Chapter 177

Tristan Whitmore scoffed silently. Evelyn Sinclair truly had no idea the storm she was stirring, did she? Since her divorce from Nathan, she'd become completely unrestrained.

Before Evelyn could respond, Yuna Takahashi stepped forward aggressively. Her eyes burned with misplaced righteousness as she confronted Lucas Sterling.

"Lucas, you need to tell everyone the truth right now. Did Evelyn force you into this? Is she blackmailing you?" Yuna's voice trembled as she spat out the next words. "Are you...her kept man? Is that why you're always by her side?"

She continued passionately, "Don't be afraid! Just admit it and we'll help you. We'll get you away from Evelyn's clutches!" The way Yuna spoke made Evelyn sound like some kind of predatory monster.

Lucas' posture went rigid. A dangerous smirk curled his lips as he rose to his full height, his gaze scorching as it landed on Yuna.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" His voice was glacial. "Are you mentally ill? If so, go home and take your medication. Don't bring your delusions here."

Evelyn arched an eyebrow, exchanging an amused glance with Natalie Beaumont. Both women were thoroughly enjoying this rare spectacle - seeing the normally composed Lucas lose his temper.

Being called a male mistress? That was the ultimate insult to Lucas Sterling. Yuna visibly deflated under her idol's scathing words, her earlier bravado completely evaporated.

Penelope Sinclair quickly pulled Yuna back, offering an apologetic smile. "Lucas, please don't be angry. Yuna's new to Montecito's social scene. She's just concerned about you."

Lucas' cold gaze shifted to Penelope. "And you are...?" Penelope's face froze. The humiliation burned - she'd won film awards, considered herself an A-list celebrity, yet this international superstar didn't even recognize her.

The implication was clear: her work wasn't memorable enough to warrant Lucas' attention. She paled in comparison to his global fame.

Penelope had intended to use Yuna to knock Evelyn down a peg, but instead found herself dragged into the mud. Her cheeks burned as she desperately scanned the crowd, her eyes landing on the imposing figure of Nathan Blackwood.

"Mr. Blackwood!" Penelope brightened, stepping toward him like he was her salvation. "You're here!"

Tristan nudged Nathan, noting his thunderous expression. "You know Penelope Sinclair?" The question drew everyone's attention to Nathan.

His response was icy. "No." His gaze didn't linger on Penelope for even a second, remaining fixed on Evelyn's radiant face instead.

Evelyn shone like the sun - her beauty effortless, her poise regal. She commanded attention wherever she went. The so-called superstar Penelope couldn't hold a candle to her in any aspect.

Seeing how Evelyn had blossomed since their divorce stirred complicated, unpleasant emotions in Nathan's chest.

The awkward silence stretched until Evelyn finally broke it with an amused chuckle. "Mr. Blackwood, you don't even recognize your own fiancée? How interesting." She cast a meaningful look at Penelope. "After all the bragging she and Yuna did earlier, denying it now would just make them look foolish."

Lucas couldn't resist adding fuel to the fire. "Ah, so that explains the audacity. Mr. Blackwood's fiancée, is it?" His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Nathan's expression darkened. "What fiancée?" His deep voice cut through the room. "Since when do I have a fiancée I know nothing about?"

All eyes turned to Penelope. Would a celebrity of her stature lie about something like this? She stood frozen, humiliation washing over her in waves.

Her father had been negotiating a marriage alliance with the Blackwoods, and the families had grown closer recently. She'd assumed the arrangement was mutual, had even fantasized about the status boost marrying Nathan would bring.

Never had she imagined Nathan himself would be completely unaware.

Nathan strode forward, his intense gaze never leaving Evelyn. "Evelyn," his voice was dangerously low, "since when do I have a fiancée? And more importantly - what exactly is your relationship with Lucas?"

The easy camaraderie between Evelyn and Lucas, the way Lucas doted on her - it all grated on Nathan's nerves.

Evelyn's cool gaze swept from Nathan to Penelope and Yuna, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "You'll have to ask Ms. Sinclair and her dear friend about that."