Chapter 13
“Vanessa?” Zachary’s voice was steady, though his pulse raced.
“Help me, Zachary!” Vanessa’s desperate plea cut through the phone, her voice trembling with fear. “I’m trapped at Blackwood Enterprises—reporters everywhere! I don’t know what to do!”
“I’m coming down!” Zachary snatched his coat, already halfway out the door before Maxwell could intervene.
“Sir, wait!” Maxwell blocked his path. “Let security handle this. If you go down there, they’ll swarm you too!”
Zachary’s jaw tightened, his resolve unshaken. Without another word, he pushed past Maxwell and stormed toward the elevator.
Blackwood Enterprises Lobby
The chaos was suffocating.
“When is the wedding, Ms. Delacroix?”
“Is it true you and Mr. Blackwood were childhood sweethearts?”
“What do you say to rumors that his ex-wife sabotaged your relationship?”
Cameras flashed like lightning, shoving into Vanessa’s face despite the bodyguards struggling to hold the crowd back. She clutched her purse, feigning distress—but inside, she was triumphant. This was all her doing. She’d leaked the engagement to the press. She’d planted the story framing Evelyn as the other woman. That bitch humiliated me. Now she’ll pay.
“Thank you for your concern,” Vanessa murmured, dabbing at nonexistent tears. “Zachary and I will share details when we’re ready. As for his ex-wife… I barely know Ms. Sinclair. Please, don’t harass her. She’s moved on—let her live in peace.”
Her words only fueled the frenzy. The reporters surged forward, their questions growing louder, more invasive—until a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into a protective embrace.
“Zachary…” She melted against him, her voice a whisper.
He didn’t respond. Instead, his gaze swept the lobby, an unsettling feeling creeping over him—as if Evelyn were watching.
Whitmore Holdings, CEO Office
Evelyn was watching.
The security feed played on her screen, Zachary shielding Vanessa like she was something precious. The sight sent a sharp pang through her chest.
“You protect her so fiercely. Did you ever protect me?”
Her fingers curled into fists. Two years ago, on that stormy night, she’d called him—bleeding, broken, begging for help. He hadn’t answered. His phone had been off.
Three years of love. Three years of being nothing but a pawn in his game.
Her phone buzzed—The Secret Circle group chat lighting up.
Nathan: “Lyse, the editor who broke the wedding news just got fired. Zachary’s doing. Looks like his girlfriend acted alone.”
Evelyn smirked. “They’re the same. Birds of a feather.”
Sebastian: “Speaking of birds… I’ve got dirt on Vanessa. Private convo?”
Julian: “Just spill it here.”
Sebastian: “Nope. My investigation, my reveal.” A voice note followed, then a series of photos—Vanessa, scantily clad, locked in a passionate kiss with a muscular, biracial man.
Evelyn’s brows shot up. “Well, well. Where’d you find these?”
Sebastian: “Her Instagram follows led me to him—some fitness guru with a very interesting camera roll.”
“Dinner’s on me tonight,” she replied.
“Just dinner? No drinks?”
“Fine. Drink yourself under the table.”
“Don’t celebrate yet. There’s more.”
Another file loaded—medical records. Photos of a woman’s abdomen, marked with faint stretch marks.
Evelyn’s breath hitched.
Sebastian: “Believe it or not, Vanessa gave birth in Eldermere. These are her post-pregnancy marks. She wasn’t ‘ill’—she was getting them removed.”
Evelyn zoomed in, studying the evidence. A bitter laugh escaped her. “So Zachary never slept with her.”
“Nope. Which means he’s been played.”
Relief, cold and unexpected, washed over her. “Good.”
“Good?! Lyse, he still cheated—”
“Not the way you think,” she cut in. “I don’t love him anymore. But knowing he didn’t touch her while we were married? That matters.”
Sebastian scoffed. “He chose her over you—the richest, smartest, most beautiful woman in Faircrest. What an idiot.”
Evelyn’s smile was icy. “Zachary doesn’t care about money. He never did.”
“So what’s the plan? Leak this and ruin Vanessa?”
“Patience,” Evelyn murmured, eyes glinting. “The best revenge is served cold.”
