Chapter 848

Nathan Blackwood froze at Evelyn Sinclair's brutal honesty.

His ego took a direct hit. It took several minutes for his breathing to steady.

'Evelyn just called me old?' Nathan's fingers hovered over his phone screen, typing and deleting responses repeatedly.

His chest tightened uncomfortably.

Another sleepless night of emotional damage.

At midnight, Nathan summoned Theodore Winslow back from vacation.

The city slept in darkness outside his office windows.

Nathan was still working at this ungodly hour. The man never rested.

When Theodore entered, he found his boss in a cloud of cigarette smoke.

Nathan's sharp features looked almost ghostly in the dim lighting. Theodore rushed to open a window before the smoke detector went off.

Tomorrow's tabloids would've screamed: "Blackwood Industries CEO Found Dead From Smoke Inhalation?"

"Mr. Blackwood, what happened?" Theodore's voice dripped with concern.

Nathan's jaw clenched. "Am I old?" His voice rasped from smoking.

Confused, Theodore cautiously took the offered phone. Only he had clearance to touch Nathan's personal device.

The text thread with Evelyn made everything clear.

'The lady doesn't pull punches,' Theodore thought. 'Ms. Sinclair just destroyed his self-esteem! He's more upset than when dealing with Reginald Blackwood!'

Theodore forced a smile. "Sir, you're in your prime! Ms. Sinclair didn't mean it. She's probably regretting—"

Nathan's icy stare cut him off. 'Do I look stupid?'

Undeterred, Theodore continued, "Ms. Sinclair values substance over looks. She fell for you before—that proves you're her type! She's just pushing you away. We must double down!"

Nathan's expression shifted slightly. The logic soothed his bruised ego.

'Exactly. Younger men lack my accomplishments. Older men lack my physique. I'm perfect.'

Nathan stubbed out his cigarette and grabbed his jacket.

"Sir?" Theodore blinked as his boss strode toward the door.

"Going home."

In the car, Nathan finally replied to Evelyn:

[Age is just a number for a man of my caliber. No apology needed—my heart remains yours. XOXO]

Evelyn jolted awake to her phone's chime.

With Alexander Sterling traveling, she kept her phone on for emergencies.

The midnight notification made her pulse spike—until she saw the sender.

Her blood ran cold.

XOXO?!

Nathan Blackwood had officially lost his mind.

Evelyn threw her phone aside and squeezed her eyes shut.

But sleep brought only nightmares—all starring a certain delusional billionaire.