Chapter 430

Evelyn wiped every trace of her presence clean before carefully placing the laptop back in its spot.

The tiny flash drive in her palm felt unnaturally heavy, as if it carried the weight of her conscience.

Property of Blackwood Enterprises.

Though she hadn’t been raised with strict moral lessons from her parents, her grandfather had instilled in her the importance of integrity.

She had always lived with a clear conscience, never once crossing the line into deceit.

Yet now, hesitation coiled tightly in her chest.

Is this betrayal?

No.

Alexander Blackwood, you and Victoria destroyed me. Even on the day of my supposed death, you both tore into me with your cruelty.

The false accusations, the torment, three years of suffering, the loss of my child—all of it is still fresh in my mind.

You brought this upon yourself. Don’t blame me for fighting back now.

Alexander, you owe me this.

Her fingers tightened around the flash drive before she turned and strode out of the office.

Sebastian Whitman’s company was just across the street. Evelyn reached it in minutes.

It was lunch hour, and Sebastian happened to be stepping out. His obsidian eyes lit up when he saw her. "Looking for me?"

She nodded. "Something important."

A faint smile curved his lips. "Let’s grab lunch. We can talk there."

"Fine." She followed him to a nearby bistro.

Unseen, a shadow lingered behind them.

Inside, Sebastian ordered her favorite dishes and a bottle of aged red wine.

He poured her a glass, his aristocratic features softened by a gentleman’s charm. "What’s so urgent that you’d seek me out? Shouldn’t you be dining with Alexander?"

"He left for an emergency."

A glint of satisfaction flickered in Sebastian’s gaze. "I’m flattered you came straight to me."

Evelyn stiffened slightly. "Sebastian, this isn’t a social call."

"Of course." He leaned back, ever composed. "Go on."

"I know Alexander’s computer password," she murmured.

Sebastian’s brows lifted. "How?"

She thought of Ethan cracking it last night and deflected. "That’s irrelevant. What matters is this."

She pulled the flash drive from her bag. "I copied everything."

Sebastian’s eyes darkened, the usual calm replaced by something sharper. His hand extended slowly. "Give it to me."

Evelyn hesitated, her grip tightening.

Memories surged—Alexander’s merciless threats, the freezing night he’d used her grandfather’s ashes and her unborn child as leverage, the agony of Victoria stealing her face, her sight, her very identity.

Evelyn Sinclair, after all he’s done, why show mercy now?

Her resolve hardened. She dropped the drive into Sebastian’s palm.

He noted her internal struggle but smiled when she finally relented.

Just as their fingers brushed, a hand shot out and seized Evelyn’s wrist.