Chapter 4

Evelyn shook her head violently, forcing the image of that faceless woman from her mind.

A stranger. That's all she was.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Olivia Kensington's name flashed across the screen.

Evelyn answered.

"Finally! You've been ghosting me for days!" Olivia's pout filled the screen. She propped her chin on her hand dramatically. "Are you seriously moving to the UK, Evie? What if some posh brat tries to mess with you? My fists can't cross oceans."

A pause. Then Olivia's eyes widened. "Oh god, British boys hit puberty at like twelve! And the dorms—co-ed! Listen, if you see some hot aristocrat with an accent and lose all self-control—"

Evelyn's gaze drifted past Olivia's shoulder to the restaurant's mounted TV.

BREAKING: 56-YEAR-OLD BILLIONAIRE WELCOMES SECRET LOVE CHILD.

No mention of the mother.

"Evie?"

"Evelyn! Earth to Evelyn!"

Olivia waved frantically at the camera. Evelyn's frozen expression sent panic through the screen. "Hey! What's wrong? You're scaring me!"

The hospital exit flashed in Evelyn's mind. She'd sworn never to think about the life she'd left behind.

But how?

That baby carried her DNA.

Her lungs constricted.

Madness clawed at her thoughts.

Pointless. All of it.

She ended the call and splashed icy water on her face.

It didn't help.

Maybe it was her own childhood—abandoned, motherless—projecting onto that innocent life.

The neighborhood whispers still haunted her. No mother. Disgraceful. Who would want her?

Bullied. Ostracized. Hating the woman who birthed then vanished.

Now the TV taunted her with that billionaire's unnamed daughter.

She'd become what she despised most.

Her fingers trembled as she searched for the tycoon's details.

Fifty-six. Balding. Surprisingly fit.

Could this man really be—?

The voice. She needed to hear his voice.

Frantically, she scrolled through video clips until her phone died.

Nothing.

Despair swallowed her whole.

Blackwood Estate.

Dinner service glittered under crystal chandeliers.

Two nursemaids wheeled bassinets to Reginald Blackwood's wheelchair.

The patriarch peered at his great-grandson's rosy cheeks. "Spitting image of Dominic. He'll command boardrooms before he's ten."

Polite smiles circled the table. No one dared contradict.

After sufficient cooing, Reginald's gaze turned steely. "Without Dominic's leadership these past two years, our empire would be dust. Any objections?"

Silence.

"Time passes," Reginald continued. "Julian." He addressed the brooding young man slouching in his chair. "Shadow your brother. Learn."

"Whatever." Julian shrugged.

Margaret Lockwood slammed her palms on the table. "How is this fair? Dominic gets everything while my son—"

Reginald ignored her. "Video call. Now."

A servant obeyed.

Dominic Blackwood's sharp features appeared on screen. "Grandfather?"

"We're naming the boy. I propose Alexander. Pure. Strong."

Margaret fumed silently.

Dominic's jaw tightened. "If purity's the theme, what about nche? Same meaning."

"nche Blackwood." Reginald tested the name. "Perfect."

Departure day arrived too soon.

Nathan Kensington stood tall beside Evelyn at Heathrow. Robert Sinclair gripped Nathan's shoulder. "Keep them safe."

Nathan nodded. He'd chosen England solely because Evelyn was going.

Olivia hugged her brother. "Watch out for Evelyn. And avoid Sophia Montgomery—she's toxic."

Nathan sighed.

Evelyn turned for one last glimpse of her father. Hot tears blurred her vision as she waved goodbye.