Chapter 190

Tristan's smile froze on his face. His lips twitched nervously. "Well... I didn't exactly anticipate this outcome either," he muttered under his breath.

In his mind, he cursed Sophia for putting such ridiculous ideas in his head. That woman had completely misled him with her wild assumptions.

He never imagined Evelyn could be this ruthless. The entire spectacle had been a deliberate humiliation directed at Nathan.

Meanwhile, the two women strolled backstage, their laughter echoing through the corridors. Natalie and Evelyn casually selected a dressing room, pushing the door open without hesitation.

Their entrance coincided with someone exiting after changing. It was Yuna Takahashi.

The Korean pop star stiffened visibly upon seeing Evelyn. After a brief hesitation, she approached with calculated steps, her expression unreadable.

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension. Yuna's manicured fingers tightened around her designer bag as she forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Evelyn arched one perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her crimson lips curving into a knowing smirk. She'd been expecting this confrontation.

Natalie shifted subtly closer to her friend, her protective instincts kicking in. The dressing room suddenly felt too small for all their conflicting emotions.

Yuna's gaze flickered between the two women, her carefully constructed mask beginning to slip. "We need to talk," she said through gritted teeth.

The demand hung in the air like a challenge. Evelyn's smirk widened, her confidence unshaken. "By all means," she purred, gesturing toward the plush seating area. "Let's have our little chat."

Evelyn was just about to speak when the Hart family's head butler entered with two imposing bodyguards. The butler's gaze landed on Evelyn, and he immediately bowed in deference.

"Ms. Sterling, please forgive the interruption. There's a small matter requiring my attention. It won't take but a moment."

Evelyn exchanged glances with Natalie before nodding. "By all means."

With a curt nod to the bodyguards, the butler signaled them forward. They seized Yuna Takahashi's arms without ceremony, dragging the struggling pop star toward the exit.

"What is this? There must be some mistake!" Yuna's voice trembled. She knew the Hart family's reputation in Montecito - crossing them meant career suicide.

The thought of returning to Korea in disgrace made her stomach churn.

"Ms. Takahashi," the butler said icily, "you've violated the terms of your contract. We're obligated to return you to your agency and terminate our agreement immediately. Your management will be contacted regarding penalty fees."

Yuna's eyes darted to Evelyn, realization dawning. "You!" she gasped. "Evelyn Sinclair, this is your doing!"

Evelyn arched an eyebrow, letting out a dry chuckle. "Quite the performance for someone who's not even an actress. Who else would bother with you?"

She took a deliberate step forward, arms crossed. The cold amusement in her eyes sent chills down Yuna's spine.

"Naivety becomes stupidity when taken too far, darling." Evelyn's lips curled as she pulled out her phone and dialed Dominic Young right before Yuna's widening eyes.

"Dominic? It's Evelyn. Find out which agency represents Yuna Takahashi. Effective immediately, I want her blacklisted from every red carpet, magazine cover, and film set. Make her disappear from the industry."

The reply came without hesitation. "Consider it done, Ms. Sterling. Yuna Takahashi will be erased from show business by sundown."

Yuna's knees buckled. Dominic Young could bury careers with a snap of his fingers - and just had.

Evelyn tilted her head, voice crisp as winter air. "Just so we're clear - that little stunt earlier? Wasn't me."

She gestured to the bodyguards restraining Yuna. "This? This is me."

The unspoken message hung between them: Evelyn Sinclair didn't make empty threats, and she certainly didn't need to hide her actions.

"Didn't Penelope Sinclair mention her family's Sinclair Group is on the verge of collapse?" Evelyn continued conversationally. "My Sterling Corporation is acquiring them as we speak. Pity you won't be around Montecito to see it happen."

Yuna turned ghostly pale. The Sinclair Group dwarfed her family's Takashi Holdings in Korea. Yet Evelyn spoke of acquiring it like ordering coffee.

A terrifying thought struck Yuna - if Evelyn could dismantle Korea's corporate giants so easily, what would stop her from coming after Takashi Holdings next?

Penelope had set her up. Used her as a pawn against this terrifying woman. The realization left Yuna shaking.

Evelyn's light laugh drew her attention. "Pathetic, really. Being someone else's sacrificial lamb." She turned away dismissively. "Though I can't say you don't deserve it."

The butler stepped forward, voice devoid of emotion. "We'll settle the Hart family's accounts separately. Remove her."

The bodyguards complied immediately. Yuna didn't resist - too paralyzed by visions of her future: banned from Montecito, drowning in debt, her name synonymous with scandal back home. This disgrace would haunt her forever.

Natalie smirked as Yuna was led away. "Another fool who didn't learn from Penelope's mistakes."

Her expression shifted as she turned to Evelyn. "Speaking of fools... what's with Nathan Blackwood lately?"

Evelyn shrugged, brow furrowing. "Your guess is as good as mine. Something's off about him." She suddenly straightened. "Oh! I still owe him for those car repairs!"