Chapter 290

The morning sun cast golden rays through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Highland Estates, illuminating the elegant study where Nathan Blackwood sat behind his mahogany desk. His fingers drummed against the polished surface, his mind racing with unspoken thoughts.

Across the room, Harrison stood silently, waiting for instructions. The tension in the air was palpable.

"Any updates?" Nathan's voice was low, controlled, but the edge in his tone was unmistakable.

Harrison cleared his throat. "The situation with Cassandra Delacroix has escalated. She's made another public statement about her supposed connection to you."

Nathan's jaw tightened. "Deny it. Again."

Harrison hesitated. "Sir, at this point, the media is—"

"I don't care what the media thinks," Nathan interrupted sharply. "Handle it."

Harrison nodded and swiftly exited the room, leaving Nathan alone with his thoughts.

Meanwhile, in the heart of New York City, Evelyn Sinclair strode through the bustling lobby of Kingsley Tech, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Bennett followed closely behind, clutching a tablet filled with urgent messages.

"Evelyn, we have a problem," Bennett said, keeping his voice low. "Olivia Kensington is pushing for an emergency board meeting. She's claiming mismanagement of the Pacific Heights Project."

Evelyn didn’t break her stride. "Of course she is."

Her phone buzzed—a message from Isabella Montgomery.

"We need to talk. It's about Nathan."

Evelyn’s grip on her phone tightened. She exhaled sharply before replying.

"Not now."

But Isabella was persistent.

"It's serious. Meet me at Velvet Lounge. Tonight."

Evelyn tucked her phone away, her expression unreadable.

Back at Highland Estates, Nathan’s phone lit up with a call from Tristan Whitmore.

"Did you see the latest headlines?" Tristan’s voice was laced with amusement.

Nathan pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don’t have time for this."

Tristan chuckled. "Oh, but you should. Cassandra’s latest stunt involves a very public declaration of love—complete with a billboard in Times Square."

Nathan’s patience snapped. "Get it taken down."

"Already on it," Tristan replied, still laughing. "But you might want to brace yourself. The press is having a field day."

Nathan ended the call and turned to the window, his reflection staring back at him—cold, composed, but beneath the surface, a storm was brewing.

As night fell over the city, Evelyn slipped into Velvet Lounge, the dim lighting and soft jazz music a stark contrast to the chaos of her day. Isabella was already waiting at their usual booth, a martini in hand.

"You look like hell," Isabella remarked as Evelyn sat down.

Evelyn smirked. "Long day."

Isabella leaned forward, her expression turning serious. "Nathan’s in trouble."

Evelyn’s fingers stilled around her glass. "What kind of trouble?"

Isabella lowered her voice. "Cassandra isn’t just after him for publicity. She’s working with someone—someone powerful. And they’re targeting both of you."

Evelyn’s pulse quickened. "Who?"

Before Isabella could answer, Evelyn’s phone buzzed again—this time, an unknown number.

The message was simple, yet chilling.

"You should have stayed out of this, Evelyn."

Her breath caught.

The game had just changed.

Adrian Blackwood's social media account had amassed an enormous following.

His unique identity as an explorer and strikingly handsome features made him the ultimate heartthrob.

What truly set his account apart was its unwavering authenticity - every post was raw, unfiltered reality.

The footage was always breathtakingly real, filled with unexpected twists that kept viewers on edge.

After nearly a month without updates, fans had grown increasingly concerned for Adrian's safety.

Then suddenly, his latest adventure dropped online.

Within minutes, it sent shockwaves across the internet. Adrian was deep in the jungles of Pacifica Island.

But the real bombshell? Evelyn Sinclair appeared to be with him.

The woman everyone believed had perished in that plane crash was miraculously alive! Though Evelyn's screen time was limited, the most electrifying moment came during a torrential downpour when native tribesmen pursued them.

With the camera strapped to his chest, Adrian captured their desperate flight through the storm.

Rain lashed at their faces as they sprinted through the jungle, breath ragged, clothes soaked through.

The camera caught Evelyn's near-miss with a hidden pitfall - Adrian's quick reflexes saving her at the last possible second.

Every frame pulsed with heart-stopping tension.

Even when Evelyn fell, scraping her arms and legs raw, she never complained or slowed them down.

The danger felt palpable through the screen, their survival hanging by a thread.

Viewers found themselves holding their breath, completely immersed in their perilous journey.

The video cut off just before their encounter with pirates.

The final frames showed Evelyn, disheveled but radiant, running toward the ocean.

Her dirt-streaked face broke into the most dazzling smile of pure relief.

Those luminous eyes - so full of life and unbreakable spirit - shone brighter than the emerging sun.

The closing shot froze on Evelyn laughing as she ran toward the sunrise, Adrian's voice calling "Eve!" just before she turned back.

The golden light haloed her wind-tossed hair, waves crashing dramatically behind her.

That single, breathtaking moment seemed to transcend time.

In under sixty seconds, the video exploded across every platform.

View counts skyrocketed by thousands per minute!

[OMG! Is that really Evelyn Sinclair?!]

[Our queen has returned! More stunning than ever!]

[The most badass princess is back! I'm literally crying happy tears!]

[Welcome home, Goddess Evelyn! We never stopped believing!]

[She's alive! What does this mean for the others?]

[Thank you Adrian for bringing her back to us!]

[Nobody talk to me - I'm still recovering from that "Eve" moment!]

News of Evelyn's survival dominated headlines worldwide.

Media outlets scrambled for exclusive coverage, some staking out Adrian's production office, others camping outside Sterling Tower.

The frenzy exceeded all expectations.

Meanwhile, completely unaware of the chaos she'd ignited, Evelyn rested peacefully in her hospital room.

Lucas Sterling fussed over her, bringing an endless parade of gourmet meals.

Leo purred contentedly in William Sterling's lap, tail flicking happily.

Their peaceful bubble remained intact until the first wave of reporters hit the hospital.

Doctors, nurses, and security formed a human barricade, but the press pack wasn't giving up easily.