Chapter 311

The staff nearby caught wind of the gossip and desperately tried to signal the two actresses to shut their mouths.

Too bad they were too absorbed in their own little world to notice.

Evelyn Sinclair wasn’t the type to let things slide.

She set her phone down, rose from her seat, and turned to face them with an icy, piercing stare.

Her voice dripped with cool detachment. "I’m the sponsor of this event."

"This is Horizon Media’s property."

"If you have a problem with the seating arrangement, feel free to complain. Though, I doubt Dominic Young will take your side."

She was genuinely curious if these two D-listers would still have careers by the end of the night.

The moment they realized it was Evelyn, their faces went rigid.

Under the harsh lights, their heavily powdered complexions turned ghostly pale.

They scrambled to their feet from several rows back, voices trembling. "N-no, Ms. Sinclair! We didn’t mean—"

"We didn’t realize it was you!"

Evelyn rolled her eyes internally and sat back down.

She’d considered switching seats earlier, but now that this prime spot had exposed these nobodies, she wasn’t moving an inch.

The two actresses tried to rush forward to apologize, but a firm hand stopped them before they could get close.

"Return to your seats, or security will escort you out."

Harrison’s tone was polite but unyielding.

Out of the corner of her eye, Evelyn noticed the light dim slightly as someone took the seat to her right.

A faint, crisp scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. She glanced up—and immediately scowled.

"Nathan Blackwood. What are you doing here?" Her voice was thick with disdain.

Nathan’s chest tightened, but his expression remained unreadable.

"I’m also a sponsor." His voice was smooth, almost hypnotic—if not for the fact that every word out of his mouth grated on her nerves.

Evelyn scoffed and turned away, pretending he didn’t exist.

Just then, Julian Moreau arrived and took the seat beside her. As the hottest rising star, he’d been strategically placed in the front row.

His sharp, boyish features were illuminated by the flashing cameras, his smile effortless. There was an innocence in his gaze, untouched by the industry’s usual greed.

"Ms. Sinclair. Mr. Blackwood."

Nathan ignored him, but Evelyn smiled warmly. "Julian, come sit."

"It’s freezing tonight. The red carpet must’ve been brutal, hm?"

Julian chuckled as he settled in. "Not too bad."

Evelyn leaned in, pulling up stills from his latest film on her phone. They fell into easy conversation about the project, completely ignoring the brooding man on her right.

She didn’t notice the sudden drop in temperature—or how the air around them had gone unnaturally still.

As more guests filed in, the ceremony was about to begin.

"Evelyn."

Nathan’s voice cut through the noise as his fingers tapped the armrest between them.

She turned, meeting his dark, unreadable gaze. There was something simmering beneath the surface—something restrained.

Before she could decipher it, his eyes darkened further.

"You look stunning tonight."

The chatter around them died instantly.

A simple compliment—but coming from him, it felt loaded. The crowd held their breath, waiting for her reaction.

Evelyn’s red lips curled into a smirk.

"Well, Mr. Blackwood. It seems you’re not blind after all."