Chapter 9: The Shattered Engagement

Evelyn approached the old patriarch, her heart pounding like a drum. "Happy birthday, Grandfather," she said, forcing a smile to appear calm despite the chaos inside her mind.

Maya stepped forward at that moment, carrying an elegantly wrapped painting. "Grandfather," she said sweetly, "this is a small token for your special day." She revealed a famous artwork, and Alexander's eyes lit up with genuine pleasure.

"How thoughtful! Thank you, dear child," he said warmly. The crowd murmured their approval, impressed by the expensive gift.

People whispered about how graceful and considerate Maya was, and she basked in the attention while pretending to be humble about the praise.

Then Maya turned to Evelyn with fake surprise. "Sister, didn't you prepare a gift for Grandfather's birthday?"

Evelyn's heart sank. She'd been so focused on exposing Nathan that she'd completely forgotten about bringing a gift. The crowd immediately began making judgmental comments about her thoughtlessness.

Alexander waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing. I'm just glad you're here, child." But his smile was noticeably cooler than before.

Comparisons started immediately. Guests whispered that Maya was as graceful as still water, while Evelyn was as unpredictable as a storm. Some even muttered that without her beauty, she'd be completely worthless.

Evelyn ignored their cruel words. She had a more important mission. "Grandfather," she said, keeping her voice steady, "I apologize for having no gift. Something has been weighing heavily on my mind, and I forgot everything else."

The old man's expression grew serious. "What troubles you, child?"

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn got straight to the point. "Nathan has been unfaithful to me. I want to call off our engagement."

The entire hall gasped in shock. Alexander's face darkened like storm clouds. He turned to Nathan, his voice booming across the room. "Nathan! Is this accusation true?"

Nathan stepped forward, pretending to be hurt and confused. "Grandfather, how can you believe such lies? She's talking nonsense! If she didn't want to marry me, she could have just said so instead of making up stories on your birthday!"

Seeing his denial, Evelyn pulled out a USB drive. "I have proof," she said confidently, holding it up for everyone to see. "He's been having an affair with my stepsister Maya, and she's pregnant with his child."

The crowd erupted into complete chaos, voices rising in shock and disbelief.

Maya's eyes instantly filled with crocodile tears. "How could you accuse me of such a horrible thing?" she wailed dramatically. "I know you've always resented me, but to ruin Grandfather's celebration... I only wanted to give him a nice gift!"

Her performance was convincing, and many in the crowd immediately sided with her, thinking Evelyn was just jealous and trying to frame her innocent stepsister.

Claire rushed forward, playing her part perfectly. "Evelyn, I know you've never accepted me as your stepmother, but to slander my innocent daughter like this... it's going too far!"

Faced with this united front against her, Evelyn calmly held out the USB drive to Alexander. But before he could take it, her father Richard snatched it away roughly.

"Evelyn! What is the meaning of this?" he roared, his face red with rage. "You stole this from my office! Now you're using my own files to create lies and escape your obligations? If you didn't want to marry Nathan, you should have just said so!"

Tears welled up in Evelyn's eyes as her hope slipped away. She lunged for the USB, but Richard was faster. His hand swung out and slapped her hard across the face.

The sharp sound echoed through the silent hall. Evelyn fell to the marble floor, her cheek stinging and burning.

Alexander's patience finally snapped. "Richard! What is this circus you and your daughter are putting on in my presence?"

Richard bowed deeply, his voice shaking. "My sincerest apologies, sir. I'll take her home immediately. She's embarrassed our families enough for one night."

As Richard grabbed Evelyn's arm to drag her away, desperation took over. She broke free and crawled back toward Alexander, tears streaming down her face.

"Grandfather, please! I'm not lying! I have real proof! Please cancel the engagement! I'm begging you!"

Seeing her raw desperation and genuine distress, Alexander's stern expression softened slightly. He raised his hand, silencing the murmuring crowd. He looked at Richard with sharp eyes.

"Give her the USB drive. Let her show us this evidence. I'll see it for myself."

Richard had no choice but to hand the drive back to Evelyn. A spark of hope ignited in her chest. This was her chance—her only chance!

With trembling hands, she walked to the large screen projector and plugged in the device. Nathan and Maya watched with terror, their hearts pounding in their throats. They couldn't understand why Alexander was allowing this.

The massive screen flickered to life. Everyone held their breath in anticipation.

But instead of scandalous photos, the screen showed boring business presentations, financial charts, and conference recordings. It was clearly Richard's work files.

Evelyn stared at the screen in complete disbelief. This couldn't be happening. This was impossible.

Richard stormed over to her furiously. "Are you satisfied? Are you done humiliating yourself and this family in front of everyone?" he roared, grabbing her arm roughly.

Alexander looked at Evelyn with cold disappointment in his eyes. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself now?"

Evelyn could only stand there as her world collapsed around her. The truth was right there on her real USB drive. Her father must have switched it. The person who delivered the final, crushing blow wasn't Nathan or Maya—it was her own flesh and blood.

She had been utterly and completely betrayed by the man who was supposed to protect her.

Seeing Evelyn completely defeated, Nathan stepped forward, playing the role of a wounded fiancé to perfection.

"Evelyn," he said loudly so everyone could hear, "I've always treated you with nothing but kindness and respect. And this is how you repay me? You come here, to my grandfather's birthday celebration, and try to destroy not just me, but my entire family's reputation? You even attack your own sister with false accusations. I've tolerated your jealous behavior for years, but this crosses every line."

Nathan's mother Isabella added her voice to the attack. "Our family has always welcomed you with open arms. Why would you tell such vicious lies about my son?"

The crowd of socialites quickly joined the verbal assault, their voices rising in righteous anger.

"Who does she think she is?"

"What a disgraceful display!"

"She's obviously jealous of her sister!"

"Clearly unstable!"

"Nathan deserves so much better!"

Nathan leaned in closer and whispered so only Evelyn could hear, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. "So much for destroying my life, huh?"

That whispered taunt broke something inside her. All the pain, betrayal, and fury erupted at once. Her hand flew through the air and connected hard with Nathan's face. The slap echoed through the hall like a gunshot, her fingernails leaving thin red scratches on his cheek.

Dead silence fell over the room for a moment, then the murmurs started again, louder and more vicious than before.

Nathan shook with humiliation and rage, embarrassed in front of everyone who mattered. He raised his hand high to strike her back, but something in her eyes made him freeze mid-swing. Those eyes that once held so much love for him were now completely empty and cold. The sight sent an unexpected chill through his chest.

"What right do you have?" he screamed, his voice cracking with emotion. "What right do you have to slander me? To come here and ruin my grandfather's celebration? To humiliate me in front of everyone? I remember you begging my grandfather to approve our engagement! You wanted this marriage more than anyone! What gives you the right to try to destroy it now?"

As his angry words hung in the air, a deep, commanding voice cut through the tension from the back of the hall.

"She has every right. Because she's carrying my child."

Every head in the room turned toward the voice. The hall fell so silent you could hear a heartbeat.

The voice continued, eyes locked on Evelyn with possessive intensity. "And from this moment on, she belongs to me."