Chapter 2
The evening air was thick with tension as the Blackwood family gathered for dinner. Vanessa Delacroix, the niece of Zachary Blackwood’s stepmother, effortlessly charmed everyone at the table with her sweet smiles and light conversation. In stark contrast, Zachary sat in brooding silence, his untouched plate a testament to his foul mood.
Evelyn Sinclair had left without a word—no demands, no drama, not even the twenty million or the villa.
“Where’s Evelyn? Why isn’t she joining us?” Alistair Blackwood, Zachary’s father, finally broke the silence, his sharp gaze fixed on his son.
“We’re divorced,” Zachary replied flatly, not meeting his father’s eyes. “The papers are signed. We’ll finalize the certificate soon.”
“Divorced?” Alistair’s voice rose in disbelief. “Why?”
“Alistair, I told you they were never a good match,” Isabella Montclair, Zachary’s stepmother, sighed dramatically. “But Archibald insisted on the marriage. Now, after three miserable years, she’s finally let go. It’s for the best. You know Zachary has always loved Vanessa.”
“Zachary, marriage isn’t a game. And she—”
“Dad, it’s done,” Zachary snapped, his patience wearing thin. “Evelyn left. She didn’t take a thing.”
“That country girl has some pride, I’ll give her that,” Cassandra Blackwood, Zachary’s sister, sneered. “But mark my words—this is just another one of her schemes. I wouldn’t be surprised if she starts spreading rumors about how we mistreated her.”
Zachary’s jaw clenched at the remark.
“You’ve acted recklessly,” Alistair scolded. “Your grandfather is still ill. How do you plan to explain this to him?”
“I’ll announce my engagement to Vanessa next month.”
Vanessa’s eyes sparkled with triumph as she gazed adoringly at Zachary’s chiseled features.
“Outrageous!” Alistair slammed his fist on the table. “You can’t just discard a three-year marriage like it meant nothing! Think of the scandal!”
“I never cared about public opinion. Evelyn Sinclair was never the woman I wanted.” Zachary’s voice was ice-cold, devoid of any remorse.
“Uncle Alistair, please don’t blame Zachary,” Vanessa interjected, pressing herself against Zachary’s arm. “If anyone’s at fault, it’s me. I shouldn’t have come back. I’ll return to Eldermere tomorrow. Zachary, you should reconcile with Evelyn. I don’t want to be the reason your marriage ended…”
“This has nothing to do with you,” Zachary said, his dark eyes unreadable. He took her hand firmly. “There was never any love between Evelyn and me. I endured three years of misery. I won’t let you suffer for it.”
The night breeze carried a biting chill as Nathan Whitmore guided his sister onto a sleek yacht, hoping the dazzling city lights would lift her spirits.
“Nathan, are you trying to torture me?” Evelyn groaned, eyeing the couples around them. “This is a romantic cruise. I wouldn’t even come here on a normal day!”
“Relax,” Nathan chuckled, adjusting his cufflinks. “Sebastian arranged the fireworks. They start at eight.” He glanced at his watch. “Five, four, three, two, one—”
A deafening explosion lit up the sky in a burst of violet.
Couples flocked to the deck, their gasps of awe blending with the crackling display.
“Sebastian’s taste is still questionable,” Evelyn muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
“Considering the bizarre gifts you’ve gotten before, this is an improvement,” Nathan teased, pulling her into a warm embrace. “And this isn’t the only surprise. Your room is piled with presents from all of us. You’re loved, Evelyn. Don’t waste your heart on someone who doesn’t deserve it.”
Her throat tightened with emotion.
Just then, a sleek Maybach pulled up near the crowd. Zachary stepped out, Vanessa clinging to his arm. The wind whipped her hair as she giggled, pressing closer to him.
“Oh, Zachary! The fireworks are breathtaking!” Vanessa cooed, her childlike enthusiasm a stark contrast to Evelyn’s quiet elegance.
Zachary’s expression darkened as the fireworks morphed into shimmering letters: “Happy Birthday.”
Vanessa gasped. “Whose birthday is it? They must be so lucky!”
Zachary’s chest tightened. Evelyn’s birthday. Had Nathan arranged this for her?
A familiar laugh cut through the noise as a yacht glided past. There, on the deck, stood Evelyn and Nathan, their silhouettes illuminated by the golden lights.
“Isn’t that Evelyn?” Vanessa feigned surprise. “Who’s that man with her? They look… close.”
Zachary’s grip on the railing turned his knuckles white. They weren’t even officially divorced, and she was already parading around with another man? What about her tears earlier?
After circling the lake, the yacht docked. Nathan kept a protective arm around Evelyn as they disembarked.
“Evelyn Sinclair!”
She froze at the sound of Zachary’s voice. Turning, she met his stormy gaze. Even now, his striking features sent a pang through her—but she steeled herself. He had rejected thirteen years of her love. She was done.
“Who is he?” Zachary demanded, his voice razor-sharp.
“Mr. Blackwood, your memory fails you,” Nathan said smoothly, tightening his hold on Evelyn. “We’ve crossed paths in business before.”
“Evelyn, answer me,” Zachary ignored him, stepping closer.
“We’re divorced,” Evelyn replied coolly. “Who I’m with is none of your concern.”
Zachary’s eyes flashed with disbelief. The meek Evelyn he knew would never speak to him like this.
“We’re not officially divorced, yet you’re already throwing yourself at another man?”
Nathan’s temper flared, but Evelyn stopped him with a hand on his chest. Her defiance only infuriated Zachary further.
“Your first love couldn’t wait to replace me, and I said nothing. What right do you have to dictate who I’m with?” Evelyn’s lips curled into a smirk, her hair dancing in the wind. For the first time, Zachary saw a wild, untamed beauty in her—one he had never noticed before.
“Since when does the ex-husband get to be outraged while the ex-wife stays silent?”
Zachary had no retort.
Vanessa, finally catching up, noticed the tension and stomped her foot—only to twist her ankle in her heels. She collapsed with a dramatic cry.
“Zachary! It hurts!”
Snapped out of his daze, Zachary rushed to help her up. By the time he turned back, Evelyn and Nathan were gone.
