Chapter 912

Preston probably thought the same as he carefully guided Evelyn to the side seat.

She sat down, and he reached over to fasten her seatbelt.

Their eyes met, exchanging a silent understanding.

Evelyn glanced up and saw Lucas sitting across from her.

He flashed her an enigmatic smile and winked. "Little E, touched that I came to pick you up?"

Her lips twitched. Did he really come for me? Or for Natalie?

He was already peeling an orange for Natalie. The audacity of that lie.

Evelyn smirked. "Natalie, are you touched?"

Natalie blushed and rolled her eyes. "Little E, your brother was talking to you."

Evelyn tilted her head. "No, he clearly meant you."

Alexander cleared his throat sharply. "Save the banter. We’ll settle this once we’re home."

Sebastian shuddered as the helicopter lifted off.

The aircraft soon vanished into the sky.

On the ground below, Tristan narrowed his eyes, spotting the "Sterling" insignia on the departing helicopter. He rushed to Nathan’s side. "Blackwood, look! The Sterlings are here too?"

Blackwood Industries had arrived to fund Project Hope, delivering supplies immediately after the mudslide. The journey had been treacherous—roads washed out, terrain unstable. A crane had barely managed to transport them across.

Nathan Blackwood wasn’t the type to personally oversee charity work. He could’ve just written a check.

Yet here he was. Not for publicity, but because he couldn’t ignore the devastation.

At Tristan’s words, Nathan looked up.

The Sterling emblem glared back at him. His pupils constricted. "The Sterlings are here?"

Tristan frowned. "Didn’t hear they had interests in this region."

A local official approached, smiling. "Mr. Blackwood, you know them? Ms. Sterling and her friends came to watch the meteor shower last night. Got caught in the mudslide. Lucky for them, Mr. Sinclair arrived in time. The Sterlings sent a chopper at dawn—brought supplies, then took them back—"

Silence followed.

Nathan’s chest tightened at the mention of Evelyn’s sprained ankle. Breathing suddenly felt like swallowing glass.

His expression darkened. Preston Sinclair. Again. Always him.

Still, at least Preston had been there.

Tristan cleared his throat. "Were they hurt? Everyone alright?"

The official hesitated. "Minor injuries, but Ms. Sterling’s ankle needed proper care. Our clinic here isn’t equipped, so they left quickly—"

Tristan sighed dramatically. "Almost crossed paths. What a shame, eh, Blackwood?"

Nathan’s jaw clenched. He turned away without a word.

He didn’t want to imagine Evelyn’s fear last night. And the one who reached her wasn’t him.

The official faltered, sensing tension.

Tristan waved it off. "Don’t mind him. Old wounds."

Nathan’s pursuit of his ex-wife was a losing battle when his rival matched him at every turn.

Unlike Tristan and his ex, Vivian. He wondered if she’d dumped that pretty boy yet.