Chapter 163

Cassandra Delacroix had been expelled from high school for bullying classmates and was shipped off to Europe for a year of "character rehabilitation."

When Cassandra returned to Montecito, she became obsessed with Nathan Blackwood, but her confession ended in brutal rejection. Undeterred, she flew to Seoul for extensive plastic surgery, leaving none of her original features intact.

The moment Cassandra caught wind of Nathan's divorce, she rushed back to Montecito like a storm.

But what truly set the internet ablaze was the second half of that leaked recording:

"Ms. Delacroix, is this all because of Nathan Blackwood? I don’t make a habit of revisiting discarded trash."

"Tell him to stay out of my way! You want to bury Julian? Fine. I’ll make sure he shines brighter than ever."

"Let me remind you—I decide who rules this game."

The comments section erupted.

(OMG! The sheer audacity! Queen Evelyn is unstoppable!)

(With a fortune like hers, why would she waste time on an ex? Fresh talent is way more exciting!)

(Thank you, Ms. Sinclair, for noticing our Julian! He deserves the world!)

(Cassandra is pathetic. She should crawl back into whatever hole she came from.)

(Evelyn’s dominance is everything. Forever my idol!)

(Age is just a number, but youth? Irresistible. Evelyn knows what she wants!)

The aftermath? The world now believed Evelyn Sinclair had a soft spot for gorgeous young men.

Blackwood Enterprises

The air in Nathan’s office turned glacial.

Silence.

Nathan’s expression was thunderous, his aura so oppressive that Harrison nearly flinched.

Harrison had seen the news at dawn and reported it immediately. But before they could react, public opinion had already shifted.

At first, people mocked Evelyn for being Julian’s "sugar mommy." Now? They praised her for having impeccable taste.

Harrison had never felt minutes drag so painfully.

Nathan’s fury was a living thing, suffocating the room.

He scrolled through the comments, jaw clenched. Some fans had even edited clips of Evelyn and Julian, adding romantic music as if they were the next power couple.

Julian, the rising star. Nathan, the "overpowered has-been."

With a snarl, Nathan hurled his phone against the wall. The screen shattered.

Harrison stiffened.

Nathan’s voice was razor-sharp. "Don’t these people have jobs? ‘Young hunk’? He looks like a child! How is that compatibility?"

Harrison swallowed. "Julian’s fans are delusional. There’s no way Ms. Sinclair would seriously entertain him. He’s just using her for clout."

Internally, he sighed. Why does he even care? They’re divorced.

Nathan’s mind circled back to Evelyn’s words—discarded trash.

Was that meant for him?

His grip tightened.

"Then what," Nathan bit out, "do you think Evelyn actually likes?"

Harrison hesitated.

Nathan’s glare darkened. That night, she smiled at Harrison more in five minutes than she ever did at me in years.

Why?

The bitterness in his chest was impossible to ignore.