3

Evelyn’s POV

My hands trembled violently as I stared at the photo on my phone screen. It was that necklace. The crescent moon diamond necklace Damien gave me on our second wedding anniversary.

I still remembered the way he fastened it around my neck himself while telling me I was the only woman who would stand by his side for the rest of his life. How ridiculous. Because now that necklace was hanging around his mistress’s neck.

My stomach twisted with nausea. I didn’t even realize when Damien had stepped behind me until he suddenly snatched the phone from my hand. His face darkened instantly after reading the message.

“Damn it.”

I looked at him coldly. “So it really is my necklace.”

Damien dragged a rough hand over his face as if frustrated. “Evelyn, listen to me. I can explain everything.”

“Explain what?” My voice sounded far calmer than the devastation inside my chest. “That you gave your wife’s necklace to the woman you’re sleeping with?”

“It’s not what you think.”

I let out a quiet laugh hearing that sentence again. This man truly had no words left except cheap lies.

Without saying anything else, I walked to the vanity table and opened the bottom drawer. The same necklace was still resting inside its black velvet box. I picked it up slowly.

My gaze felt empty as I stared at the jewelry in my hand. I used to treasure it so much. Even while traveling, I always wore it because Damien said it had been specially made for me.

Now it only felt disgusting.

“What are you doing?” Damien immediately stepped closer.

I didn’t answer. I simply walked to the trash bin in the corner of the room and threw the necklace away without hesitation.

Damien froze.

“That was my gift to you.”

I stared at him expressionlessly. “Exactly why I threw it away.”

His jaw tightened instantly. “I already told you I can explain everything.”

“And I already told you I’m sick of hearing it.”

I turned to walk toward the bathroom, but Damien suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me against his chest.

“So now you don’t even want me touching you anymore?” he whispered darkly.

Disgust immediately crawled through me. His cologne still smelled the same. Warm and familiar.

But now all I could picture was another woman in his arms.

I shoved Damien away as hard as I could. “Don’t touch me.”

He stared at me for a long moment. There was something dark in his eyes now. Something that made me uncomfortable.

“You’re my wife.”

I almost laughed hearing that. “And you’re a cheating husband.”

The entire room fell into icy silence. For several seconds, Damien only stared at me intensely while clenching his jaw like he was holding back a storm of emotions.

But eventually, he slowly released my wrist.

“I won’t divorce you.”

I looked at him blankly. “We’ll see about that.”

The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror while adjusting the long black dress I was wearing. Today was Damien’s grandmother’s birthday party.

Even though my marriage was falling apart, the Sinclair family still expected me to attend.

I stared at my reflection for a long moment. My face looked pale from not sleeping all night, but at least the makeup managed to hide my swollen eyes.

Damien stepped out of the walk-in closet wearing a dark gray suit that made him look flawless as always. Handsome, elegant, and a master liar.

He looked at me for a few seconds before finally speaking quietly. “You look beautiful.”

I immediately turned my face away. Those words meant nothing anymore.

During the drive to the main Sinclair mansion, the atmosphere inside the car remained painfully silent. Damien tried several times to speak, but I had no interest in responding.

As soon as the car stopped, I opened the door first.

The Sinclair mansion was glowing with extravagant lights that night, while luxury cars lined the front driveway. Elite guests had already begun arriving in glamorous outfits.

I had only taken a few steps when the heel of my shoe caught between the stone tiles. My body instantly lost balance.

“Ah—”

I reflexively shut my eyes.

But instead of crashing to the ground, a large hand suddenly wrapped around my waist and steadied me effortlessly.

I froze immediately.

A cold masculine scent filled my senses. Slowly, I opened my eyes. My breath caught instantly.

A tall man stood dangerously close in front of me. An expensive black suit fit perfectly against his broad frame.

His gaze was sharp and cold. Somehow, it felt overwhelmingly intimidating.

His hand was still resting on my waist.

“You should be more careful.”

His voice was low and calm. I swallowed hard.

Sebastian Sinclair. Damien’s uncle. And also his biggest rival in the business world.

The man was famous for being cold, ruthless, and almost never seen close to anyone. Even his own family.

I quickly stepped back the moment I regained my balance.

“Thank you.”

Sebastian’s gaze briefly lowered to my face. Then to my eyes.

For some reason, it felt like he could see every bit of exhaustion and heartbreak I was desperately trying to hide.

“You look pale,” he suddenly said.

I was slightly surprised. Even Damien hadn’t noticed.

“I’m fine.”

Sebastian didn’t answer immediately. His gaze remained calm, but far too sharp to escape.

“Are you?”

Damien’s voice suddenly came from behind me.

“Uncle.”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

I turned and saw Damien walking toward us with a blank expression. But I knew him well enough to realize he was unhappy.

Sebastian slowly removed his hand from my waist.

“Damien.”

The two men stared at each other without smiling. Even an idiot could sense the tension between them.

Damien immediately stood beside me possessively. “Thank you for catching my wife.”

Sebastian slipped one hand into his pocket casually. “I just don’t like seeing women fall.”

The answer sounded ordinary. Yet somehow Damien’s face darkened even more.

I quickly walked into the mansion before the atmosphere became even stranger.

The birthday party was as luxurious as always. Classical music filled the massive hall while guests chatted and laughed elegantly.

But I could feel several people constantly staring at me.

The Sinclair family had never truly liked me. To them, I was just an ordinary woman who got lucky enough to marry Damien.

“Evelyn.”

I turned and saw one of Damien’s aunts giving me a thin smile.

“You should give the Sinclair family a child soon. Three years of marriage without an heir is embarrassing.”

My grip around the wine glass tightened instantly.

Before I could respond, another voice suddenly echoed from behind.

“Interesting.”

Everyone immediately turned around.

Sebastian stood several steps away from me while holding a glass of whiskey. His cold gaze swept across the room before stopping directly on me.

“The smartest woman in this room is being judged by her womb.”