Chapter 72

Sebastian Valdemar lunged forward, desperate to catch her.

His fingers barely grazed her sleeve as she leaped gracefully from the windowsill.

The wind lifted the hem of her blouse, revealing a flash of pale skin at her waist.

His pupils constricted.

That birthmark—he could've sworn he saw the familiar crescent shape.

But the fleeting glimpse left him uncertain.

"Stop!" he growled.

Evelyn Roland didn't look back as she brushed off her sleeve, her retreating figure disappearing down the hallway.

Sebastian clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

The identical handwriting. The defensive reaction. That elusive birthmark.

Every clue pointed back to that rainy night.

The elevator doors slid open abruptly.

"Sebastian!" Olivia Valdemar hurried toward him. "Are you alright? Where's Evelyn?"

The man jerked his chin toward the open window.

"She jumped."

"What?" Olivia's face drained of color.

"Relax," Sebastian said coldly. "She's quite the acrobat."

Click—

A sudden camera shutter sound came from the hallway.

Victoria Lowell froze, phone raised in trembling hands.

She stared in horror at Sebastian's murderous expression.

"M-Mr. Valdemar..."

This wasn't part of the script.

She'd meant to photograph Evelyn with some secret lover.

Not Sebastian.

"The Lowells raise their daughters well," Sebastian said icily.

Olivia connected the dots instantly.

Her palm connected with Victoria's cheek in a sharp slap.

"Who gave you the right to spy on people?"

Victoria cowered, clutching her stinging face.

"I'm sorry—"

"Save it for Evelyn," Olivia sneered. "But your family will pay for your stupidity."

That afternoon.

Lowell Group's stock plummeted.

Vincent Lowell smashed his third teacup.

"That little bitch! She actually has the Valdemars wrapped around her finger!"

Margaret Hill gnashed her teeth. "Wasn't the old man supposed to dote on her?"

They exchanged glances, identical sinister smiles spreading across their faces.