Chapter 830

Nathan Blackwood glared at Theodore Winslow. Does this fool take me for an idiot?

He abandoned the stew and stormed out of the kitchen, his aura icy.

Theodore had no idea why he'd chosen such a regressive novel. When he first read it, he'd thought it was decent.

But listening to the audiobook now, the so-called "domineering CEO" sounded utterly ridiculous.

Theodore hurried after Nathan, scrambling to explain. "Mr. Blackwood, please don’t be angry! The author of this novel isn’t a visionary leader like you. They couldn’t possibly capture your brilliance and strategic mind!"

Nathan’s expression remained cold. His eyes darkened dangerously as he snapped, "Get out."

"Right away! I’ll find something better—"

Theodore was desperate to salvage the situation.

If he weren’t still useful, Nathan would have had him thrown out of the penthouse by now.

Nathan retreated to his study, forcing himself to calm down.

He pulled out his phone and opened Evelyn Sinclair’s chat.

The message he sent still bore a red exclamation mark.

A wave of loneliness crashed over him. The gnawing fear of losing her again tightened its grip.

Fine. I’ll endure this nonsense.

With a grimace, he reopened the materials and novels Theodore had sent him.

Sterling Manor

Evelyn and Natalie Beaumont lounged in bed, recounting their day.

Lucas Sterling had become Natalie’s shadow, following her to work under the guise of "protection"—though his real motive was keeping Adrian Prescott at bay. Thankfully, Lucas knew his boundaries and never overstepped.

The power dynamic remained firmly in Natalie’s hands.

Natalie sighed. "Thank God you’re here. I don’t know how I’d face Lucas otherwise. He’s done so much for me, and I have no idea how to repay him."

Evelyn barely suppressed an eye roll. That’s exactly what he wants.

"Don’t overthink it. Even if Lucas weren’t interested in you, I wouldn’t stand by and watch you suffer. Besides, he has his own agenda—I’m just a convenient excuse."

Natalie huffed. Must she be so blunt?

Then she remembered something.

Tristan Whitmore had spent the day warning everyone who’d circulated that video among the elite circles. Natalie smirked. "What exactly did Tristan do?"

Evelyn thought of Adrian Blackwood and couldn’t help but laugh.

She recounted the party incident, clicking her tongue at Adrian’s dramatic transformation. "Adrian admitted he did it purely to provoke Tristan. In a direct fight, he’d lose, but he could certainly make Tristan sick to his stomach."

Natalie was fascinated, regretting she hadn’t witnessed it firsthand. Since when are men pettier than women?

She giggled. "Adrian’s younger than Tristan, so when he acts spoiled, it’s almost charming. But if an old fox like Tristan tried those lines—"

Both women shuddered in unison. Disgusting.

Sterling Enterprises – Next Morning

Evelyn had an early meeting and arrived at the office before dawn.

When Nathan strode in, he ignored the receptionist entirely.

The woman recognized him instantly and nearly dropped her coffee.

"Mr. Blackwood! Do—do you have an appointment with Ms. Sterling?"

Nathan paused, irritation flashing across his face.

"I brought breakfast for Ms. Sterling. Is she here?"

"Yes, but—"

Before she could finish, Nathan marched past her.

No one dared stop him. With his status, even without an appointment, blocking him was unthinkable.

The receptionist frantically alerted the secretary’s office.

By mid-morning, the entire company was buzzing.

Nathan Blackwood had personally delivered breakfast to Evelyn Sinclair. What kind of royal treatment was this?

All those online rumors about Blackwood Industries targeting Sterling Enterprises?

Gone without a trace.