Chapter 421

Nathan Evans had never imagined that Ethan Winston, the man who always had everything under control, could lose his composure like this.

"You'd go this far for Evelyn Langley?"

He stared at the usually collected man, seeing madness in his eyes for the first time.

Ethan adjusted his cuffs with deliberate calm. "Just a small favor."

"A small favor?" Nathan scoffed. "You knew exactly what kind of people Linda Lombardi and her son are, yet you handed them a weapon."

"The weapon is in your hands," Ethan met his gaze. "Whether to use it, and how—that's your choice."

Nathan clenched his fists. "You fucking planned this!"

"And if I did?" Ethan smirked. "Haven’t you always wanted to prove you’re better than me? Here’s your chance."

The air turned frigid.

"For a woman, you’d throw away your principles?" Nathan spat through gritted teeth.

Ethan’s gaze sharpened instantly. "She’s not just 'a woman.'"

She was Evelyn Langley.

The one who made him sobering soup in the dead of night.

The one who feared the dark but still walked home alone.

Nathan burst into laughter. "Spare me the act. Where were you when she was suffering by my side?"

Ethan’s fingers twitched.

"You could’ve stopped it, but you chose to watch." Nathan stepped closer. "Because you knew—only when she gave up on me completely would you have a chance."

"Shut up."

"Hit a nerve?" Nathan’s smile turned mocking. "What’s the difference between you and me? We both used her feelings."

Ethan snapped his head up. "You don’t deserve to even speak her name!"

"Getting defensive?" Nathan raised a brow. "What if she finds out about your schemes—"

"She won’t."

"Of course I won’t tell." Nathan leaned in. "I’ll watch her fall for you, and then—"

Ethan grabbed him by the collar.

Their eyes locked, tension crackling between them.

"You think this is how you win?" Nathan sneered. "Ethan, you’re naive."

He pried Ethan’s fingers off one by one. "The game has only just begun."

As he turned away, a cruel smile curled Nathan’s lips.

If this was madness, they’d drown in it together.