Chapter 164

With those words from Diana, what else could Evelyn say? She forced a tight-lipped smile and murmured, "Alright, Diana, I won't mention it again."

And just like that, the topic was buried, never to resurface.

After dinner, the family gathered in the living room, exchanging lighthearted chatter. Evelyn, however, was already searching for an excuse to slip away.

That was when Lila, mischief dancing in her eyes, suddenly piped up. "Evelyn, Celeste mentioned wanting to check out a bar. Why don’t we take her to The Velvet Lounge tonight? What do you think?"

Victor, ever the opportunist, seized the moment to keep the atmosphere lively. "Great idea. Sitting around here is boring. Go out and have fun—my treat."

Evelyn hesitated for only a heartbeat.

Having already turned down Victoria earlier, she knew refusing Celeste’s invitation would come across as too harsh. They were still family, after all, and there was no point in making things more uncomfortable than they already were.

With a quiet exhale, she nodded. "Fine. Let’s go."

And so, Evelyn, Lila, and Celeste headed to The Velvet Lounge.

But what Evelyn hadn’t anticipated was that the moment they settled into their booth, they’d bump into someone she knew all too well…

At the sound of that voice, Evelyn’s brows knitted slightly. She turned, and just as she’d expected, there stood Cassandra and Julian.

"Evelyn! What a surprise seeing you here!" Cassandra beamed, her delight unmistakable.

Evelyn offered a polite nod but kept her silence.

"Evelyn, who are they?" Lila asked, her sharp eyes scanning Cassandra and Julian. Their designer outfits screamed wealth and status.

Evelyn answered coolly, "They’re distant relatives of Marcus Donovan—Cassandra Blake and Julian Montgomery."

The mention of "Marcus Donovan" and the surname "Blake" sent a visible spark of interest through both Lila and Celeste.

Ever the social butterfly, Lila was the first to extend a hand. "Ms. Blake, Mr. Montgomery, it’s such a pleasure. I’m Evelyn’s sister, Lila Sinclair."

She gestured to Celeste. "And this is our cousin, Celeste Sinclair."

"A pleasure," Celeste added smoothly, her tone polished.

After a brief pause, Lila leaned in, curiosity dripping from her words. "Ms. Blake, Mr. Montgomery, are you meeting anyone here tonight?"

"No, just the two of us," Cassandra replied, her smile warm—though Evelyn caught the flicker of something unreadable in her gaze.

"Then why don’t you join us?" Lila suggested, her eyes alight with excitement. "The more, the merrier!"

She then turned to Evelyn, her voice suddenly sweetened with faux consideration. "Evelyn, you don’t mind, do you?"

Evelyn’s expression darkened, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. What could she say now that the invitation had already been extended?