Chapter 353

Evelyn smiled and slipped her arm through Ethan's, deliberately avoiding answering the question.

Her silence spoke volumes to everyone present.

The way Ethan's hand rested possessively on her shoulder told them everything they needed to know.

No man touched a woman like that unless they were involved.

The private room fell into an uneasy hush.

Sophia's face twisted in fury. She suddenly lifted a trembling finger, pointing accusingly at Evelyn.

Her voice was laced with venom.

"So, this is the rich woman you've been cozying up to?"

The moment those cutting words left her lips, the excited chatter among the women died instantly. It was too late to stop Sophia now.

Sophia knew Ethan wouldn't let her off easily. The simmering rage in his eyes had been there since the moment he spotted her.

She needed to wound him first—to humiliate him before he could strike back.

"Are you really so desperate that you'd sell yourself like this?"

All eyes darted to Evelyn, waiting for her reaction.

Evelyn kept her smile perfectly in place. She was just here to play her part. Ethan would handle the rest.

"Sophia, how could you say that about Ms. Sinclair's companion?"

One of Sophia's friends panicked, discreetly tugging at her sleeve. She shot a nervous glance at Evelyn, silently warning Sophia to watch her words.

Especially since that companion was Evelyn Sinclair.

Sophia paled as realization struck. In her desperation to humiliate Ethan, she'd forgotten who she was dealing with.

Just as she opened her mouth to backtrack, Ethan let out a cold laugh.

"I'm desperate? At least I'm not the one marrying a man while carrying another's child."

The tension in the room thickened. Confused whispers spread as the guests tried to piece together the history between Ethan and Sophia.

Sophia's breath hitched.

If Ethan and Evelyn were together, why wasn’t he afraid of her finding out about their past?

Her eyes flickered with calculation, but Ethan didn’t give her a chance to speak.

"I heard congratulations are in order. A wedding tomorrow, isn’t it?"

His tone was deceptively light, but his gaze was lethal.

"But before you walk down the aisle, how about returning what you owe me? My girlfriend doesn’t like my money being in another woman’s hands."

Sophia’s face drained of color. The guests exchanged uneasy glances, sensing this was far more complicated than a simple lovers' quarrel.

Evelyn smirked, then deliberately turned to Sophia with feigned curiosity.

"Why is your money with her, Ethan?"

Before Ethan could respond, a cold voice cut through the room.

"Evelyn, did you bring someone here to cause trouble?"

Gregory Thornton stood in the doorway, his expression dark with restrained fury. If not for Evelyn’s connections, he would’ve had her thrown out immediately.

Behind him stood Tristan Whitmore and Nathan Blackwood.

Evelyn’s breath caught at the sight of Nathan.

His face was like a storm, his eyes dark and turbulent. Emotions raged beneath the surface, barely contained.

Had he heard everything?

For a brief moment, Evelyn faltered—then she schooled her expression into indifference.

She met Gregory’s glare.

"Trouble? We’re just old friends catching up."

She had never liked Gregory. If this ruined his precious wedding, so be it.

As for Nathan? She refused to acknowledge him.

Gregory’s sharp gaze flicked to Ethan.

"Old friends? Doesn’t look like it."

Sophia seized the opportunity, rushing to Gregory’s side with a pitiful whimper.

"Gregory, I didn’t mean to offend Ms. Sinclair or Mr. Caldwell. I just spoke without thinking..."