Chapter 633

Nathan Blackwood remained silent for a long moment when Tristan Whitmore called.

His voice came out low and hollow. "Preston... How did you manage it? Evelyn actually thanked you publicly. Are you two back together?"

Preston Sinclair chuckled darkly. "Soon."

"Teach me," Tristan sighed heavily. "My wife—no, my ex-wife—has completely blocked me!"

Nathan scoffed. "Congratulations. Now you can find someone new." He ended the call abruptly. Nathan still harbored resentment toward Tristan's ex-wife Vivian for advising Evelyn to move on.

To Nathan, Vivian Lockwood was nothing but trouble.

Harrison hesitated before speaking up. "Mr. Blackwood..." Though he hated to ruin Nathan's mood, keeping silent would be worse when the truth inevitably surfaced.

Nathan turned sharply. Harrison handed over his phone with the damning social media posts. It took Nathan three full minutes to read everything.

He sipped his wine, his gaze turning glacial. The eerie calm made Harrison's palms sweat. Nathan's controlled demeanor always preceded explosive rage.

When Harrison dared to meet Nathan's eyes, he saw barely restrained fury simmering beneath. The cold intensity in Nathan's frown sent chills down Harrison's spine.

Nathan was livid. Evelyn and Gregory Thornton appearing as a couple at the mall. Singing a duet together. Winning the grand prize—a prize Nathan himself had sponsored.

The irony tasted like ash in his mouth. Darkness enveloped Nathan, his aura turning so frigid it could freeze hell over.

Exactly sixty seconds later, every LED screen in the neighboring city switched displays simultaneously. Evelyn finally exhaled in relief.

Across the table, Gregory raised an eyebrow at the social media frenzy. "Now you see why I avoid going back?" His words hung heavily between them.

Evelyn froze. Before the divorce, she'd often wondered—if someone else had saved her that night, would her life have been different? Would she have ever met Nathan at all?

Her fingers traced the rim of her glass. "I don't dwell on what-ifs. And I never regret my choices." That wasn't Evelyn's style. Even when she made mistakes, she pushed forward relentlessly.

Would she deny her past feelings for Nathan? Never. He had saved her multiple times. That chapter of her life remained precious, regardless of how it ended.

Gregory seemed surprised by her answer. He'd expected regret, but this unshakable resolve was so quintessentially Evelyn.

"Mr. Blackwood seems determined to win you back. Your actions tonight gave him false hope," Gregory observed bluntly.

Evelyn met his gaze evenly. "Mr. Thornton, you seem unusually invested."

"As one of your suitors, of course I am." His directness made her pulse stutter.

After a beat, Evelyn smiled wryly. "Perhaps I've given you the wrong impression. I'm not looking for any relationships."

"Same rejection as last time." Gregory's eyes crinkled as he leaned closer. "Relax, I'm here as a friend. No pressure."

Evelyn exhaled in relief. "Good. Because getting rich together is what really matters." Money never betrayed her like love had.

Gregory arched a brow. "Is that why you're entertaining Mr. Blackwood's advances?"

Evelyn chuckled without humor. "Exactly. What grudge can't be settled with enough zeros? Mr. Blackwood loves grand gestures—tonight's prize money more than covered my 'gratitude' with interest."

Had the mall manager recognized her, she might've suspected Nathan orchestrated the whole thing. Gregory burst out laughing at her shameless materialism.

Financially, few women could rival Evelyn. Yet her obsession with wealth bordered on comical. This unapologetic side of her was oddly endearing—and gave Gregory hope that Nathan stood no real chance.

Their conversation flowed easily between bites. Evelyn intermittently replied to the flood of concerned messages. The elite circle had certainly noticed that "rare minute" of public vulnerability.

She selectively responded to important contacts, then sent a detailed explanation to her father.

[William Sterling: Hmph! The man loves his theatrics!

[Evelyn Sterling: Already handled the fallout. Don't worry, Dad.]