Chapter 418

The realization burned through him like wildfire, making his knuckles turn white with tension. How could he possibly face anyone now?

"Father," Lila murmured with deceptive sweetness, "I think Evelyn must be devastated right now. Shouldn't we call to see how she's doing?" Her words only intensified Victor's scowl.

Drawing a sharp breath through clenched teeth, he growled, "You're right, Lila. I should call her immediately."

Watching Victor's reaction, Lila barely suppressed her smirk. She knew exactly how this would play out. Her father would unleash his fury on Evelyn, just as planned. The memory of Evelyn rejecting her help that day still amused her. Why bother explaining when Nathan had already chosen Serena over her without hesitation? Though her initial plans had failed, this outcome was far more satisfying.

"Lila," Victor's sharp voice snapped her from her thoughts, "hand me your phone."

Her eyes widened in feigned surprise. "Oh? Of course." She hesitated just long enough to seem natural before retrieving her phone.

Victor snatched it with grim determination and dialed Evelyn's number.

At the Caldwell residence, Evelyn had just collapsed into an armchair when Lila's name flashed on her screen. She stared at the caller ID, her brow furrowing, before finally answering.

"You foolish girl!" Victor's enraged voice exploded through the receiver.

Evelyn's lips curled into a frosty smile. "Mr. Sterling," she replied icily. "To what do I owe this... pleasure?"

Victor wasted no time. "Evelyn, is it true you and Mr. Black divorced?"

The question caught Evelyn off guard. She hadn't expected him to know so soon. It didn't take long to realize Grace must have spread the news. With the truth out, there was no point denying it.

"Yes," she answered briskly.

Victor's expression darkened instantly, his fury palpable even through the phone. "You idiot!" he roared. "This is entirely your fault! If you hadn't pushed Serena down those stairs, Mr. Black would never have divorced you! Everyone knows how important she is to him. How dare you provoke him like that? Were you deliberately sabotaging yourself?"

A bitter taste filled Evelyn's mouth. Her father truly didn't care about her at all. Yet in his tirade, he'd accidentally spoken one truth: Serena was indeed the most important person to Nathan.

With eerie calmness, Evelyn asked, "Who told you Nathan initiated the divorce?"

There was a brief silence before Victor responded, "What are you implying? If Mr. Black didn't file... Are you saying you were the one who asked for the divorce?"

"That's correct," Evelyn replied coolly. "I filed for divorce."

Victor's mind reeled. "What?!"