Chapter 90
Zachary Blackwood believed he had treated Evelyn Sinclair exceptionally well—except for the fact that he didn’t love her.
During her time at Seaview Manor, she had enjoyed every luxury money could provide. The staff there had attended to her every need, ensuring she never faced any inconvenience.
Hell, Zachary had even given her a supplementary credit card. He was never one to be stingy, after all.
Yet, in the three years they were married, Evelyn had never once used that card. Still, her life as the young madam of the Blackwood family had been far better than her previous existence as a medical aide in a nursing home.
How dare she twist the truth in public, making it sound as though she had endured unimaginable suffering!
The more Zachary dwelled on it, the hotter his anger burned. His jaw clenched, veins standing out along his temples as his eyes darkened with fury.
“Tch. Still as stubborn as ever, aren’t you?” Cassandra Blackwood sneered, flipping her perfectly styled curls. “Since you’re the manager of this hotel, I’ll make this simple. You have two choices.”
She lifted her chin imperiously. “Either compensate me with a necklace of equal value—it’s not that expensive, just over two hundred thousand dollars—or have the police arrest this thief.” She jabbed a manicured finger toward the trembling housekeeper. “And as the manager, you’ll issue a public apology. Money isn’t the issue here. It’s the principle.”
Cassandra’s lips curled in disdain. She would never admit in front of all these people that Evelyn had once been her sister-in-law. That would be humiliating beyond measure.
Besides, this was the perfect opportunity to put that country bumpkin in her place. Evelyn had dared to flaunt her newfound status at the charity auction, but without Nathan Whitmore’s backing, she was nothing. Cassandra intended to crush her while she still could.
“Mr. Blackwood, Cassandra is bullying Madam Evelyn!” Maxwell Reeves whispered urgently, his dislike for Cassandra evident.
“Patience,” Zachary murmured, his gaze never leaving Evelyn.
He was intrigued. This was a side of his ex-wife he had never seen before—the poised, unshakable hotel manager. In his memories, she had always been the quiet, submissive housewife.
Managing a hotel meant navigating the hospitality industry’s cutthroat demands. How had she risen to this position? Who had given her this authority?
“Ms. Blackwood,” Evelyn said coolly, “if your missing necklace is truly worth over two hundred thousand dollars, I suggest you file a police report immediately. The sooner they investigate, the higher the chances of recovering it.”
She continued smoothly, “Once the authorities arrive, every employee in this hotel will cooperate fully—myself included. We’ll provide surveillance footage and access to personal belongings, provided they have a warrant.”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“She’s right! Why hasn’t that woman called the police already?”
“Probably because she misplaced it herself and is just causing drama.”
Cassandra’s face flushed crimson. “What’s the point of searching the hotel? That thief must have hidden it somewhere else!”
“I didn’t steal anything!” The accused housekeeper’s voice trembled with rage, her fists clenched at her sides.
Evelyn held up a hand, silencing the chaos. “Our hotel is equipped with high-definition surveillance cameras covering every corner. Additionally, I’ve already instructed all housekeeping staff to remain on-site. If anyone took your necklace, it would still be here.”
She pulled out her phone with a casual flick of her wrist. “Oh, and I already called the police on my way here. They should arrive in about ten minutes.”
A faint, icy smile touched her lips. “Once they conclude their investigation, I’ll gladly issue a public apology—if my employees are found at fault.”
Maxwell nearly vibrated with admiration. “Madam Evelyn is incredible! She handled that perfectly!”
Zachary shot him a warning glare, but he couldn’t deny the strange pull he felt watching Evelyn in action. She was calm, sharp, and utterly commanding—a far cry from the woman he remembered.
“Fine. You’d better keep your word,” Cassandra spat.
“Of course. As the manager, I take responsibility for my guests’ satisfaction.” Evelyn’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Just then, Tristan Gallagher and the head of housekeeping rushed into the lobby. Tristan carried a small velvet bag as though it held the crown jewels.
