Chapter 47
Evelyn Sinclair slammed her palm on the table, her voice sharp with authority. “Enough! You’re acting like children. Sebastian Blackwood must have looked into us because he suspects Tristan’s identity. You’ve stepped in twice to protect me—he’s bound to realize you’re not Nathan. If that’s the case, there’s no point hiding anymore. If he wants answers, I’ll give them to him!”
The moment she spoke, her brothers fell silent, their playful banter vanishing instantly.
Evelyn’s eyes darkened as she swirled the deep red wine in her glass, the liquid catching the dim light like liquid rubies.
The weekend arrived swiftly, and under mounting public scrutiny, the Delacroix Group held a press conference at the Grand Celeste Hotel. Reporters swarmed the venue, their cameras flashing like a storm of fireflies.
The Delacroix family wasn’t particularly influential on their own, but Vanessa’s engagement to Sebastian had thrust them into the spotlight overnight.
Across the street, a sleek black Maybach idled by the curb. Inside, Sebastian watched the live broadcast of the press conference on his tablet, his expression unreadable.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Nathaniel Graves said cautiously, “your grandfather made it clear you shouldn’t interfere with the Delacroix Group. If you keep opposing your father, it might strain your relationship further. I’m concerned Mrs. Blackwood will use this against you.”
Sebastian’s voice was ice. “It doesn’t matter. I won’t lift a finger to help them. And as for my father—there was never any relationship to begin with.”
Nathaniel sighed. To the world, Sebastian was the untouchable CEO of Blackwood Enterprises. But within the family? He was an outsider, with no one to confide in.
Onscreen, the press conference began. Raphael Delacroix strode onto the stage, chin lifted in defiance. His expression was one of wounded pride, as if he were the victim of some grand injustice.
“Elysian Home, a subsidiary of Delacroix Group, has 32 locations in Faircrest and over 400 nationwide. It’s a reputable brand. The recent allegations are nothing but a smear campaign, designed to tarnish our reputation!” Raphael declared.
Nathaniel scoffed. “The audacity. How can he stand there and lie when their products are clearly defective? He’s shameless.”
Sebastian said nothing, but the tension in his jaw tightened.
A reporter raised a hand. “Yet the first to expose Elysian Home’s issues was a Whitmore Holdings hotel. Whitmore has always been known for integrity—they don’t sabotage competitors. Doesn’t that suggest these allegations hold weight?”
Raphael’s face darkened. “Elysian Home has operated flawlessly for over a decade. This is an isolated incident, and we’re addressing it with the utmost urgency.”
Another journalist cut in. “Mr. Delacroix, does that mean you admit to the quality issues? And let’s not forget—there was a major lawsuit against you last year. Surely you remember?”
Raphael’s fists clenched, his knuckles whitening.
Meanwhile, in the hotel’s underground parking garage, Evelyn lounged in her sports car, watching the live feed with a smirk. No one would guess she’d planted that reporter.
“In the two years Raphael’s been CEO, he’s bled the company dry,” she mused. “And now he’s about to lose everything.”
Tristan chuckled darkly. “I didn’t expect him to lie so boldly at a press conference. Does he really think no one knows his secrets?”
Evelyn’s lips curved. “He thinks he has an ace up his sleeve. That’s why he’s so confident.”
She reached into Tristan’s coat pocket, plucking out a piece of chocolate. Unwrapping it, she popped it into her mouth with a sly grin. “Just wait. He’s about to play his hand—and lose.”
