Chapter 30

The engagement party was in full swing, with champagne flowing freely. Victoria Lowell clung to Nathan Evans' arm, her face adorned with a saccharine smile. Her gaze swept across the corner where Evelyn Roland sat, lips curling into a triumphant smirk.

"Look over there," she whispered to Nathan, barely concealing her glee. "I can't believe she actually showed up."

Nathan followed her line of sight, his expression flickering briefly before he schooled it into polite surprise. "It's wonderful that Evelyn came to celebrate with us."

Victoria let out a derisive hum and deliberately raised her voice. "Why is my dear sister sitting all alone in the corner? Did she forget to bring a gift?"

The surrounding guests immediately turned their attention toward Evelyn. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Is that the eldest Lowell daughter? I heard she doesn’t get along with her family."

"How shameless—showing up empty-handed to her own sister’s engagement party."

Evelyn's fingers tightened around her wineglass, knuckles turning white. The urge to hurl the drink into Victoria’s smug face burned through her.

Just then, a tall figure stepped between them. Sebastian Valdemar stood with one hand casually tucked in his pocket, looking down at Victoria with icy disdain. "Miss Lowell, do you always take such an interest in my date?"

Victoria stiffened before forcing a brittle smile. "I was just concerned about my sister, Mr. Valdemar."

Sebastian reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a check, handing it to a nearby waiter without ceremony. "Consider this Evelyn’s gift to the happy couple."

The waiter’s eyes bulged. "O-one million?!"

Gasps erupted across the room. Vincent and Margaret Lowell immediately pushed forward, their faces alight with greedy delight.

"Oh my, this is too generous—" Margaret reached for Evelyn’s arm. "Darling, you shouldn’t have—"

Evelyn recoiled and instead linked her arm with Sebastian’s. She stared at her adoptive parents’ fawning expressions, nausea churning in her gut.

"Let’s sit over there," she muttered to Sebastian.

Once they were seated in the corner, Sebastian leaned close, his breath brushing her ear. "Not enjoying yourself?"

"Very generous of you," Evelyn hissed. "Using my name to throw money at my enemies. Clever move."

Sebastian arched a brow. "Ah, so that’s what’s bothering you." He tapped his phone screen a few times. "Just had accounting deduct it from your name."

Evelyn whipped her head toward him. "You—!"

"Joking." He pocketed his phone, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "But your temper is far more entertaining than that lifeless mask you were wearing earlier."

Across the ballroom, Victoria glared at the pair, her nails digging into her palms. Nathan followed her gaze, his expression unreadable.

"Stop staring," he murmured. "The press is watching."

Victoria forced a smile, though her mind seethed. She’d wanted to humiliate Evelyn publicly—instead, she’d handed her the spotlight.

Evelyn abruptly stood. "I need the restroom."

She needed air. The suffocating hypocrisy of this party, her revolting family, and the infuriating man beside her were too much.

As she turned the hallway corner, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. Evelyn turned to find Nathan staring at her, his eyes dark with emotion.

"Evelyn," he rasped. "We need to talk."