Chapter 74

Evelyn Sinclair was scrolling through her phone with a delighted grin when an excited shout cut through the airport chatter. "Nathan!"

Her head instinctively turned toward the commotion. Emerging from the arrivals gate was a face that made Evelyn's smile freeze in place.

Vanessa Holloway? What were the odds?

Nathan Blackwood had come to collect Vanessa with his assistant Harrison in tow. The moment Vanessa spotted Nathan, her eyes welled up with tears as she rushed into his arms without hesitation.

The intimate embrace felt like a dagger to Evelyn's heart. She thought she'd moved on, but the sharp pang in her chest told another story. A bitter heaviness settled in her lungs, making time seem to stand still.

Before Evelyn could process her emotions, strong arms encircled her from behind, pulling her against a familiar chest. The distinctive cologne told her exactly who it was before she even turned around.

"Lucas, really?" Evelyn huffed as she removed the hands covering her eyes. "Aren't you too old for these childish games?"

Lucas Sterling's perfectly sculpted face came into view, his features so flawless they could make supermodels jealous. He pushed his sunglasses up with one finger, smirking. "You kept me waiting forever, little sister."

"Oh my God! That's Lucas Sterling!" A nearby fan's shriek set off a chain reaction. Within seconds, they were surrounded by screaming admirers.

Evelyn's eyes widened in alarm. "Where's your security detail?" she whispered urgently.

"Gave them the week off," Lucas replied casually, as if this were perfectly normal.

"And what exactly am I supposed to do about this?" Evelyn gestured at the growing crowd.

"Protect me, obviously." Lucas winked, completely unfazed.

The airport descended into chaos as more fans recognized the famous actor. Cameras flashed like strobe lights as people jostled for a better view.

Evelyn groaned internally. This was exactly why she avoided public appearances with her celebrity brother. Lucas held her close, shielding her from the jostling crowd while fans screamed his name and snapped photos.

"Evelyn Sinclair? Isn't that Nathan Blackwood's ex-wife?" someone in the crowd whispered loudly.

"With Lucas Sterling? No way!"

The gossip spread like wildfire through the terminal. Evelyn wished the ground would swallow her whole, but the sea of people and flashing cameras offered no escape.

Lucas, ever the showman, only tightened his grip around Evelyn's shoulders and flashed his signature smile at the crowd. "Thank you for the love, everyone, but you're scaring my favorite girl!"

The resulting screams nearly shattered the terminal windows. With no other choice, Evelyn straightened her posture and forced a smile, though her eyes kept darting toward the exit.

That's when she spotted him.

Nathan stood frozen near the doors, his expression unreadable as he watched the spectacle with Vanessa still clinging to his arm. Their eyes met briefly, and something shifted in Evelyn's demeanor.

Let him see, she thought. Let him see how much better off I am without him.

As they finally made their way outside, Lucas turned dramatically to his fans. "Home time, everyone! Even stars need their beauty sleep!"

Miraculously, the crowd obeyed, though their excited chatter continued.

"Where's your car?" Lucas asked, ruffling Evelyn's hair like she was still twelve.

She led him to the parking spot, rolling her eyes when he immediately started admiring her vehicle. "Nice ride. I'm buying one."

"You have a garage full of cars you never drive," Evelyn pointed out.

"If you love it that much, you can drive it. Until you get bored next week," she added knowingly. Lucas changed cars more often than most people changed socks.

Then, with perfect timing, he dropped the real bomb: "So... that was Nathan Blackwood back there, wasn't it?"