Chapter 266

Evelyn raised her gaze, locking eyes with Sebastian's piercing stare. His expression radiated warmth, wrapping around her like a protective cocoon.

"I'll stand by every decision you make. But if I may be honest, I wish you'd choose another path for your vengeance."

His fingers brushed against her cheek, the unexpected chill making her shiver.

Dark secrets swirled in the depths of his unreadable eyes. One glance too long and she feared she might drown in their mystery.

As Evelyn instinctively stepped back, Sebastian closed the distance between them.

His striking features loomed closer, radiating an intensity that was both commanding and possessive. "He never deserved you - not then, not now."

Her pulse quickened at his words.

Caught off guard, she barely registered his lips nearing hers until he abruptly stopped.

Instead of kissing her, he smirked and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead instead.

Still dazed, Evelyn found herself pulled into his embrace. His fingers threaded through her hair gently.

Pressed against his chest, she missed the dangerous glint in his half-lidded eyes as he concealed his true thoughts.

Morning light streamed through the windows when Evelyn's phone jolted her awake.

The screen illuminated with countless notifications - all filled with venomous messages.

She scrolled calmly through the trending hashtags.

Among them was a damning video clip.

The footage showed Victoria pleading with Evelyn in a café, playing the fragile victim to perfection.

The edited clip cut off after Victoria's loaded question: "So Miss Prescott, you're admitting you'll continue pursuing my fiancé as the other woman?"

Evelyn's supposed reply? A single, damning "Yes."

But she distinctly remembered never saying those words. The trap had been carefully set.

Victoria had masterfully painted herself as the wronged party, throwing Evelyn to the wolves.

Strangers flooded her social media with vile insults - homewrecker, gold-digger, every ugly name imaginable.

Evelyn skimmed the hate with detached amusement before heading to her vanity.

Studying her reflection, she let out a bitter laugh.

'When I loved you, I thought I'd never be enough.'

'Now I see I can soar higher without you.'

'Alexander, the wife you discarded has returned - but her heart is no longer yours.'

Thirty minutes later, Evelyn glided toward Victoria's suite. Raucous laughter spilled from within - unmistakably Margaret's voice.

"Oh Vic, you're brilliant!" Margaret crowed. "That perfect little ambush! Serves that Prescott bitch right. First she steals Madeline's face, now she wants your man?"

"Hmph!" Victoria's voice dripped with arrogance. "Who does Vivian Prescott think she is? Some boutique owner challenging my status?"

"Please! You're a Lancaster heiress!" Margaret sneered. "The Montgomeries are still clueless their real daughter died years ago!"

Victoria's laugh turned vicious. "Peabrains, the lot of them. Now we'll watch Vivian's precious Lady Belle crumble under the scandal. I've hired trolls to keep the fire burning!"

Their gleeful cackles were cut short as Evelyn threw open the doors with perfect timing.

"You want to see my next move?" Her voice sliced through their mirth. "Perhaps you should worry about your own fate first."