Chapter 148

The crowd gasped in shock.

Rumors had been swirling for months about the bitter feud between Nathan Blackwood and Evelyn Sinclair.

So why did this ex-husband suddenly leap to her defense when danger struck?

Isabella Montgomery came rushing through the crowd, her face pale with worry. She grabbed Evelyn's arms. "Are you hurt?"

Evelyn merely shook her head, her expression calm as still water.

She had been ready for this.

With her martial arts training, that spoiled rich boy wouldn't have stood a chance against her.

Nathan's intervention had been... unexpected.

The trust fund brat groaned on the ground, clutching his stomach. Though in agony, he forced himself to sit up.

Still dazed, he hadn't realized who had kicked him.

"Who the hell dares interfere with me?" he spat through gritted teeth. "Defending Evelyn Sinclair? You must have a death wish!"

Tristan Whitmore burst out laughing.

"Open your damn eyes, Anson! Unless you want to spend the rest of your life in a hospital bed?"

Normally, Anson would cower before Tristan and Nathan. But pain had made him reckless.

Then he heard Tristan's voice clearly.

His blood ran cold.

Scrambling to his knees, he looked up into Nathan's icy gaze.

Nathan stared down at him like he was something unpleasant stuck to his shoe.

"M-Mr. Blackwood!" Anson stammered. "What are you doing here?"

This made no sense! Everyone knew Nathan despised Evelyn. Why would he protect her?

Anson's mind raced as he tried to save face.

"It's all a misunderstanding, sir! I was just teaching this woman a lesson. She's been spreading vile rumors about you online! As your loyal friend, I couldn't stand by and—"

Nathan's foot connected with Anson's chest again, cutting off his pathetic excuses.

Tristan quickly moved to Evelyn's side, putting distance between Nathan and this mess.

"We don't know this idiot," Tristan said hurriedly. "Nathan has nothing to do with him. Please don't misunderstand, Evelyn."

Tristan knew better than anyone how complicated Nathan's feelings for Evelyn had become.

Ever since Nathan turned Vanessa Holloway over to the police, Tristan had seen the truth.

Nathan was hopelessly in love with his ex-wife.

Even if Nathan himself hadn't realized it yet.

So Tristan would be damned if he let some third-rate social climber ruin things.

Evelyn's lips curled into a frosty smile.

"Save your explanations. This isn't the first time Mr. Blackwood's so-called friends have come after me." Her cold eyes flicked to Tristan. "You were one of them, weren't you?"

Tristan winced. He had no defense.

During Nathan and Evelyn's forced marriage, Tristan had made Evelyn's life miserable.

He was no better than Anson.

Evelyn's words cut deep.

Tristan glanced nervously at Nathan, who stood rigid, fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.

Nathan was furious.

Anson writhed on the ground, his face gray with pain.

"Mr. Blackwood, I only wanted to protect your reputation! Had I known you still cared for this woman, I never would have—"

"Shut your filthy mouth!" Tristan roared. "Since when do you speak for Nathan? Do you want to be banned from every club in San Francisco?"