Chapter 78

Lila Sinclair's cheeks burned with humiliation as the scene unfolded before her. She dared only a fleeting glance at Nathan Black, who was now watching Evelyn Hartley with an amused, almost admiring smile. That look from Nathan stoked the flames of Lila's frustration, igniting a bitter resentment that made her bite her lip hard enough to draw blood.

The living room crackled with tension. Grace Monroe made several attempts to lighten the mood with small talk, but her words fell flat, doing nothing to dispel the suffocating atmosphere.

When dinner was finally announced, the group moved to the dining room in stiff silence. As they took their seats, Evelyn asked, "Where’s Diana?"

"She's occupied tonight and won’t be joining us," Victor Sterling replied curtly.

Evelyn nodded, her expression unreadable, and said nothing more.

The meal passed in oppressive quiet, the clinking of silverware against porcelain the only sound.

Throughout dinner, Lila’s gaze kept flickering toward Evelyn, her emotions oscillating between jealousy and simmering rage. The more she replayed the evening’s exchanges in her mind, the more her anger boiled. This time, she wouldn’t let Evelyn walk away unscathed. She needed to teach her a lesson—one she wouldn’t forget.

A cunning glint flashed in Lila’s eyes as she quietly formulated her plan.

Rising gracefully from her seat, Lila picked up a clean bowl and ladled steaming soup into it. She carried it over to Evelyn with a saccharine smile. "Here, Evelyn. You should try this soup."

Evelyn’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Lila, her gaze laced with suspicion.

Lila pressed her lips together, feigning remorse. "Evelyn, I want to apologize for earlier. I never meant to embarrass you in front of everyone. I was just so shocked when I heard about your position at Grand Hills General Hospital that I spoke without thinking. Please forgive me."

Her words dripped with false sincerity, but Evelyn remained unmoved, her expression cool and unreadable.

Victor, ever the instigator, scoffed. "Evelyn, are you really going to sit there and ignore Lila after she’s apologized and even brought you soup? Take it already."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Evelyn’s eyes. Slowly, she stood and reached for the bowl—just as Lila deliberately loosened her grip.

The scalding liquid splashed over Lila’s hand.

"Ah!" she shrieked, her skin turning an angry red. Tears sprang to her eyes as she clutched her injured hand, her face contorted in pain.