Chapter 316

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the abandoned warehouse as Evelyn Carter faced Damian Cross. She knew exactly why he had summoned her here.

Damian smirked, his fingers drumming against the rusted metal table between them. "Three years," he mused. "Three years you spent behind bars because of that night. Bet you never thought you'd see me again, huh?"

Evelyn's jaw tightened. She had always known Damian was a gambler, a man who thrived on risk. But this? This was a new low, even for him.

Three years ago, he had sold her out for a quick payout. Now, he was trying to play both sides—betraying Vanessa Hart just as easily as he had betrayed her.

"How about it?" Damian leaned forward, his breath reeking of cheap whiskey. "Twenty million. Transfer the money, and the video's yours. Simple."

Evelyn didn’t flinch. The offer sounded reasonable on the surface, but she wasn’t fooled.

She hadn’t forgotten that Vanessa’s scheme had only worked because of Damian’s involvement. They were partners in crime, and both deserved to pay.

This video he dangled in front of her? Just another trick. He wanted her to make a deal, to let him walk away scot-free while Vanessa took the fall.

Evelyn wasn’t about to let that happen.

If she agreed, she’d be letting Damian off the hook—and that was something she could never do.

Evelyn hadn't anticipated Damian's ability to think so quickly despite his lack of education. Her voice turned icy as she spat, "You won't get a single cent from me!"

Seeing her outright rejection, Damian's expression darkened instantly. "Evelyn, you're really choosing the difficult path, aren't you? If you refuse to pay, I'll have no choice but to strike a deal with Vanessa instead."

In a sudden, threatening motion, he began unbuttoning his gaudy floral shirt. Evelyn's face drained of color. "What the hell are you doing?"

Damian smirked, his gaze predatory. "It's been years since I last saw you, and you've only grown more stunning. I can't help but be drawn to you. Why don't we... enjoy this moment together?"

With a sharp tug, he ripped off his shirt, his eyes glinting with dark intent. "Vanessa promised me a fortune if I film something... intimate between us. Ruin your reputation, and I walk away rich."

He took a step closer, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "I watched you grow up. Out of some twisted sense of family loyalty, I wanted to give you a chance to keep your dignity. But since you're being stubborn, Vanessa gets what she wants. Don't blame me. Once I have the cash, I'll disappear. Alexander will never find me."

Before Evelyn could react, Damian lunged forward, his lips crashing against hers with bruising force.

Evelyn had been born when Damian was already ten. All these years, he'd treated her like a little sister—until now. The realization of his betrayal made her stomach churn.

Her mind raced. She had to escape. But how?

Damian's grip tightened, his breath hot against her skin. "Stop fighting it, Evelyn. You know you want this too."

Her pulse pounded in her ears. No. She wouldn't let this happen.

With a surge of adrenaline, she twisted violently, her knee jerking upward—

A strangled cry tore from Damian's throat as he doubled over in pain.

Evelyn didn't hesitate. She bolted for the door.

But Damian recovered faster than she expected. His hand snagged her wrist, yanking her back with brutal force.

"You little—"

The door burst open.

A shadow filled the doorway.

Evelyn's heart leapt.

Alexander stood there, his expression murderous.

Damian froze.

Then Alexander moved.

A single punch sent Damian sprawling to the ground, unconscious before he even hit the floor.

Alexander's gaze locked onto Evelyn. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

His jaw clenched. "This ends now."

But as he turned to leave, Evelyn grabbed his arm. "Wait."

Alexander paused.

Evelyn's voice was steady despite the tremor in her hands. "We do this together."

A slow, dangerous smile curved Alexander's lips.

Damian had made one fatal mistake.

He'd underestimated Evelyn Carter.

And now, he'd pay the price.

A flicker of danger sparked in his thoughts.

A decade had slipped by since their last encounter, and the Evelyn Carter before him now bore no resemblance to the timid, wide-eyed girl she'd once been.

Especially in recent years, a newfound elegance had woven itself into her every movement—a poise that hadn’t existed before.

The moment Damian Cross laid eyes on her today, something inside him twisted, an unsettling hunger stirring to life. Now, at last, he had the perfect excuse.

Damian stared at Evelyn like a predator sizing up its prey. His gaze was sharp, unrelenting, and utterly shameless.

Evelyn’s face drained of color as she instinctively fought back, driving her knee upward toward his groin. But Damian was prepared.

He caught her wrists effortlessly, pinning them above her head with one hand while the other clamped around her waist. "Relax, darling," he murmured, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "You’ll enjoy this a lot more if you stop struggling."

Damian was a man built for violence—a thug through and through. Brawling was second nature to him, and within moments, Evelyn found herself overpowered.

Desperation clawed at her throat as she twisted toward the door, her voice cracking. "Oliver! What are you doing? Help me—now!"

Only seconds earlier, Oliver had been lurking in the shadows, watching.

The security footage should have been rolling.

Every angle. Every movement. Every damning piece of evidence.

But now—when everything hinged on that proof—the cameras had gone dark.

Evelyn's fingers clenched around the edge of the desk, her knuckles whitening.

Alexander had assured her the system was flawless.

"Nothing gets past these cameras," he had said, that confident smirk playing on his lips.

Yet here she stood, staring at a blank screen where there should have been irrefutable evidence of Vanessa's treachery.

Her pulse hammered in her throat.

Without that footage, it was her word against Vanessa's.

And Vanessa had always been the more convincing liar.

A cold dread slithered down Evelyn's spine.

Where was Nathan?

He was supposed to be monitoring the feeds. Recording everything.

But now, when it mattered most, he had vanished.

The door creaked open behind her.

Evelyn didn't need to turn to know who it was.

Vanessa's perfume—heavy, cloying—filled the room before she even spoke.

"Looking for something, sister?"

The mocking lilt in her voice made Evelyn's stomach twist.

She turned slowly, meeting Vanessa's smug gaze.

"Where is it?" Evelyn demanded.

Vanessa's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.

"Oh, Evelyn... You always did overestimate your little allies."

The screen flickered once—then went completely black.

Evelyn's breath caught.

Vanessa stepped closer, her heels clicking against the floor like a countdown.

"Did you really think Alexander's people would choose you over me?"

A chill settled over Evelyn.

Because the truth was—she wasn't sure anymore.

And that uncertainty was more dangerous than any lie Vanessa could spin.

Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison (Evelyn Carter) novel