Chapter 10
Back at Blackwood Estate, Sebastian was stunned when his proud ex-wife abruptly ended their call.
The woman had been ice-cold, nothing like the wife who had once begged him not to divorce her. Had she truly felt nothing for him during their three-year marriage? Had she merely tolerated him for some hidden agenda? The thought alone made his blood boil.
“Your coffee, Mr. Blackwood.”
Maxwell entered, only to find Sebastian in a dark mood. Hesitating, he asked, “Did you… manage to reach Madam Evelyn? Did you get her new number?”
Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose, irritation flashing in his eyes. He had expected relief after Evelyn left, but instead, he was seething—especially after discovering she was now involved with Nathan. How dare she?
“I’ll try again later. I don’t want to think about her right now,” he muttered, taking a sip of coffee. Instantly, his brows furrowed. “What’s wrong with this? It tastes awful.”
“I followed the instructions Madam Evelyn left. How could it be bad?” Maxwell scratched his head in confusion.
“Instructions?”
“She gave me a notebook before she left. It’s filled with all your preferences—everything from your coffee to which dishes you liked best, even down to the dates.” Maxwell handed him the small leather-bound book.
Sebastian hesitated before flipping it open.
Her neat handwriting leaped off the page, a testament to her once-devoted nature.
“Add a pinch of salt to his coffee—it enhances the flavor. Sebastian prefers it that way.”
“Sebastian had two servings of the seafood chowder today. I’ll make it again next week.”
“He dislikes overly sweet desserts. Maybe a light panna cotta or fruit tart would suit him better.”
“I bought him several ties last year, but he never wore the burgundy one. Note: Sebastian hates burgundy.”
Sebastian, Sebastian, Sebastian—his name was scribbled on nearly every line.
His breath hitched as he turned each page, as if exhaling too hard might erase the words. His grip tightened, crumpling the edges.
“Quite the schemer, studying me like some experiment. What was her real game?”
A storm of emotions raged inside him, but it didn’t stop him from tossing the notebook into the trash with a flick of his wrist.
“Sir! Don’t throw that away! Madam Evelyn spent three years compiling those notes. If she didn’t care, why would she bother? It’s obvious you meant something to her!” Maxwell lunged to retrieve it, his expression pained.
“Stop calling her Madam Evelyn. She lost that title the moment she walked out.”
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the study—shouting, crashing—coming from the wing where Evelyn’s old room was.
“Go see what’s happening,” Sebastian ordered, rubbing his temples.
Maxwell hurried out and returned moments later, looking uneasy.
“It’s Ms. Delacroix, sir. She’s… um…”
“What about Vanessa?”
“She’s throwing out Madam—er, your ex-wife’s belongings.”
Vanessa was rampaging through Evelyn’s former room like a hurricane.
“Gold-digging witch! Who does she think she is, flaunting that old man’s gifts? That stupid bracelet? As if I care!”
Evelyn had left everything behind after signing the divorce papers, giving Vanessa free rein to destroy what remained. Skincare bottles shattered, jewelry scattered—the room looked like a warzone.
By the time Sebastian arrived, the damage was done.
“What the hell are you doing, Vanessa?” he demanded, his voice dangerously low.
“I can’t stand seeing her traces everywhere! It’s like she’s still haunting this place!”
Vanessa burst into theatrical tears when she noticed him. “If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have wasted three years! Everyone knows she stole my place! Why are you defending her? Am I just some side piece to you?”
“You’re not a side piece. You’re being ridiculous.”
His gaze darkened as he bent to pick up a jade frog figurine. It winked at him, holding up a peace sign, and despite himself, his lips twitched.
Vanessa, meanwhile, had moved to the closet, yanking out clothes.
“What’s this?” She tore open a large box, revealing a finely tailored men’s suit. “Ha! Must be a gift for her new sugar daddy. Guess she had backups lined up all along!”
Sebastian’s eyes widened. He snatched the box from her.
“See how vile she is, Sebastian? I thought she married you for love, but she was just using you to climb the social ladder! She played you for a fool!”
Her face twisted with rage as she grabbed a fruit knife from the coffee table. Before anyone could react, she lunged at the suit. Sebastian shielded it instinctively—and the blade sliced his forearm instead.
Blood bloomed across his white sleeve.
“Oh my god! Sebastian, I—I didn’t mean to!” The knife clattered to the floor as she clapped a hand over her mouth, horrified.
Isabella rushed in with maids in tow, gasping at the scene. “Sebastian! You’re bleeding! What happened? Why is there a knife here?”
“Maxwell, have the driver take Ms. Delacroix home,” Sebastian said through gritted teeth.
“But I don’t want to leave! I need to take care of you!” Vanessa clung to him desperately.
“It’s late, darling. Why not let her stay?” Isabella interjected smoothly, eager to push Vanessa into his bed for her own schemes.
“No. She’s going home.” His tone left no room for argument.
“You’ll be married soon anyway—”
“And we’ll have a lifetime together after the wedding. Until then, she stays with her family. The divorce isn’t finalized. It’s inappropriate.”
Isabella pursed her lips, defeated.
Once Vanessa was gone, Sebastian surveyed the wreckage and ordered the maids to clean up.
“Sir, look at this!”
Maxwell pulled an exquisite gown from the closet—a stunning pink opera dress embroidered with peonies so lifelike they seemed to bloom under the light. The craftsmanship was unmistakably luxurious.
Sebastian stared, uncomprehending.
“An opera costume? Was… Madam Evelyn a performer? It’s breathtaking!” Maxwell marveled. Evelyn kept surprising him—vibrant, talented. Why couldn’t Sebastian see her worth?
“You know what they say,” Sebastian muttered, turning away.
“What?”
“A heartless woman leaves no room for love.”
