Chapter 463

Victoria Ashford smiled sweetly. "Mr. Blackwood, it's such a pleasure to finally meet you." She had recognized the stunning woman from earlier—the one who outshone even Hollywood starlets—as Nathan Blackwood's ex-wife. Evelyn Sinclair was even more breathtaking in person than in photographs.

Though tabloids buzzed with rumors about Nathan and Victoria's supposed entanglement, Evelyn seemed unfazed. After all, they were divorced now. While Victoria couldn't compete with Evelyn's sterling family background, she believed her willingness to submit would win Nathan over. Powerful women, in her experience, intimidated most men.

Nathan didn't acknowledge Victoria's greeting. His icy gaze remained fixed across the room where Evelyn stood conversing with Preston Sinclair.

Biting her lip, Victoria stepped closer to his wheelchair. "Shall I take you somewhere more comfortable to rest?" Her hand hovered inches from the armrest.

"Don't touch me." Nathan's voice could have frozen the champagne fountain.

No one would erase Evelyn's presence from where she'd last touched his chair—especially not this opportunistic socialite. Victoria's cheeks burned with humiliation.

"My apologies." She withdrew her hand but didn't retreat. "Perhaps I could fetch you some refreshments instead?"

Nathan's jaw tightened. "Unnecessary." He tolerated Reginald Ashford as a business associate, but had no patience for the man's scheming daughter—particularly after her earlier disrespect toward Evelyn.

His phone vibrated with an incoming call from the Blackwood patriarch. Nathan's glacial stare sent Victoria scrambling backward several paces.

"Grandfather." Nathan's greeting held no warmth.

"Have you made any progress with Evelyn Sinclair?" The old man's raspy voice crackled with impatience.

Nathan's grip tightened on the phone. "What concern is that of yours?"

A derisive snort came through the line. "You've neglected corporate affairs long enough chasing that woman. If this fools errand continues yielding nothing, cut your losses. The Sterling family isn't our only option for an alliance. Must we become the laughingstock of Montecito?"

Frost crystallized in Nathan's voice. "I won't abandon her." He'd burn his entire fortune to ashes before relinquishing Evelyn.

"Have you lost all sense?" The old man's temper flared. "How much longer will you humiliate yourself?"

"Is there anything else?" Nathan's tone could have shattered glass.

"Mark my words—I won't let Ferguson Corporation crumble over some woman! I've already begun vetting suitable matches. The Ashford Group chairman reached out this morning—his daughter was educated abroad and comes from respectable stock. I'll arrange—"

"Nathan wants no one but Evelyn!" The declaration sliced through his grandfather's tirade.

"You stubborn fool! That Sinclair witch has—"

Nathan ended the call with a decisive click, his stormy gaze finding Evelyn across the crowded ballroom. Let the old man scheme all he wanted. No power on earth could sever the bond between him and Evelyn—not even the formidable William Sterling himself.