Chapter 94

The air in the VIP lounge grew thick with tension as Nathan and Theodore froze, their eyes locked onto Evelyn in stunned disbelief. Their jaws slackened, struggling to process the bold move she had just executed.

Evelyn, however, remained the picture of composure. She placed the empty glass back onto the table with deliberate precision, a faint smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Well, well. Miss Cole seems much more alert now, doesn't she?"

Nathan barely glanced at his wine-stained sleeve. A flicker of amusement danced in his dark eyes as he studied Evelyn, his head tilting slightly in silent intrigue.

Dylan was the first to snap out of his shock. His face flushed crimson as he exploded, "Evelyn! What the hell was that? Have you completely lost your mind? How could you humiliate Serena like that?"

Evelyn batted her lashes, feigning innocence. "Humiliate her? Oh, Dylan, you misunderstand. I was simply helping her sober up. Isn't that what friends do?"

Dylan scoffed, his anger barely restrained. "Sober her up? That was a cheap shot, and you know it!"

"Enough, Dylan," Serena interjected suddenly, her voice soft but firm. She dabbed at her damp face with a tissue, offering Evelyn a weak, apologetic smile. "Mrs. Black was only looking out for me. I... I made a fool of myself earlier. I shouldn’t have drunk so much."

Her voice trembled, laced with vulnerability, her expression painted with remorse. The contrast between her fragile demeanor and Evelyn’s unshaken confidence made the latter appear almost ruthless in comparison.

But Evelyn didn’t care. With a saccharine smile, she patted Serena’s shoulder. "Then perhaps next time, Miss Cole, you’ll remember your limits. If you forget again, I’d be more than happy to... assist you once more."

Serena’s smile faltered, her eyes flickering with something unreadable.

At that moment, Nathan rose from the sofa and strode toward Evelyn. "We’re leaving," he stated coolly.

Evelyn barely spared him a glance. "You go ahead. Natalie and I aren’t finished yet."

Without waiting for his response, she turned to her best friend. "Shall we?"

"Absolutely," Natalie replied with a grin, and the two women walked away, leaving a heavy silence in their wake.

Nathan remained rooted in place, his gaze tracking Evelyn’s retreating figure, his expression unreadable.

From the sidelines, Theodore exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "What the hell happened to her in those three years abroad? She’s not the same Evelyn anymore."

Yet, even he couldn’t deny—this new version of her was utterly magnetic.

Back in their private booth, Natalie burst into laughter. "That was brilliant. Serena won’t dare pull that drunken damsel act again anytime soon."

Evelyn chuckled softly but said nothing more. They lingered a while longer before parting ways for the night.

When Evelyn stepped into the Black family mansion, the faint glow of the television in the living room caught her attention. She paused, curiosity piqued, and made her way toward the source of the light.

There, Leonard Grant was sprawled across the sofa, dozing lightly, the flickering screen casting shadows over his peaceful face.