Chapter 16

The air in the room thickened with unspoken tension. Evelyn’s fingers curled into her palms, her nails biting into her skin.

She had spent three years rebuilding herself—only to return to the same twisted games.

But this time, she wouldn’t play by their rules.

This time, she would make them regret ever underestimating her.

Evelyn's response was a quiet scoff, her lips curling with barely concealed sarcasm.

Lila's words rang hollow in Evelyn's ears, so insincere they made her stomach churn.

"If we're done here, I'll take my leave." Without waiting for a response, Evelyn turned on her heel and strode away.

"Did you see that? That's how your daughter behaves!" Victor Sterling's voice boomed behind her, thick with fury.

"I'm sorry, Victor. I'll speak to Evelyn. She'll... she'll thank Lila," Grace Monroe murmured, her voice trembling with meekness as she tried to placate him.

Evelyn's steps didn't falter, but the sound of Victor's enraged shouts and Grace's timid apologies followed her out. The disdain in her eyes only deepened.

Once she reached her car outside the Sterling estate, Evelyn sank into the driver's seat and closed her eyes, exhaling sharply.

A suffocating weight pressed against her chest. She had expected this confrontation, but living through it was another matter entirely. It left her feeling raw, exposed—like she couldn’t breathe.

After a moment, she pulled out her phone and typed a quick message.

A reply buzzed almost instantly.

A faint smirk tugged at her lips as she read it.

Tossing her phone onto the passenger seat, she started the engine and peeled away from the curb.

That evening, at Velvet Mirage, one of the city’s most exclusive lounges, Evelyn’s entrance didn’t go unnoticed.

She wore a sleek, black satin dress that clung to every curve, the thin straps leaving her collarbones and shoulders bare. The deep V-neckline drew the eye, accentuating the elegant slope of her neck and the delicate hollow of her throat.

Her auburn hair was swept into a high ponytail, the sharp angles of her face highlighted by smoky eyeshadow and a bold winged liner that made her emerald eyes impossible to ignore.

Every head turned as she walked in.

From the VIP balcony above, Nathan Black’s gaze locked onto her the moment she stepped through the door.

With the stir she caused, it was impossible not to notice her.

His jaw tightened as his eyes trailed over the scandalously short hem of her dress.

Could she be any more obvious?

"Nathan, have you and Evelyn finalized the divorce yet?" Dylan Reeves’ question snapped Nathan out of his thoughts.

Beside him, Serena Cole stiffened, her fingers tightening around her glass as she waited for his answer.

Nathan’s expression remained unreadable. "My father had an episode when he found out. He’s in the hospital now."

Dylan scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "That scheming witch must have told him. I knew it. She never wanted this divorce. She ran away three years ago, and now that she’s back, she’s still playing games—dragging this out like she has any right to."

The disgust on Dylan’s face was palpable. His knuckles whitened around his drink. "Nathan, I swear, tomorrow I’ll make sure she shows up in court."

Nathan shot him a warning glance, his tone icy. "Stay out of it. This is between her and me."