Chapter 143

Nathan Blackwood's breath hitched in his throat.

His hands trembled slightly as he took in the devastating scene before him.

The elegant Evelyn Sinclair he knew would never be capable of such destruction.

Who did this to her? His mind screamed.

Deep down, he already knew the answer, but refused to accept that his refined ex-wife could harbor such fury.

"Mr. Blackwood, are you blind? Or just choosing not to see the truth?"

Evelyn didn't bother explaining. She turned sharply on her heel, ready to leave.

She had nothing left to say to this man.

Nathan moved swiftly, blocking her path with his imposing frame. His stormy gaze bore into hers.

"I already told you there's nothing between Vanessa Holloway and me."

He assumed Evelyn's rage stemmed from jealousy over his connection with Vanessa.

The thought inexplicably pleased him, despite the violent display.

Evelyn's lips curled into a mocking smile.

Her eyes glittered with icy amusement as she regarded him with detached indifference.

"You actually think I did this because of you?"

Nathan's brow furrowed, his intense stare never wavering.

"Then why?"

Evelyn arched one perfectly sculpted eyebrow, giving him a scathing once-over.

"Mr. Blackwood, your ego knows no bounds. I suggest you see a specialist about that narcissism."

Nathan's expression darkened with confusion.

Without another word, Evelyn yanked open her car door and slid inside.

The engine roared to life. She rolled down the window just enough to toss a thick folder at Nathan's feet.

Then she was gone, tires screeching against pavement.

What a perfect match - the narcissist and the two-faced witch, she thought bitterly.

Nathan knelt stiffly to retrieve the documents. The moment he opened the file, his entire body went rigid.

The air around him turned arctic.

Photographic evidence showed Vanessa conspiring with a lanky man near Evelyn's vehicle.

That night. That car. That accident.

The memories flashed behind Nathan's eyelids with painful clarity.

No further explanation was needed.

The file contained irrefutable proof of Vanessa Holloway's attempted murder.

So Evelyn's violent retaliation wasn't about jealousy - it was justice. Vanessa got exactly what she deserved, Nathan realized.

A lead weight settled in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

This wasn't about him at all. Evelyn had nearly died that night.

If he hadn't intervened...

A weak tug at his pant leg interrupted his thoughts. "It... wasn't me... help..."

Vanessa lay broken on the pavement, her pathetic whimpers barely coherent.

For the first time, genuine terror shone in her eyes.

She never expected Evelyn to uncover the truth so quickly.

Nor did she anticipate such brutal retaliation.

Nathan's glacial stare dropped to the whimpering woman. Still playing the victim?

How had he been so thoroughly deceived?

Evelyn's words echoed in his mind - Vanessa was a cat with nine lives who never seemed to die.

The realization struck him like a physical blow.

From their marriage onward, Vanessa had deliberately drained Evelyn's blood during medical procedures.

The car accident was just another calculated move.

Vanessa Holloway was a viper in silk, and he'd been her unwitting accomplice.

Sebastian Hart descended the hillside with deliberate slowness.

"Quite the show, Mr. Blackwood," he drawled. "Though I must say, even if my brother were alive, he'd never stoop to marry such trash. She's all yours - just do us all a favor and keep her locked away."

Sebastian's mocking laughter hung in the air as he walked away.

Nathan's grip on the evidence file turned his knuckles white. He stepped back, avoiding Vanessa's grasping fingers.

Disgust twisted his features.

"Nathan... please..." Vanessa sobbed.

"Get out of my sight." The words came out like shards of ice. His eyes promised retribution.