Chapter 579

Bennett held the car door open for Evelyn. Little Oliver had been waiting inside, impatiently tapping his fingers against the leather seat.

He was about to escort her to the gala when a strong hand suddenly gripped Evelyn's wrist, yanking her backward.

She didn't need to turn to recognize that cold, possessive aura.

"Mr. Blackwood—?" Bennett stiffened, instinctively stepping forward, debating whether to intervene.

But Nathan had already pulled Evelyn flush against him, his arms locking around her like steel. His eyes were dark, dangerous.

His voice was low, laced with barely restrained fury.

"We agreed I would pick you up. Who the hell thinks they can take you from me?"

He wasn’t shouting. He didn’t need to. The threat in his tone was enough.

Evelyn didn’t struggle. She let him hold her, meeting his gaze with icy indifference.

That look made his chest tighten.

She was so close. If he dipped his head just slightly, he could finally taste what he’d been craving for months.

So he did.

Nathan leaned in, his lips a breath away from hers—

And she turned her face away.

Her eyes were sharp, unyielding.

Is she ashamed of me? Or is it because of the pretty boy in the Maybach?

A storm raged behind his gaze.

He caught her chin, forcing her to look at him—

Then a cold, mocking voice cut through the tension.

"Mr. Blackwood. You really think you can touch her?"

Nathan’s glare snapped toward the speaker—and froze.

Lucas stood there, hands in his pockets, lips curled in a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. His expression was pure warning.

Nathan hesitated. Then he glanced down at Evelyn’s mocking smile and gritted his teeth, releasing her.

The air thickened with silence.

Bennett might as well have been invisible.

Evelyn straightened her dress and slid into the car without sparing Nathan another glance.

Lucas scoffed. "Pathetic. Let’s see if he dares pull that stunt again."

Nathan exhaled sharply. He hadn’t expected the "trust fund brat" to be Evelyn’s brother.

How the hell do I salvage this?

He clenched his fists. The Sterling brothers were notoriously overprotective.

Clearing his throat, he forced a neutral tone.

"Lucas. What a coincidence."

Lucas laughed, cold and humorless. "Coincidence? Since when are you this delusional?"

Nathan’s jaw tightened. No one spoke to him like that.

But this was Evelyn’s brother.

He stepped closer, voice dropping to a whisper.

"That jade pendant. Did Natalie like it?"

Lucas stiffened.

The rare jade he’d hunted for months—the one meant to replace Natalie’s broken heirloom—was Nathan’s?