Chapter 421

Preston Sinclair pressed his lips into a thin line. His dark eyes gleamed with an icy intensity.

The car pulled up to the hospital, but neither of them moved to exit.

Instead, Marcus slipped inside. Within minutes, his call came through. "Ms. Sinclair, I've got him."

Evelyn's gaze sharpened. A desperate voice crackled through the phone—a stranger begging for mercy.

Preston snatched the device from her. "Did Gregory Thornton send you?" His tone was razor-sharp.

The suspicion had crossed Preston's mind too. "No! No, it wasn't Mr. Thornton!" The man's shrill denial only confirmed their suspicions.

That slip—Mr. Thornton—betrayed everything. Without hesitation, Preston dialed another number.

"Bring Gregory Thornton in. Don't let him escape."

A pause. Then, "Mr. Blackwood got to him first."

Preston's brows lifted. "Interesting." He ended the call and turned to Evelyn. "Seems Nathan was two steps ahead."

Evelyn frowned. She'd been with Nathan these past few days, yet he'd never mentioned investigating—let alone uncovering the mastermind so swiftly.

Then again, Nathan Blackwood was never one to sit idle.

After suffering such a blow, did anyone expect him to wait? He'd likely been digging from the start.

"Want to go see?" Preston offered.

Evelyn shook her head. "Send me home." She had no interest in small fry.

She was waiting for the real predator to surface.

Preston nodded, instructing the driver before stepping out.

With the mastermind caught, the danger had passed—yet unease still coiled in Evelyn's chest.

Business was about profit. The strong took more. But assassination? Car crashes? Hitmen?

These people played dirty.

Soon, Highland Estates came into view. Theodore "Teddy" Winslow greeted her at the door, beaming. "Ms. Sinclair! I made you passionfruit iced tea—refreshing and healthy!"

Evelyn wasn't in the mood. She waved him off—then paused. "When did you get back?"

Teddy grinned. "Mr. Blackwood had urgent business, so he sent me to keep you company. Thoughtful, isn't he?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. Had Nathan gone after Gregory himself? She didn’t voice the thought.

Teddy pressed the tea into her hands. "Oh! Chairman Sterling's birthday is coming up. Mr. Blackwood’s been agonizing over the perfect gift. Says your father is his greatest inspiration."

Evelyn’s frown deepened.

"Why is he stressing over my dad’s birthday?"

Teddy leaned in conspiratorially. "He wants to impress him. It’s a big deal!"

Evelyn smirked. "Tell him not to bother. My father already knows he’s respected."

"But if the gift isn’t meaningful—"

"My father has three hobbies," Evelyn cut in. "Fishing, counting money, and yelling at people."

Teddy nearly tripped on the stairs. As Evelyn walked away, his mind raced.

How did one cater to that?

Turn into a fish? Absurd.

Stack cash in a briefcase? Tacky.

Volunteer as a verbal punching bag?

Impossible.