Chapter 736

Sebastian's mother appeared frailer than usual. The stress of recent events had clearly taken its toll—her appetite vanished, sleep eluded her.

The moment the topic arose, she couldn't contain her fury any longer. Her words lashed out, sharp and unrelenting. Adrienne Sinclair's face flushed crimson, humiliation twisting her features. The disdain in Mrs. Hart's tone was unmistakable—she might as well have branded her dislike for Adrienne across her forehead.

Nathan Blackwood's patience snapped. His glare burned into Sebastian and his mother before he forced a rigid smile, dragging Adrienne out of the office. He could pressure Sebastian into compliance, but playing games in front of Evelyn Sinclair? Impossible.

Mrs. Hart spat out her contempt, eyes glistening with unshed tears. Then she turned to Evelyn, crossing the room with quiet gratitude.

"Thank you, Evelyn. Truly. I don't know what we would have done without you today."

The irony wasn't lost on Evelyn. Years ago, Mrs. Hart had warned her to stay away from Sebastian. Now, regret shadowed her every word.

In status, beauty, and character, Evelyn outshone every socialite in the city. Why had she been so stubborn?

Divorce wasn't the end.

Evelyn's smile was cool, detached. She never forgot a slight.

"Mrs. Hart, don't mention it. My father and Old Master Hart have been friends for years. Sebastian and I grew up together. Helping was only natural."

She made sure to emphasize—this wasn't about lingering feelings.

Mrs. Hart caught the unspoken boundary. Her smile faltered, disappointment heavy in her sigh. Regret was pointless now.

The Hart family was drowning. No time to dwell on past mistakes.

Sebastian, oblivious to the exchange, pulled Evelyn aside. "Thank God you showed up. Terence Sinclair actually accused me of fabricating scandals to pressure him. As if I care if he sees through it."

Evelyn chuckled. "Don't let your guard down. You need answers—fast."

Mrs. Hart excused herself, sensing her presence was unnecessary.

Sebastian's expression darkened. "Relax, I've already got people digging. Terence has never been subtle. The moment he slips up, I'll have him removed from the board."

Evelyn exhaled, relieved he had a plan. Then, a thought struck her, and she smirked.

"Adrienne Sinclair doesn't look a day over forty. And she seems... quite taken with you."

Sebastian recoiled as if bitten. "She gets work done in Seoul every other year. That face isn't hers. Know why she's divorced? Caught in bed with male escorts. Her husband walked in on them at a club. Made a scene, divorced her immediately."

Evelyn blinked. She hadn't seen that coming.

Before she could respond, Lucas Sterling called. Nathan had arrived at Sterling Manor—again.

Her pulse spiked.

He was visiting far too often.

Evelyn bid Sebastian farewell and drove home. The living room was empty. Lucas jerked his thumb toward the garden. "Out there fishing with Dad."

Her frown deepened. "What does he want?"

Lucas shrugged. "You, obviously. Saw the news about you and Sebastian. Probably panicking."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. She changed into loungewear, draping a cashmere throw over her shoulders before descending the stairs—just as William Sterling and Nathan stepped inside.