Chapter 268

Vivian's lips curved into a bitter smile, her eyes turning to ice.

In that instant, her heart shattered.

She had never imagined Ethan would ask such a foolish question. The fact that he did proved one thing—there was an unbridgeable gap between them now. Whether he believed her or not no longer mattered.

"I have nothing to explain," Vivian said, her voice steady. "If you trust me, no words are necessary. If you don't, nothing I say will change your mind. I could tear my heart out and show it to you, and you'd still doubt me."

She wrenched her wrist free from his grip. Her expression was cold, indifferent.

Then, as if his opinion meant nothing to her, she added, "Do whatever you want. I'm leaving."

Without another glance, she turned and walked away. No hesitation. No lingering emotions.

What did it matter if he thought she was a monster? In his eyes, she had always been the villain.

Ethan watched her go, his jaw clenched. Anger burned inside him—partly because Olivia had nearly drowned, but mostly because he had lost control.

He prided himself on always being in command. But Vivian Lockhart defied him at every turn.

He didn’t even know if she had truly pushed Olivia into the water. What infuriated him more was her refusal to defend herself. Her utter indifference gnawed at him.

The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber. Darkness crept in, swallowing the last remnants of light.

Only Ethan and Evelyn remained on the beach.

Evelyn’s lips curled in satisfaction. Her moment had finally come.

Summoning her courage, she approached him with calculated grace. "Mr. Blackwood," she said softly, "do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss."

Ethan turned, his gaze icy. "Do I know you?"

He paid little attention to celebrities. To him, Evelyn Sinclair was just another face in the crowd, despite her fame.

"You may not recognize me," she said, batting her lashes, "but I’ve admired you for a long time. I’ll be working with Blackwood Group soon. We’ll be seeing a lot of each other."

"Will we?"

Ethan studied her.

Evelyn was undeniably beautiful—flawless bone structure, delicate features, lips like rose petals. She had crafted herself meticulously, tailoring every detail to appeal to men like him.

Her entire career had been a calculated climb toward one goal: securing a place by his side.

After all, wasn’t that the fate of every starlet? To marry into wealth and power?

But Ethan saw right through her.

"What’s your history with Vivian?" he demanded, cutting straight to the point.

Evelyn’s smile faltered. "I—I don’t understand."

"You targeted her earlier. Why?"

"That’s not true!" she protested, her eyes darting away. "I barely know her. I only spoke the truth about what I saw. Why would I lie about a stranger?"