Chapter 777

Nathan's prolonged silence sent chills down Sophia's spine.

A cold, mocking laugh finally broke the silence. "Forgive who? You?" Sophia's head snapped up, her eyes wide with panic as she frantically shook her head.

"No, brother! It wasn't me! I wouldn’t dare—it was Grandfather!"

Nathan's expression darkened instantly, his voice icy.

"I have people watching Grandfather. He had no idea what I was doing. But you—what exactly did you do when you visited my office yesterday?"

The accusation froze Sophia in place. Her face drained of color.

She had begged Harrison not to tell Nathan about her visit, forgetting that Harrison was Nathan’s most loyal man. Why would he obey her instead?

She stood there, stunned, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Sophia, it seems your time in the real world has taught you nothing. You’ve even learned to lie. Maybe you should go back to your sales job."

Horror flashed across her face. She rushed forward, tears streaming.

"Brother, I just couldn’t stand Preston Sinclair stealing Evelyn from you! That’s why I told Grandfather! Evelyn belongs to you—I only want you two to be happy! I never meant to hurt Evelyn. When the internet turned against her, I even hired people to defend her!"

She pulled out her phone, showing transaction records and chat logs—proof she had paid people to praise Evelyn.

Nathan narrowed his eyes, silent as Sophia sobbed.

"Mom left the country, Dad’s gone. You and Grandfather are all I have left. Please don’t send me away…"

She took a shaky step back. "I’ll apologize to Evelyn. I’ll kneel in the memorial hall right now!"

Without waiting for his response, she turned and ran, terrified he’d cast her out.

The butler hesitated. "Mr. Blackwood…?"

Nathan’s gaze was frigid.

"From now on, Reginald Blackwood and Sophia are not to leave the villa. I’ll have someone bring the contract daily until he signs it."

This was the real Nathan Blackwood—ruthless and unyielding.

As Nathan strode out, the butler sighed. The number of guards stationed at the villa tripled instantly.

Inside the memorial hall, Sophia waited until she heard Nathan’s car leave before collapsing onto a bench in relief.

She pulled out her phone, scrolling through the messages.

Thank God she’d been smart enough to hire those keyboard warriors during the argument upstairs. It had given her just enough leverage to stay.

But further up the chat logs were damning records—proof she had paid people to slander Evelyn.

Nathan’s car sped down the empty road, the streetlights casting long, lonely shadows.

He rolled down the window, letting the cold air bite at his skin.

He had already pulled the trending topics. Seeing Evelyn dragged into the second wave of backlash had been unbearable.

But the investigation led back to him—and ultimately, to Reginald.

Nathan had to strip his grandfather of power before he hurt Evelyn irreparably.

And today?

Evelyn hadn’t answered a single call.

She must already know everything.

In her eyes, he was nothing but a petty, scheming villain—someone who’d tried to ruin her relationship with Preston and drag her down in the process.

The weight of that realization was suffocating.

Panic set in.

His car screeched to a halt outside the hospital where Evelyn had been staying. Reporters swarmed the entrance, cameras flashing.

Nathan’s jaw clenched. He dialed Harrison.

"Clear out the reporters at the hospital—"

Harrison hesitated. "Mr. Blackwood, I just received word… Ms. Sinclair has already been discharged."