Chapter 248

The tension in the penthouse was so thick it could be sliced with a knife. Evelyn Sinclair stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, her fingers gripping the edge of the marble countertop as she stared out at the glittering city below. The storm brewing inside her mirrored the dark clouds gathering over the skyline.

Nathan Blackwood’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and unyielding. "You knew this would happen, Evelyn. You walked into this knowing the risks."

She whirled around, her emerald eyes flashing with defiance. "I didn’t expect you to be the one holding the knife to my back, Nathan."

A muscle in his jaw twitched, but his expression remained unreadable. That infuriated her even more.

Victoria Hayes, ever the opportunist, chose that moment to step forward, her crimson lips curling into a smirk. "Oh, please. This was always going to end this way. You were just too blinded by your little fantasy to see it."

Evelyn’s nails dug into her palms. She had trusted Nathan—against her better judgment—and now she was paying the price.

Serena Whitmore, her ever-loyal agent, placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. "We need to think strategically. Losing our cool won’t help."

Evelyn exhaled sharply. Serena was right. But the betrayal stung deeper than she cared to admit.

Nathan’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen before locking eyes with Evelyn. "It’s done. The board has voted. You’re out."

The words hit like a physical blow.

Evelyn straightened her spine, refusing to let them see her crumble. "Fine. But this isn’t over."

Nathan’s gaze darkened. "It is for you."

She turned on her heel and strode toward the door, her heels clicking against the polished floors. Just before she crossed the threshold, she paused and threw one last glance over her shoulder.

"Watch your back, Nathan. Because next time, I won’t hesitate."

The door slammed behind her, leaving behind a silence thick with unspoken threats.

Victoria smirked. "Well, that was dramatic."

Nathan didn’t respond. His mind was elsewhere—on the woman who had just walked out, and the war she had just declared.

And for the first time in years, he wondered if he had made a mistake.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Grayson's voice carried a sharp edge of displeasure. The reunion hadn’t gone as he’d envisioned—especially not with Vivian swooping in to save Gwendolyn. They should have been at each other’s throats, not caught in this absurdly civil exchange. If I’d known Vivian was coming, I would’ve orchestrated this differently.

As his thoughts spiraled, an unsettling sensation twisted in his chest. His gaze flickered toward Gwendolyn, who stood quietly to the side, head bowed. I knew it. Despite her earlier words, she was still hung up on him. Why else would she shrink into herself the moment Vivian appeared? She must realize she’s lost her place now that Vivian’s back. A bitter satisfaction curled inside him. She shouldn’t have tried playing games with me. Not everyone gets to play hard to get. Even if she cries now, I won’t soften.

Evelyn frowned when she caught Grayson stealing glances at Gwendolyn. Curiosity gnawed at her, so she tapped into her ability—and nearly choked suppressing a laugh. She’s just awkwardly trying to stay out of the way! Gwendolyn was on duty as staff, for heaven’s sake. With the drama resolved, of course she’d step aside to wait for the next task. Is Grayson seriously expecting her to march into the spotlight and perform some emotional breakdown?

"Gwendolyn," Evelyn called, barely keeping her amusement in check. "Lift your head. Let him see if there are tears on your face. Otherwise, he’ll spin some ridiculous narrative about you—and trust me, that’s worse than any scandal."

Expression flat, Nathan patted Evelyn’s back before answering Grayson’s earlier question in a weary tone. "I did mention it. You just didn’t ask."

Grayson opened his mouth to retort, but Evelyn cut in before he could.

She couldn’t hold back any longer. "Are you okay, Gwen?"

Gwendolyn lifted her head—no trace of melancholy, only mild concern. "I’m fine."

Evelyn grinned. "Great. Could you grab Vivian a glass of wine?"

Vivian glanced over, flashing a warm smile as she requested her drink, interacting with Gwendolyn as if they were old friends.

Gwendolyn returned the smile effortlessly before turning to prepare the order.

The party’s buzz gradually resumed as the crowd lost interest in the lack of theatrics.

Meanwhile, Grayson stood frozen, baffled by the lack of hostility between the two women. This wasn’t supposed to happen!

Bet you’re shocked. Neither of them cares about you. Time to retire the delusions. Evelyn smirked.

At that moment, Vivian paid Grayson no mind. Instead, she sidled up to Evelyn, pulling out her phone with a mischievous glint. "Since you’re in the industry, do you recognize him?" She flashed a photo of a strikingly handsome man, eyes sparkling with excitement.

Evelyn blinked, thrown by the abrupt topic shift.

Grayson’s sharp hearing caught the exchange, and his glare burned into the two women.

Oh, this just got interesting.

The others turned their attention toward the two women, the air thick with unspoken tension.

Vivian's lips twitched when she saw the photo—that handsome man was exactly her type.

"This is what delayed me earlier. I bumped into him the moment I stepped outside. He was so charming that I tried to strike up a conversation, but his manager intercepted me. Sadly, I don’t know much about local celebrities. It’d be wonderful if you could introduce us." Vivian's voice carried clearly, ensuring everyone nearby heard her bold declaration.

The atmosphere instantly turned icy.

This was a development Evelyn hadn’t anticipated. She discreetly glanced around and realized she wasn’t the only one stealing looks—everyone else was doing the same.

It was as if the sound of a heart shattering echoed through the room.

Checkmate. Grayson should finally understand what’s happening now. Evelyn thought.

Sure enough, Grayson’s expression darkened. His eyes burned with barely restrained fury as he glared at Vivian. Even when Lila tried to pull him back to his seat out of petty jealousy, he ignored her completely.

At that moment, Gwendolyn arrived with Vivian’s drink.

Just as Vivian was about to thank her, she paused. A flicker of confusion and resignation crossed her face as she tapped her manicured nails against the wine glass.

She then called out to Gwendolyn, who had already begun stepping away. "Could you pour me another glass, darling?"

Gwendolyn tensed, already nervous serving Vivian. "Is there something wrong with this one?"

Evelyn frowned. Vivian seemed friendly with Gwendolyn earlier. Why is she suddenly dissatisfied?

Before Vivian could respond, Grayson suddenly appeared, draping an arm possessively over Gwendolyn’s shoulders. He turned to Vivian with a smug, I knew it expression, his voice dripping with cold disdain.

"What’s your game? Why are you deliberately targeting her? Vivian, don’t pretend you didn’t know she’s my girlfriend."

The crowd erupted in silent glee, mentally cheering for the unfolding drama.

Did his brain short-circuit again? Wait—oh no. Did he seriously think Vivian was using another man’s photo to provoke him? And now he’s dragging Gwendolyn into this mess? Good grief, who let this man’s imagination run wild? If he wanted a sidekick, shouldn’t he have picked Lila? Oh, right—he thinks Vivian is picking on Gwendolyn, so involving her makes his little act more convincing. Unbelievable. I don’t know whether to call him clever or an idiot, but he’s got everything wrong! Evelyn pinched the bridge of her nose.

The sudden shift in tension had everyone on edge. After all, they all assumed Vivian had finally reached her limit and was about to confront her replacement.

Meanwhile, Grayson was busy fanning the flames by using his rebound as a shield.

The era where only the substitutes and rebounds suffered had finally arrived.

When Nathan heard Evelyn's thoughts, he couldn't help but cringe on behalf of his friend.

Vivian stood frozen, utterly baffled by Grayson's words.

She wasn’t one to back down. Without hesitation, she snapped, "Grayson, have you lost your damn mind? First of all, I’m not targeting anyone. Second, isn’t Lila your girlfriend right now? I saw you two holding hands earlier. How could it possibly be this lovely lady? You two are clearly teaming up against her."

Regaining her composure, Gwendolyn swiftly stepped away from Grayson’s outstretched arm as if avoiding a plague. She put three deliberate steps between them, making it abundantly clear that there was no connection whatsoever between them.

Beatrice shot a sharp glance and immediately came to her friend’s defense. "The cocktail she ordered is typically served with lemon in our country, but not overseas. She must have forgotten to mention it when ordering. She’s allergic to lemons, you see."

Gwendolyn, who had been momentarily stunned, now stood frozen in disbelief. Her eyes flickered with something unreadable—confusion, perhaps, or gratitude. She opened her mouth to speak but bit back her words, choosing silence instead.

Vivian, ever the playful one, grinned and suggested, "How about you get me another one without lemon? But don’t waste this one—I think you’ll like it. It’s on me."

"Alright. I’ll prepare a fresh one for you right away. Though, I can’t drink while on duty. I’ll save it for after my shift. Thank you, Ms. Moore," Gwendolyn replied politely.

"Don’t call me Ms. Moore. Call me Vivian," she said warmly.

Even Beatrice could sense that Vivian had taken an instant liking to Gwendolyn.

The murmurs in the crowd grew louder, disappointment evident as the anticipated confrontation fizzled out, proving the rumors false.

As Vivian and Gwendolyn chatted amiably, Grayson—who had been ready for a fight mere moments ago—now stood like an irrelevant background prop, completely ignored by everyone.