Chapter 37

The penthouse was eerily silent, save for the rhythmic ticking of the antique grandfather clock. Evelyn Sinclair stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, her reflection ghostly against the glittering cityscape. The storm outside mirrored the tempest in her chest.

Nathan Blackwood had lied to her.

Not just a white lie—no, this was a betrayal carved from deception. The documents Victoria Hayes had slipped into her hands hours earlier burned like acid in her mind. Blackwood Holdings' offshore accounts. Hidden transactions. A secret deal with Vincent Holloway.

Her fingers curled into fists. How many nights had she spent wrapped in his arms, oblivious to the empire he’d built on shadows?

The elevator dinged.

She didn’t turn. She didn’t need to. The shift in the air—the faint cedar-and-whiskey scent—told her he was here.

"Evelyn." Nathan’s voice was rough, edged with exhaustion.

"Did you think I’d never find out?" Her laugh was brittle. "Or did you just not care?"

A beat of silence. Then, the rustle of fabric as he stepped closer. "It’s not what you think."

"Really?" She whirled around, thrusting the papers at him. "Then explain this."

His jaw tightened as he scanned the pages. For the first time since she’d met him, the unflappable Nathan Blackwood looked... unsettled.

"It’s a contingency," he said finally.

"A contingency?" Her voice cracked. "You funneled millions into shell companies while telling me we were rebuilding your family’s legacy together!"

The clock ticked louder.

Nathan exhaled sharply. "There are threats you don’t know about—"

"Stop." She held up a hand, her wedding band glinting under the chandelier. "I’m done with half-truths. Either you show me everything, or I walk."

His eyes darkened. "You wouldn’t."

"Try me."

A muscle twitched in his cheek. For a heartbeat, she thought he’d call her bluff.

Then—

The door burst open.

Lillian Graves stood panting in the doorway, her tablet clutched like a lifeline. "Evel—Mrs. Blackwood—you need to see this."

On the screen: a live news feed.

Breaking: Explosion at Blackwood Tech’s R&D facility. Casualties expected.

Evelyn’s blood turned to ice.

Nathan’s phone rang. Julian’s name flashed across the screen.

As he answered, his brother’s voice was barely recognizable: "They’re coming for us all."

Time froze as Julian realized there was no chance to turn back. In that split second, his only thought was to shield Celeste from danger. His broad frame became her armor.

The knife meant for Celeste sliced through Julian’s shoulder instead.

Blood bloomed across his pristine white shirt, staining it scarlet.

Celeste spun around just in time to see Julian sway dangerously, his face paling.

Her breath hitched. "Julian!"

Screams erupted through the hall.

Two male researchers snapped out of their shock and lunged at the attacker, wrestling the knife from his grip.

"Dominic! Have you lost your damn mind?" A female researcher clutched the trembling professor, her voice shaking.

"You ruined everything!" The hooded figure—Vivienne’s ex-boyfriend, Dominic—glared at Celeste with wild eyes. "If it weren’t for you, Vivienne wouldn’t have left me! You poisoned her against me!"

He thrashed against the men restraining him, spitting venom. "I’ll make you pay!"

Security guards stormed in, led by Lillian, who had raised the alarm. Dominic fought like a caged animal, slashing wildly, but the guards forced him back, away from the crowd.

Julian collapsed to his knees, his strength draining with every drop of blood.

Celeste’s hands trembled as she pressed down on his wound, her mind flashing back to another boy, years ago, bleeding out in the dirt. Her voice cracked. "Someone call an ambulance—now!"

The hotel manager, sweating profusely, rushed over. "Our medical team is on the way. They’re highly trained—they’ll stabilize him." He radioed for backup, his words frantic.

The crowd buzzed with nervous energy, murmurs overlapping.

"Thank God it missed his artery."

"It’s deep, but not life-threatening."

Celeste barely heard them. Her world narrowed to Julian’s labored breathing, the warmth of his blood seeping through her fingers.

And the terrifying thought: What if I lose him too?

Celeste's hands trembled violently despite her desperate attempts to steady them. Naturally, Julian, whose wound she was dressing, could feel every shudder.

His lips had paled, yet he managed a weak smile. "It's alright. I'll be fine."

"You..." Celeste bit her lip, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't interfered—"

The others exchanged uneasy glances. What terrible luck to be caught in such a disaster.

Julian clumsily patted her shoulder with his uninjured hand. "None of this is your doing. They were the ones who crossed the line."

Evelyn approached, her brow furrowed in concern.

At the sight of her, Julian immediately spoke up, his voice hoarse but sincere. "Evelyn, I owe you. Thank you."

This time, his gratitude was genuine. If not for Evelyn's sharp warning, that blade would have taken Celeste's life. The mere thought sent a chill down his spine. He wasn't sure how he'd survive if anything happened to her.

It was in that critical moment that he realized—Celeste meant more to him than his own life.

Celeste snapped out of her daze, her gaze softening with gratitude as she looked at Evelyn. The others murmured in relief, their tension easing slightly.

But Evelyn remained silent, her expression distant, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.

Julian assumed she was shaken and opened his mouth to reassure her—until he caught the fragmented whispers of her inner turmoil.

This doesn’t make sense. Why is it Dominic?

Julian frowned in confusion.

I saw Isabelle lying in wait in the hall, syringe in hand, ready to infect Celeste with that disease. That’s why I rushed down to stop her.

The revelation sent a jolt of alarm through him.

When Evelyn had woken earlier, curiosity had driven her to check Isabelle’s fate now that Marcus knew about her condition. She’d pulled up the system to see.

If Dominic’s sudden appearance was unexpected… then Isabelle must still be lurking somewhere, waiting to strike.

Julian’s expression darkened in an instant. Instinctively, he grabbed Celeste’s wrist—

Celeste, assuming he was in pain, didn’t pull away. "What’s wrong?" she asked anxiously.

It was the exact direction Dominic had fled. The crowd tensed as a woman’s scream pierced the air.

Evelyn hesitated. She didn’t dare involve herself in something so dangerous—not when she still had to watch for Isabelle’s ambush.

Despite the dizziness from blood loss, Julian forced himself to stay alert, his gaze scanning their surroundings.

"What happened?" Julian demanded. "Did he escape?"

As he spoke, the manager turned to Celeste with a hesitant expression. "If I’m not mistaken… you must be related to Ms. Isabelle, correct?"

Though it wasn’t their place to pry, the resemblance between Isabelle and Celeste was uncanny.

Julian’s grip tightened. "You saw Isabelle?"

Evelyn stiffened and quickly checked the system again.

Oh god. How do I even explain this…

Julian heard the thought and grew even more confused.

The researcher finally blurted out, stunned, "Isabelle was attacked by Dominic. When we got there, he was still screaming… He mistook her for you in his madness. So…"

Karma, I suppose. Evelyn’s thoughts were grim. Isabelle used Celeste’s identity without care for the consequences. Now, she’s paid the price by being mistaken for her.

Everyone who heard the news stood frozen in shock.

The manager's voice was urgent as he spoke. "Ms. Isabelle has sustained severe injuries and requires immediate hospitalization. Ms. Celeste, would you accompany her?"

Celeste hesitated, her expression clouded with conflict. After a brief pause, she steeled herself and rose from her seat, ready to follow the manager.

"Don’t interfere." Julian’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. "You’re no longer tied to the Cowell family. Stay out of it." There was no way he would let Celeste walk into that viper’s nest again.

Besides, who knew how Edward and Penelope would react once they discovered the reason behind Isabelle’s attack?

Julian tightened his grip on Celeste’s wrist and tossed the manager a slip of paper with a phone number. "Contact her parents directly."

Under Julian’s icy glare, the manager had no choice but to dial the number, though his hands trembled slightly.

Celeste exhaled quietly in relief. The last thing she wanted was to be dragged back into that family’s chaos.

Just as the manager turned to leave after reaching Isabelle’s parents, Julian’s voice rang out again, sharp and deliberate. "Warn your medical team. Isabelle is carrying a highly contagious disease."

The name of the disease dropped like a bomb, plunging the entire hall into stunned silence.

Gasps and murmurs erupted. No one could believe Julian had just exposed such a private, damning secret in public.

A cold smirk curled Julian’s lips. Why should I protect her? After what she had planned, she deserved no mercy. And he sure as hell wasn’t going to let her recklessness endanger the medical staff.