Chapter 313

The chandelier's glow cast an eerie silence around Evelyn Sinclair.

She could feel dozens of eyes piercing her abdomen like arrows.

"Oh my!" Chloe Cui's friend gasped theatrically, covering her mouth. "I never would've guessed!"

The deliberately hushed yet perfectly audible exclamation reached every guest in the ballroom.

Chloe smirked behind her hand. "Someone as accomplished as Ms. Sinclair surely didn't sleep her way to the top?"

The crowd's expressions shifted instantly.

Their polite masks slipped away, revealing naked disdain.

Vincent Sullivan's face darkened. His parents exchanged displeased glances.

Evelyn's pregnancy wasn't meant to be discussed here.

"Such vile gossip these days," Chloe sighed dramatically. "People actually claim Ms. Sinclair secured deals by bearing some old man's child—"

Her friend chimed in: "How ridiculous! Ms. Sinclair would never!"

Their tag-team performance cornered Evelyn perfectly.

"Miss Cui." Evelyn's lips curved into a serene smile. "Thank you for debunking those rumors."

Chloe preened—until Evelyn continued:

"You seem quite knowledgeable about sugar daddies and mistresses. After all, your father's illegitimate children could field a soccer team, couldn't they?"

Chloe's face drained of color.

"How dare you!" her friend snapped.

Evelyn sipped champagne, unfazed. "Where is your father tonight? Celebrating his third son's birthday?"

Chloe trembled, manicured nails digging into her palms.

She never imagined Evelyn knew the Cui family's darkest secret.

"A journalist's instincts," Evelyn said lightly. "Occupational hazard."

Only then did Chloe realize she'd picked the wrong opponent.

She'd meant to humiliate Evelyn and impress Julian Ashford.

Instead, she'd exposed her own family's disgrace.

The guests' gazes now brimmed with mocking amusement.

"Mr. Sullivan." A waiter approached urgently. "Madeline and Eleanor Kingsley have arrived."

The Sullivans stood immediately.

Madam Zade linked arms with Evelyn. "Come greet our distinguished guests."

She didn't spare Chloe a glance—a dismissal clearer than words.

Chloe stood rooted, cheeks burning.

"Should we..." her friend whispered, "go see the Kingsleys too?"

Chloe glared at Evelyn's retreating figure, eyes blazing.

Her carefully laid trap had become her own public downfall.