Chapter 84
Nathan Whitmore glanced at his phone screen and let out a low chuckle. “Speak of the devil,” he muttered when Sebastian Blackwood’s name flashed across the display.
“Mr. Blackwood,” he greeted icily as he answered the call.
Sebastian Whitmore, who had been lounging nearby, immediately straightened, his sharp gaze fixed on his older brother as he strained to listen.
“Mr. Whitmore,” Sebastian Blackwood’s deep voice carried a hint of urgency. “I need to speak with Evelyn. It’s important.”
“Evelyn is occupied at the moment,” Nathan replied smoothly.
“Then when will she be available?”
Nathan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “She’ll always be occupied when it comes to you.”
Though Nathan was usually composed and diplomatic, he had a razor-sharp tongue when provoked—especially when it came to his sister.
Sebastian Whitmore clenched his fists in silent approval, thoroughly enjoying his brother’s verbal takedown.
On the other end of the line, Sebastian Blackwood fell into a tense silence, his expression darkening.
“First,” Nathan continued, his tone cutting, “the fact that Evelyn changed her number should tell you everything. Even if the divorce isn’t finalized, you have no right to harass her. That’s basic decency.”
He didn’t stop there. “Second, I know what happened at the charity auction.”
Sebastian Blackwood’s breath hitched, his chest tightening as if an invisible hand had seized his heart.
Sebastian Whitmore shivered involuntarily.
Nathan Whitmore was terrifying—a man of warmth and kindness, yet capable of ruthless precision when crossed. He wasn’t quick to anger, but when it came to his family, he had no mercy.
“About that—”
“I don’t care about your excuses,” Nathan cut in, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You’ve crossed a line. My line is Evelyn. This is the last time I answer your call, Mr. Blackwood. Consider this your final warning.”
His next words were laced with steel. “Control your fiancée. Control your family. If you or anyone associated with you ever causes trouble for Evelyn again, you won’t like the consequences.”
Without waiting for a response, Nathan ended the call.
Back at Blackwood Manor, Sebastian stood frozen by the window, his grip tightening around his phone until his knuckles turned white. The dull ache in his chest returned, sharper this time.
Nathan had been his last connection to Evelyn. Now, that thread was severed.
For the first time in his life, Sebastian Blackwood felt hollow. Panic clawed at him.
There was a very real chance Evelyn might vanish from his life forever.
His hands shook as he rummaged through his desk drawer, desperate for distraction. His fingers closed around a half-forgotten pack of cigarettes—two left.
With unsteady hands, he lit one, the flame flickering in the dim light.
It had been five years since he last smoked. Yet here he was, falling back into old habits—all because of the woman he’d sworn he never loved.
Meanwhile, deep into the night, the massive workshop at Stellus was still alive with activity.
Evelyn Sinclair hunched over a workbench, her black apron smudged with dust, her forehead glistening with sweat.
She had cracked open hundreds of raw gemstones, polished them, and crafted countless bracelets—each worth a small fortune. But none of them were right.
None of them matched the one Archibald had given her.
Her fingers, once delicate and smooth, were now rough with calluses and cuts. But she didn’t stop.
She couldn’t stop.
Not until she recreated that bracelet. Not until she could face Archibald without shame.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shattered the silence. The metallic door trembled from the force of the sound.
Evelyn didn’t even flinch.
Then, the door burst open. A gust of wind rushed in, forcing her to squint against the sudden draft.
Outside, barely visible in the darkness, a helicopter had landed.
The door slid open.
A tall figure stepped out, his black trench coat billowing behind him.
His face was as cold as the night air.
