A FAMILY AFFAIR

The website of lies

The file trembled in Evelyn’s hands as Lucas’s words echoed in her mind: "You’re smarter than I gave you credit for." She had uncovered his plan, but instead of remorse or denial, Lucas stood before her with smug satisfaction, his expression calm and calculated, as if he had been waiting for this moment all along.

The weight of betrayal pressed against her chest. She had entered this marriage under the illusion that it was a necessary evil to protect her family. Now, the truth glared at her like a cruel spotlight—Lucas hadn’t saved them. He was tearing them apart from the inside, piece by piece.

“Was any of it real?” Evelyn finally asked, her voice trembling. She clutched the file tightly, as though it were a shield. “Was it all just revenge?”

Lucas tilted his head, his smirk fading into something unreadable. “Real?” he repeated, as if the word held no meaning to him. “Define ‘real,’ Evelyn. Was your father’s betrayal of my family real? Was your family’s climb to power built on lies and deceit real?” He took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “Because that’s what this is about. Making things even.”

Evelyn’s heart twisted at his words, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “I’m not my father, Lucas. Whatever he did to your family—it has nothing to do with me.”

Lucas let out a sharp laugh, devoid of humor. “You’re more connected to it than you think,” he said. “You carry their name. You benefit from their sins. Don’t act like an innocent victim in this.”

She shook her head, her thoughts a chaotic whirlwind. “You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’ve sacrificed, what I’ve endured for this family. Don’t pretend that your revenge is justified when all you’ve done is perpetuate the same cycle of pain and destruction.”

For a fleeting moment, something flickered in Lucas’s eyes—hesitation, doubt—but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. He stepped forward, closing the space between them, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “Don’t mistake me for someone who can be swayed by your pleas. You’re here because I want you here. And until I say otherwise, you’ll play the role I’ve given you.”

Evelyn swallowed hard, her mind racing for a way out. She couldn’t let him win. Not when the stakes were this high.

The night passed in agonizing silence. Lucas left the room without another word, leaving Evelyn alone with her thoughts and the damning file in her hands. She sat on the edge of the bed, her mind replaying everything she had read, every connection she had pieced together.

Her father’s face stared back at her from the photograph in the file, his expression frozen in a confident grin as he shook hands with Arthur Blackwood. Evelyn’s stomach churned as she read through the accompanying article, which described the collapse of the Blackwood family’s empire after a series of disastrous business deals orchestrated by her father.

Lucas’s sister had been caught in the crossfire, her life destroyed by the scandal that followed. Evelyn felt a pang of guilt, even though she knew she wasn’t responsible for her father’s actions. But guilt wouldn’t save her now.

She had to act.

The next morning, Evelyn made her way to the Sinclair estate’s library. It was a sprawling room filled with towering shelves of books, but she wasn’t here to read. She was here to search.

Lucas was meticulous, almost obsessive about his records. If he had kept a file on her family, there was no doubt he had more information hidden away. Information she could use to protect herself.

As she sifted through the drawers of an antique desk, her fingers brushed against a leather-bound journal. She hesitated before opening it, her curiosity outweighing her caution.

The pages were filled with Lucas’s handwriting, neat and precise. At first, it seemed to be a business ledger, but as she read further, she realized it was more personal.

“They’ll pay for what they’ve done. I’ll make sure of it.”

“She’s a pawn, nothing more. But even pawns can be useful.”

Evelyn’s chest tightened as she read the entries. Lucas had been planning this for years, every step calculated, every move deliberate. And she had walked right into his trap.

“Find what you were looking for?”

Evelyn’s head snapped up at the sound of Lucas’s voice. He stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

She slammed the journal shut, her pulse racing. “You can’t keep doing this,” she said, her voice shaking. “You can’t keep playing with people’s lives like they’re pieces on a chessboard.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp. “And what would you suggest I do? Forgive and forget? Let your family walk away unscathed after everything they’ve done?”

Evelyn stepped forward, the journal clutched in her hands. “You’re so consumed by your need for revenge that you can’t see what it’s doing to you. To us. Is this really what you want, Lucas? To destroy everything, even yourself?”

For a moment, the mask slipped. Lucas’s eyes softened, and Evelyn thought she saw a flicker of vulnerability beneath the surface. But then he blinked, and the moment was gone.

“I don’t expect you to understand,” he said, his voice cold. “But you’ll learn to play your part, Evelyn. Or you’ll suffer the consequences.”

Evelyn’s jaw tightened. She wasn’t going to let him win. Not without a fight.

That night, Evelyn found herself staring out the window of their bedroom, the city lights stretching out before her like a sea of possibilities. Somewhere out there, Sebastian was waiting for her.

Sebastian’s words echoed in her mind: “Your family isn’t as innocent as you think.”

She needed answers. And Sebastian was the only person who could give them to her.

Evelyn made her decision. She would meet with Sebastian, even if it meant defying Lucas. Even if it meant risking everything.

The next day, Evelyn slipped out of the penthouse under the guise of running errands. Her heart raced as she made her way to the café where she and Sebastian had agreed to meet.

When she arrived, Sebastian was already waiting for her, his expression unreadable. He stood as she approached, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress.

“You’re late,” he said, his tone light but tinged with concern.

Evelyn sat across from him, her hands trembling slightly. “I didn’t think I could make it,” she admitted. “But I had to know. What did you mean when you said my family isn’t as innocent as I think?”

Sebastian leaned forward, his expression serious. “Evelyn, your family’s involvement in the Blackwood scandal is only the tip of the iceberg. There are things you don’t know—things that could change everything.”

Evelyn’s stomach churned. “What things?”

Sebastian hesitated, as if weighing the consequences of his next words. “I need you to trust me,” he said finally. “But I can’t tell you everything. Not yet.”

Evelyn’s frustration bubbled to the surface. “You can’t just drop hints and expect me to follow blindly. If you know something, you need to tell me.”

Sebastian reached across the table, his hand brushing against hers. “I will,” he promised. “But first, you need to be careful. Lucas isn’t the only one keeping secrets.”