Chapter 265
"That can't be true!" Lucien insisted, his voice sharp with disbelief.
"Just wait," Vanessa said, pulling into the hotel parking lot. She grabbed her phone and pulled up a photo of Evelyn.
Even though they had met in Silverpine Valley, it had been years. There was a chance Lucien had simply mistaken someone else for her. "It's definitely her. You really had no idea?" Lucien's expression darkened with confusion as Vanessa sighed. "Guess I need to get reacquainted with Evelyn."
When Evelyn returned home, she carefully placed the two wooden puppets in the display cabinet in the living room. Then, she wrapped the remaining piece of wood in paper before heading to the shower.
She hadn’t been in a hurry to wash up, but after touching that disgusting man, she wanted to scrub every trace of him off her skin. Evelyn hadn’t wanted to waste time arguing with Lucien, but now, replaying his words in her mind, she understood exactly what he’d been implying.
Apparently, Lucien was one of the judges for the upcoming championship—and he’d outright vowed to block her from competing. His threats weren’t empty. Either he had the power to do it, or he had a way to make it happen.
The organizers had already announced the judging panel, so it wasn’t surprising he knew about it. Worse, he’d been invited as a special judge for the sampling event, meaning he held influence in the industry. What a joke—someone so respected was nothing but trash.
After her shower, Evelyn slipped into comfortable loungewear and wandered into the kitchen. Alexander had suggested she avoid cooking, but he’d thoughtfully stocked a snack cabinet so she wouldn’t go hungry.
Opening it, she found most of her favorite treats.
A small smile tugged at her lips. He knew her so well. Just thinking about Alexander made warmth bloom in her chest. She grabbed a few snacks and set them on the coffee table before brewing a pot of fruity tea. The sweet, citrusy aroma filled the room, and she settled onto the sofa, flipping on the TV.
In the past, she’d been too busy with work to indulge in simple pleasures. But Alexander had taught her the importance of balance—how to slow down and enjoy life.
And she’d realized something: taking breaks actually helped her work. It let her notice the beauty around her, sparking new inspiration when she least expected it.
At that moment, the TV happened to be airing a drama about a rigged beauty pageant. The protagonist, a talented contestant, was repeatedly passed over for the win—all because she’d refused to sleep with one of the judges.
The storyline hit too close to home. The corrupt judge in the show bore an unsettling resemblance to Lucien.
Was that what he wanted from me?
Back in Silverpine Valley, he’d been with Vanessa, and Victoria had hinted they’d been involved. Had they slept together? Was that why Dominic had ended up in that strange accident?
The pieces clicked together, leaving Evelyn stunned.
But one thing still didn’t make sense.
If Lucien already had Vanessa, why had he come after her?
Was it greed?
Or did he have another scheme in play?