Chapter 678

Evelyn laughed. "Leo is our family treasure!"

Emily raised her eyebrows and sighed helplessly. "I saw that you guys bought him a scarf worth tens of thousands and that watch must be in the millions, right? Tsk, tsk… this little traitor only respects wealth!"

Female friendships formed unexpectedly. After that manipulative witch Alexandra made such a scene, Natalie and Emily naturally grew closer.

The sky darkened, but Sterling Manor remained brilliantly lit, buzzing with energy. Natalie checked the time and decided to video call someone. Evelyn glanced over and caught Adrian Prescott’s name on the screen, but no one answered. Natalie tried again—still nothing. Her expression shifted slightly.

Evelyn pressed her lips together. "Maybe he’s busy?"

Natalie hesitated before forcing a distracted smile. "He doesn’t have a show at this hour. He should be at the hotel."

From across the room, Lucas scoffed as he peeled an apple. "Being at the hotel isn’t the problem. The problem is who he’s with."

Evelyn and Natalie shot him identical glares.

Lucas merely shrugged. He was just stating facts.

They talked well into the night. The butler and maids bustled around, managing the buffet in the dining hall. Some relatives, however, demanded to be served, forcing the elderly butler to shuffle back and forth until exhaustion lined his face.

Lucas couldn’t stand it. He stepped in, delivering plates himself. The guests immediately stopped their demands—no one dared trouble the youngest Sterling heir.

Eventually, they served themselves.

Evelyn and Natalie were deep in conversation when Lucas suddenly shouted from the doorway. "Evie! Someone’s setting off fireworks!"

She turned. It was likely the butler’s doing.

Evelyn started toward Lucas at a leisurely pace, but he waved urgently. "They’ve got your name on them! Is this some grand romantic gesture?"

Her pulse jumped. She quickened her steps.

The night sky exploded with custom-made fireworks—elaborate, three-dimensional displays that stole everyone’s breath. Conversations died mid-sentence as guests rushed outside.

Massive hydrangea-shaped bursts illuminated half the city. Then, smaller fireworks at the center rearranged themselves, spelling out "Evelyn" in shimmering letters. The surrounding lights didn’t fade.

Instead—

The night sky exploded with dazzling lights that shimmered like celestial diamonds.

The fireworks morphed into glowing letters that spelled out "Nathan" in bold strokes. There was no mystery left—Nathan Blackwood had signed his grand gesture across the heavens himself.

Evelyn Sinclair's breath caught in her throat.

The display didn't fade. Instead, the sparks rearranged themselves into a perfect caricature of Evelyn's face—her delicate features, the subtle curve of her lips—all illuminated against the dark canvas of night.

This wasn't ordinary pyrotechnics.

Cutting-edge technology had crafted this spectacle, ensuring it would be remembered as the most breathtaking moment of the New Year celebrations.

Then snow began falling in thick flurries.

The combination of swirling white and vibrant colors created an ethereal scene—beautiful yet chilling.

Evelyn wasn't moved by the display's grandeur.

Her stomach twisted when she saw Nathan's name blazing above her.

Typical Nathan—always making grand gestures at the worst possible times, convinced he was being romantic.

Disgusting.