Chapter 133

"How could I have fallen this low?"

Evelyn walked back to her office with forced composure.

"Thank goodness that jerk is gone."

"Zoe!" The moment Evelyn turned around, Sophia nearly tackled her in a crushing hug. "How could you not tell me you left Viana Jewelry?!"

Sophia froze for a split second before abruptly pulling away, sniffing the air around Evelyn. "Why do you smell like men's cologne?"

Evelyn's pulse jumped, but she kept her expression neutral. "Do I?"

"Yes!" Sophia leaned in again, wrinkling her nose. "It's one of those high-end Gi scents—and it's weirdly familiar. Wait, isn't this Nathan Goldmann's—"

Evelyn shoved her face away. "Are you a bloodhound? What are you doing here, anyway?"

"We haven't seen each other in ages, and you don’t even miss me? Ugh, you really are the type to ditch your best friend for a man." Sophia crossed her arms with a dramatic huff.

Evelyn sank into her chair. "Oh please, like you're not dating someone too."

"That doesn’t count! My dad forced me into that dinner. You know how he is—obsessed with marrying me off yesterday."

Sophia flopped onto the desk, batting her lashes. "Zoe, you have to help me."

"How?"

"I can’t go home right now. Speaking of—did you sell that beach villa yet? If not, can I hide out there for a while?" She clasped Evelyn’s hands, eyes pleading.

"You can stay. I never sold it."

Sophia nearly teared up. "Zoe, you’re a lifesaver. I love you!"

She planted an exaggerated kiss on Evelyn’s hand.

Evelyn rolled her eyes.

Days later, a single photo ignited a firestorm online.

The hashtag #EdmundLincolnSeenWithMysteryWoman exploded across social media, with netizens tagging Edmund relentlessly.

Just as speculation peaked, Edmund himself tweeted:

@EdmundLincoln: What’s wrong with playing chess with my niece for an hour?

Evelyn burst out laughing and retweeted:

@EvelynVanderbilt: Uncle @EdmundLincoln, should we make it two hours next time?

@NathanGoldmann: ???

@MelonLover: @NathanGoldmann Sir, do you have questions?

@UnderTheLemonTree: Someone’s jealous.

@LilFishxoxoBigFish: Mr. Goldmann is sweating. So many questions, so little time!

@AdrianBoucher: @NathanGoldmann Since when do old-money CEOs lurk on Twitter?

The internet imploded.

A titan of entertainment clashing with a business mogul? Twitter’s servers barely survived the traffic.

Within an hour, their exchange topped Google Trends, racking up a billion clicks and burying Edmund and Evelyn’s scandal under an avalanche of memes.

Vivian had hoped to watch Evelyn get torn apart online. Instead, she nearly shattered her phone in frustration.

Most comments were chaotic—but weirdly supportive.

Laura sighed, rubbing her daughter’s back. "Vivi, don’t let this upset you."

"Mom, how does that witch keep slipping away? Nothing I do sticks!"

Laura frowned. "It is strange. She’s thrived since returning to Zlokova. Almost like someone’s pulling strings for her."

She couldn’t fathom how that nobody had become a celebrated designer abroad—and now waltzed back home with three brats in tow, untouched.