Chapter 285

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Evelyn Sinclair’s penthouse as she lounged on the plush velvet sofa, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. The screen displayed the latest headline from Celebrity Pulse:

"Nathan Blackwood Spotted Leaving Hotel with Mystery Woman—Who Is She?"

Evelyn’s perfectly manicured nails tapped against the glass screen, her lips curling into a smirk. Oh, Nathan, you never disappoint.

The accompanying photo was grainy but unmistakable—Nathan, his dark hair tousled, his signature smirk in place, stepping out of the Luxe Grand with a woman whose face was conveniently obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. The caption speculated wildly: Is this the end of his rumored reconciliation with Evelyn Sinclair?

A soft chuckle escaped her. As if.

She scrolled further, absorbing every salacious detail. The article claimed the mystery woman was none other than Victoria Hayes, his sharp-tongued secretary—his supposed confidante turned lover. Evelyn’s eyes narrowed. Victoria? Really?

The thought was almost laughable. Victoria had always been more of a nuisance than a threat, her icy professionalism masking what Evelyn suspected was a desperate crush. But this? This was bold.

Her phone buzzed—a message from Lillian Graves, her ever-loyal assistant.

Lillian: You’ve seen the news, I assume?

Evelyn: Oh, I’ve seen it. And I have questions.

Lillian: Shall I dig deeper?

Evelyn hesitated, then typed: No. Let’s see how far Nathan’s little game goes.

She tossed her phone aside and stood, pacing the length of the sunlit room. The media loved a scandal, and Nathan loved feeding them just enough to keep the world guessing. But this time, Evelyn wasn’t playing along.

Not yet.

Her gaze flicked to the framed photo on the mantel—her and Nathan at last year’s charity gala, his arm draped possessively around her waist, her smile razor-sharp. Partners in crime, the tabloids had called them. The power couple of the decade.

And they weren’t wrong.

But power came with games, and games came with risks.

Evelyn’s phone buzzed again—another notification. This time, it was a direct message from an anonymous account.

Unknown: You should ask Nathan about his midnight meetings with Victoria. The ones at her apartment.

Her pulse quickened. Interesting.

She didn’t respond. Instead, she took a slow sip of her champagne, the bubbles fizzing against her tongue.

Let the games begin.

Not only did Evelyn find it strange, but even Nathan couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling about Penelope's reaction.

The Blackwood family had gradually mastered the art of gossip from Evelyn. The best kind of gossip had to be either outrageous or dramatic—preferably both.

At Evelyn's sudden exclamation, the Blackwoods couldn't help but dive into speculation.

Richard remarked, "Her reaction doesn’t seem like she thinks Caleb is unworthy of Luna."

Margaret mused, "Remember that soap opera we watched recently?"

"The mother who tried to tear apart the male lead and the second female lead?" Sophia’s cheeks flushed with excitement. "Honestly, Penelope looks like she’s about to burst into tears any second now..."

You two can’t be together… because you’re actually half-siblings sharing the same mother… Oh my god, what did I just uncover? So, Caleb and Lucas were switched at birth?

Evelyn’s inner revelation sent shockwaves through the room.

What had started as wild speculation was now confirmed by Evelyn herself. The expressions on the Blackwoods' faces were priceless—shock, disbelief, and morbid fascination.

While gossip was entertaining, the reality was undeniably cruel for those involved.

Nathan’s expression darkened instantly. This confirmed his suspicions.

All the suffering Lucas had endured over the years… had been nothing but a cruel twist of fate.

His sharp gaze locked onto Penelope, whose face had gone deathly pale.

People like her—no matter their reasons—were unforgivable for the pain they inflicted on children.

Evelyn was so engrossed in unraveling the truth that she didn’t notice the sudden shift in Nathan’s demeanor. But the others at the table felt the icy chill radiating from him and shivered.

"What’s wrong?" Daniel asked, startled.

"What else? He’s disgusted by the Winters family’s shamelessness," Vivian huffed. "But why is Mrs. Winters opposing her own husband? It’s obvious Victor is trying to secure a good future for their family and Luna. Luna seems willing. So why is Penelope acting like this?"

Vivian Grant tilted her head. "Are they playing good cop, bad cop?"

Marcus Prescott scoffed. "If that’s the case, then this woman’s acting skills are Oscar-worthy. She looks like she’s seen a ghost."

"Actually… it doesn’t look like disgust. More like fear." Daniel frowned, unable to resist voicing his observation.

The tension in the room thickened.

What had started as mere gossip had spiraled into something far darker.

And the truth… was more twisted than anyone could have imagined.

Nathan had already begun strategizing how to expose this scandal. He couldn't simply stand by and watch as events unfolded.

Meanwhile, Penelope was trapped in an impossible situation. Though her mind was fracturing under the pressure, she had to maintain composure in this crisis.

There was no way Caleb could marry Luna.

Yet Victor's expression had turned icy, and even Luna was starting to resent her own mother.

"Don't be unreasonable," Victor said sharply, shooting Penelope a disapproving glare. "I know you think our daughter is too young, but she’ll marry eventually. Wouldn’t it be better if she married into a family we know? At least we’d have peace of mind."

No, no, no! Penelope couldn’t afford to hesitate now. She was the only one who truly understood the gravity of the situation, yet she couldn’t speak the truth. How could she possibly admit that she had switched the two babies at birth? That Caleb was actually the eldest son of the Bennett family, making him Luna’s half-brother?

Evelyn, overhearing the whispers and Victor’s words, couldn’t help but scoff internally.

The Blackwood men’s expressions darkened further. Enough! This is beyond twisted.

The phrase "reaping what you sow" had never felt more apt.

Penelope could only shake her head desperately, her entire body trembling. "No, I can’t agree. Absolutely not! Victor, let’s go home. I’m exhausted. We need to leave."

"Mom, what’s wrong with you?" Luna pleaded, hoping her mother would snap out of it.

Victor, too, was baffled by Penelope’s resistance. But without a proper explanation, neither he nor Luna would back down.

Penelope would never dare confess her sins. And now that everyone knew about Caleb and Luna’s supposed engagement… Holy hell! Evelyn mentally recoiled. I don’t want to know the details. My worldview can’t take this. She quickly distracted herself before her thoughts spiraled further.

Even if Penelope were forced to speak now, she wouldn’t reveal the truth. And without it, her objections sounded weak—pathetic, even.

Hearing Evelyn’s silent judgment, the Blackwoods nodded in grim agreement. Victor wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

Nathan’s brows relaxed slightly. Victor was determined to push this marriage through. Penelope had trapped herself in a corner with no escape. All that remained was to wait for the right moment to strike.

Before the Reeds could even process the chaos, Caleb exploded.

He hadn’t expected Penelope to oppose the match, but it brought him no relief. The whispers around him, the mocking glances—they all ridiculed him. They sneered at his failure to win Beatrice’s heart, and now even a woman like Luna was being forced upon him.

The humiliation burned.

But the worst was yet to come.

Caleb Moore was practically choking on his own fury, his pride wounded beyond repair.

? What does that even mean? That Luna isn't worthy of me? If anything, she's the one who should be groveling at my feet! I should be the one rejecting her, not the other way around. How dare Penelope look down on me like this?

Normally, Penelope was all sweetness and light when it came to him, always singing his praises—how much more capable he was than Lucas, how much brighter his future. She'd even conspired with him against Lucas, whispering strategies in his ear like a trusted ally. But the moment her precious daughter entered the picture? Her true colors bled through. It was like she'd been playing him all along.

Neither Vivian nor Beatrice had ever given him the time of day, so their rejection didn’t sting half as much. But Penelope? The woman who’d once called him brilliant? Her sudden shift cut deeper than any insult.

“What’s the matter, Mrs. Collins?” Caleb sneered, deliberately dropping the familiar Aunt Penelope for something colder. “Do I suddenly not meet your standards?”

Oh, it’s not that she looks down on you, Evelyn Sinclair thought, biting back a laugh. She just realizes you’re too much of a snake for her daughter.

Watching Penelope flinch at Caleb’s venomous tone, Evelyn barely suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.

Typical. Every villain had their—

Bitch.