Chapter 3

Before I left the house, the three-year-old son Damian and I shared had planted a soft kiss on my cheek.

"Mommy, bring Daddy home early, okay?"

Just thinking about the little boy we both adored softened some of the chill in my eyes.

At that moment, the custom watch around my wrist vibrated twice.

An encrypted message from Damian appeared on the screen.

[We have the evidence that can destroy Lawson Corporation's South District project. I'll be there in five minutes.]

[Wait for me, sweetheart. I want to finish him myself.]

A cold smile flickered across my face.

I shut off the screen.

Six years ago, Adrian had climbed to the top over the blood and ruin of the Carter family.

Tonight, in front of the very people whose approval mattered most to him, Damian was going to make him give back everything he had taken, with interest.

My gaze drifted toward the shadow behind one of the lobby columns.

Marcus Miller, the elite bodyguard Damian had assigned to me, had already rested one hand on the collapsible baton at his waist.

My silence only made Adrian think he had hit a nerve.

His gaze dropped contemptuously to the priceless emerald bangle around my wrist.

He scoffed.

"You found some cheap glass knockoff somewhere and brought it here hoping to scam people?"

"Evelyn, all these pathetic games, pretending you don't care, showing up wherever I am. Isn't this all just your way of trying to force me to take you back?"

Serena immediately linked her arm through his.

"Adrian, Evelyn probably just hasn't been able to survive on her own."

She gave me a sympathetic look.

"If she's willing to apologize, I'll personally cover the cost of that fake bracelet for her."

At the same time, her greedy thoughts poured into my mind.

[Why does that bracelet look so real?]

[No way. It can't be genuine.]

[I'll find a chance to take it from her later.]

Noah pulled an ugly face at me and spat toward the floor.

"Liar! You're broke! Dad would never want you back!"

"You're not even worth one strand of my mom's hair!"

The noise was beginning to irritate me.

"Mr. Lawson, if you can't afford the fifteen million, take your mistress and your idiot son and get out of my way."

I picked up my purse and turned to leave.

"What the hell is that attitude?"

Adrian finally lost his patience.

He reached for my collar.

"Get over here and apologize to Serena!"

Crack.

The sickening sound of bone giving way split the air.

Adrian's hand was still inches from me when a dark figure moved between us and drove a vicious kick into his knee.

Adrian grunted.

His leg buckled, forcing him down onto one knee at my feet.

Marcus stepped in front of me like a wall.

"Mr. Lawson."

His voice was flat.

"You don't get to put your hands on Mrs. Hawthorne."

Adrian's face twisted in pain.

Cold sweat broke across his forehead as he stared at me in disbelief.

"Evelyn Carter! You bitch! You hired someone to attack me?"

Serena screamed and rushed toward him.

Marcus's expression hardened.

His hand snapped toward the baton at his waist.

"Marcus."

My voice stopped him.

"Stand down."

Crippling Adrian here would be far too easy.

I didn't want him merely injured.

I wanted him ruined tonight, in front of the entire circle of powerful people he had spent years trying to impress.

Just then, the club manager came running over, drenched in sweat.

"Mr. Lawson, please stop!"

His voice shook with panic.

"Mr. Hawthorne's private elevator is coming down now."

"You need to get upstairs and wait in the penthouse suite. If tonight's multibillion-dollar financing deal falls apart, none of us will be able to answer for it!"

At the mention of Damian Hawthorne, Adrian's anger vanished.

A mixture of awe and excitement flashed across his face.

He shot me one last vicious look.

"Once I meet Mr. Hawthorne and close this financing deal, I'll come back and deal with you."

Then he straightened his suit, grabbed Serena and Noah, and hurried toward the private elevator in the center of the lobby.

The gold-trimmed elevator belonged exclusively to Damian.

Among the city's elite, everyone knew the rule.

Unless you were a Hawthorne, you didn't step inside.

I calmly smoothed my skirt and followed them.

Just as the doors were about to close, I reached out and stopped them.

Then I stepped inside.

The atmosphere in the elevator instantly tightened.

Adrian stared at me.

His pupils contracted.

"Evelyn, have you lost your mind?!"

"This is Mr. Hawthorne's private elevator!"

"If you have a death wish, don't drag us into it!"

"Get out!"