Chapter 99
“What?”
Zachary’s eyes widened instantly. His fork clattered onto the marble floor.
When Evelyn saw the alarm in his expression, her stomach twisted.
“Ms. Delacroix had a breakdown earlier, screaming your name, Mr. Blackwood,” Maxwell explained urgently. “She’s in a fragile state. Madam Isabella insisted you come immediately—she’s afraid Ms. Delacroix might hurt herself—”
Before Maxwell could finish, Zachary was already on his feet. He stormed out of the dining room without a backward glance.
“You ungrateful brat! If you dare go to that woman, I’ll disinherit you!” Archibald slammed his fist against the table, his face red with fury.
But it was too late. Zachary had already vanished.
“God help me, why must I be cursed with such a grandson?” Archibald groaned, rubbing his temples. “I’ve built empires, yet I can’t even salvage your marriage! Evelyn, my dear, this is all my fault…”
His voice cracked with regret as he looked at Evelyn, who sat composed despite the chaos.
Her gaze was steady, her lips curving into a soft, resigned smile as she placed her cool hand over his wrinkled one.
“Don’t blame yourself, Grandfather. You’ve done more than enough for me. Zachary and I… we were never meant to be.”
Meanwhile, Zachary was already striding toward his car, his jaw clenched with worry.
“Mr. Blackwood!”
He froze at the sound of Evelyn’s voice. She had followed him outside, her eyes rimmed red under the harsh porch light.
For a fleeting moment, guilt pricked at him. He opened his mouth to speak—
“Tell Ms. Cassandra,” Evelyn cut in coldly, “that I won’t let this slide. She humiliated my employee and triggered a medical episode. She will take responsibility.”
Zachary’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected her to chase him down just for this.
The concern in his eyes hardened into ice.
“Cassandra is my sister, but I don’t involve myself in her personal affairs.”
“So this is just a personal affair to you?” Evelyn’s lips curled into a bitter smirk. “Understood.”
Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Zachary standing there, an inexplicable chill crawling down his spine.
Had she just… mocked him?
That night, Zachary stayed at Vanessa’s penthouse until midnight, watching as the doctors sedated her. The medical reports confirmed severe depression—a diagnosis that always unsettled him.
He still resented what she had done to Evelyn. But seeing her like this… he couldn’t help but pity her.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Maxwell hesitated, gripping his phone. “There’s an issue. Should I handle it?”
Zachary rubbed his tired eyes. “What now?”
“A video of Ms. Cassandra harassing the housekeeper has gone viral. Our PR team caught it early. Should we scrub it to protect the company’s image?”
“Obviously.” Zachary’s voice was sharp. “This is Cassandra’s mess. Don’t let it tarnish Blackwood Enterprises. Erase everything related to it.”
“Yes, sir!”
When Zachary finally returned to Seaview Manor, he found Mrs. Winthrop waiting in the hallway, her nightgown rumpled from dozing in a chair.
“I told you not to wait up,” he sighed, though warmth flickered in his chest.
She had always been like a mother to him. But she was getting older—staying awake this late exhausted her.
For the past three years, it had been Evelyn who took over that role. Waiting. Worrying.
“Zachary, have you eaten? I left leftovers in the warmer.”
“Zachary, you need to sleep earlier. These headaches won’t stop if you keep burning the midnight oil.”
“I know you hate nagging, but I’ll keep doing it. Your health matters more than your temper.”
“I’ll always wait for you. That’s what family does.”
Mrs. Winthrop sighed. “If only Madam Evelyn were still here. She took such good care of you, Mr. Zachary.”
Her voice thickened. “I watched her fade—night after night, waiting up for you. It breaks my heart to remember.”
Zachary’s throat tightened.
He hadn’t realized just how much he’d taken her for granted.
Until she was gone.
