before turning in. Every break between meetings was another excuse to text her—his subtle way of saying I miss you without actually saying it.

Nothing overt had been done to make Evelyn nervous, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had shifted. After all, the old Nathan would never have acted this way.

At first, Evelyn managed these digital exchanges just fine—as long as she didn’t have to face him in person. But one evening, she finally cracked. After dinner, she lingered behind, curiosity burning too fiercely to ignore. I need to know what’s going on. The gossip withdrawal was worse than the embarrassment. This is all Nathan’s fault—he’s been messing with my head so much I forgot to keep up with the drama.

That night, Audrey had set everything up—so Violet should have learned Mason’s true identity by now, right? Yet they were still together. Did the party ending early mean Violet missed the big reveal?

Meanwhile, Nathan smirked, fingers tracing the edge of an invitation. The way he’d managed to rattle Evelyn amused him to no end.

The others at the table weren’t as perceptive as Nathan, too absorbed in the fresh gossip Evelyn had just spilled. In fact, they were mildly annoyed he hadn’t shared Violet’s drama earlier—only Julian had dropped a few hints, fueling the family’s speculation.

They’d already dissected every possible angle, concluding that the two were still entangled, even after his ex-girlfriend became his sister-in-law.

Listening to Evelyn’s inner monologue now only confirmed it—but who exactly was Violet?

The name, paired with Evelyn’s mention of a makeup artist, sparked recognition in Genevieve. Having worked closely with Julian and Evelyn, she quickly pieced it together.

Though they were all seated at the dining table sipping coffee, everyone except Evelyn and Nathan instinctively reached for their phones.

Genevieve eagerly shared every juicy detail she’d uncovered.

From Evelyn’s thoughts, an absurd theory took shape.

Wait—so Violet knows? Did she find out her boyfriend, the one she’s been supporting for years under the guise of him building a startup, is actually the second son of the Hampton family? That he’s been lying about being broke this whole time? That day, she’d seen Mason flaunting his wealth—yet she hadn’t confronted him. Instead, she’d played along.

The Blackwoods collectively gasped.

Richard: Outrageous.

Margaret: What’s wrong with Mason?

Sophia: That’s despicable!

Julian: Is he toying with her? Does he still have feelings for his sister-in-law?

Genevieve was the most furious, having grown close to Violet. She’d often seen Violet endure harsh criticism from her mentor with nothing but a strained smile. Once, Genevieve had asked if Violet was okay with her boyfriend’s behavior, but Violet had brushed it off like it was nothing.

Despite the struggles, Violet had seemed genuinely happy. She truly believed the man she loved was destined for greatness—brilliant, capable, just waiting for his big break.

Now, Genevieve understood. Brilliant? Of course a Hampton heir would appear that way to an ordinary girl. But Violet valued honesty above all. What happens when she learns the truth?

Realization flickered across Evelyn’s face. Mason told Violet he had something important to say on her birthday—he meant to come clean. But that gave her hope. She waited, unsure how to react, because she’s been in love with him for two years. She’s emotionally dependent on him. Maybe she was just in denial.

The Blackwoods: She hasn’t celebrated her birthday yet? Now that Violet was working another makeup job, if they’d already had that conversation, Mason would never have let her take it.

Evelyn: What the hell. Even God must’ve been fed up. That’s why He threw a wrench in their plans—keeping them apart.

Everyone perked up. What does that mean? What did God do?

Evelyn: The birthday party ended without Mason saying a word. He didn’t even see Violet that day. Know why? Because the night before, Violet suddenly asked him for a loan of half a million. Mason was so furious he gave her the cold shoulder.

The Blackwoods: What? Why would she need half a million out of nowhere? And why would he react like that?

Nathan Blackwood hadn't been paying much attention to the gossip circulating among his social circle. His mind was preoccupied with more pressing matters—how to convince Evelyn Sinclair to accompany him to the upcoming gala, and whether he could steal her away for a private moment during the event.

But when he overheard the latest rumor about Violet Carter, his interest was piqued. His friend leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper, and Nathan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. What kind of twisted logic was this?

Evelyn: Now I understand why Violet always let Mason Hunter walk all over her.

As the middle child in her family—sandwiched between an accomplished older sister and a doted-upon younger brother—Violet had grown up starved for attention. Her parents weren’t cruel, nor were they intentionally unfair, but in families like hers, love was a finite resource, and the squeaky wheel got the grease.

The quiet ones? They learned to make themselves smaller.

Violet had spent her childhood fading into the background, her needs overlooked, her presence taken for granted. That kind of neglect left scars—deep, invisible ones that shaped the way she saw herself. So when Mason came along, clinging to her like she was his lifeline, she latched onto him with desperate gratitude.

Finally, someone who needed her.

The Blackwood family exchanged uneasy glances as they listened. It was heartbreaking, really—the way Violet had mistaken manipulation for devotion.

Mason’s so-called dependence was nothing more than a carefully constructed trap. By convincing Violet she was his entire world, he’d systematically cut her off from everyone else. No friends. No support. Just him.

And now, she was asking to borrow half a million dollars.

A sudden realization struck the Blackwoods like a lightning bolt. Wait a minute—hadn’t she just said something earlier that didn’t add up?

Just as confusion settled over them, a crucial piece of information came to light—one that changed everything.