Chapter 117

Old Master Blackwood's expression darkened as his sharp eyes narrowed into slits.

A low, displeased grumble escaped his lips.

The sight of this father-daughter duo made his blood boil with barely contained fury.

"Chairman Sterling," he bit out through clenched teeth, "what other surprises do you have in store? I believe we've seen quite enough of this... spectacle."

It was painfully obvious the Sterlings had orchestrated this entire event to publicly humiliate the Blackwoods.

No wonder Evelyn had been so defiant when he'd complained about her to William Sterling in that office. The memory made his face flush with anger - she'd played him like a fiddle from the very beginning.

William Sterling's gaze flickered toward Nathan Blackwood, who remained as stoic as ever, his aristocratic features betraying nothing.

At such a young age, to maintain such composure amidst this storm was remarkable.

Were it not for Nathan's scandalous affairs and the way he'd repeatedly broken Evelyn's heart, William might have even admired the man as a potential son-in-law.

"Chairman Blackwood," William's voice cut through the tension like ice, "I fail to comprehend the source of your anger. My daughter married into your family only to be treated like a common servant. Even after their divorce, she became the internet's favorite punching bag."

His grip tightened on the podium.

"Don't you think you owe us an explanation?"

Old Master Blackwood stiffened. Margaret and Sophia exchanged shocked glances. Was this a reckoning?

Nathan's brow furrowed slightly as his dark eyes studied Evelyn, who stood beside her father.

She was toying with the sapphire cufflinks on William's sleeve, looking thoroughly bored, as if this entire confrontation was beneath her notice.

From the moment she'd stepped on stage, Nathan had been reeling internally. All the inexplicable things Evelyn had done since their divorce suddenly clicked into place with terrifying clarity.

Old Master Blackwood cleared his throat uncomfortably. "She concealed her identity! How were we to know she was your daughter?"

William's laugh was bitter. "So mistreating her was justified because she didn't announce her pedigree? When she insisted on marrying Nathan against my wishes, I cut ties with her for three years. I told myself her happiness was all that mattered."

His voice dropped dangerously low.

"Imagine my horror discovering your family treated her worse than dirt."

Margaret interjected hastily, "We fed her! Gave her shelter! She lied to us - of course we were angry!"

William's face darkened, but Evelyn tugged his sleeve.

Her cold laugh dripped with disdain.

"Let me guess - it's my fault for not being grateful enough while you treated me like trash? That I deserved to grovel and bleed for scraps of affection?"

Her smile turned razor-sharp.

"Newsflash - I'm not that naive girl anymore. What you gave, I'll return tenfold. An eye for an eye."

Margaret paled. Old Master Blackwood shot her a warning glare that silenced her immediately.

Vanessa Holloway, who'd been lurking in the shadows, suddenly stepped forward with theatrical meekness.

"Evelyn," she said in that saccharine voice, "I know you hate me. Take your anger out on me, not the Blackwoods. If we'd known who you really were..."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications.

Beneath her demure facade, Vanessa seethed. How dare this nobody turn out to be Sterling royalty? That smug superiority she'd always felt over Evelyn now tasted like ashes.

Evelyn gave Vanessa a scathing once-over.

"Who let the stray in?" she asked mockingly. "This isn't a place for trash."