Chapter 80 All Hail The Devil’s crown
Lorenzo’s POV
My gaze drifted toward the far entrance, past the guards, past the long stretch of marble pathway that cut through the crowd. I didn’t realize I was waiting until impatience crawled into my bones.
Then the noise shifted.
It wasn’t silence, it was worse. It was the sudden awareness of something changing. Murmurs rose, heads turned, bodies angled toward the entrance.
And then I saw her.
Evelyn stepped out into the light.
For one brief, humiliating second, I forgot how to breathe.
The world narrowed to the sound of my own pulse as she walked forward slowly, the crowd parting instinctively for her. The dress clung to her like it had been made just for her—dark, elegant, dangerous in its softness. It didn’t scream for attention. It didn’t need to.
She owned it.
Her hair framed her face perfectly, her posture stiff with nerves she tried and failed to hide. She looked like she was stepping into a storm with nothing but pride holding her upright.
And hell…..her eyes.
They scanned the crowd once, uncertainty flickering there, before lifting instinctively toward me.
The moment our gazes locked, something inside my chest broke formation.
I had seen Evelyn angry. Defiant. Broken. Soft in moments she thought I wasn’t looking. But this? this version of her felt like a quiet threat to everything I had built.
Mine.
A voice rang out suddenly, loud and commanding, slicing through my thoughts.
“All hail The Devil’s Crown!”
The words echoed, glasses clicking, voices filled with excitement, pulling me out of my thoughts.
Every single head snapped toward her.
The crowd dropped to one knee almost immediately, a wave of bodies bowing in reverence. Gasps followed, whispers spreading.
I watched Evelyn freeze.
Her fingers twitched at her sides. I could see the fear hit her then, raw, unguarded. She hadn’t expected this. Patricia hadn’t prepared her enough.
I stepped down from the stage without thinking.
The guards stiffened, confused, but I ignored them, my focus locked solely on her. As I approached, her eyes found mine again, silently asking a question she didn’t dare speak.
What is happening?
I stopped in front of her and stretched out my hand.
She hesitated for a second.
Then she placed her trembling fingers into my palm.
The contact sent an electric jolt grounding through me. I closed my hand around hers gently, anchoring her before she could lose herself to the noise.
And together, we walked.
Each step toward the stage felt heavier than the last. I could feel the eyes on us, judgment and awe tangled together. Evelyn walked beside me, chin lifted, though I knew her heart was racing just as violently as mine.
When we reached the stage, I turned to face the crowd, still holding her hand.
“Oh ye people of America!” I began, my voice carrying easily across the grounds, trained and practiced. “Tonight is not just another charity gala.”
Murmurs rippled through them.
“This night marks a new chapter.”
I lifted Evelyn’s hand slightly, making sure they all saw her clearly.
“Evelyn Martins stands before you now as the First Lady of the Empire.”
The reaction was instant.
Cheers erupted. Applause thundered. Some cried. Others shouted blessings, promises, prayers spilling from their mouths in gratitude and excitement.
I felt Evelyn stiffen beside me.
I leaned closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “Breathe,” I murmured. “You’re safe.”
She inhaled shakily but nodded.
As the crowd settled, my eyes moved unintentionally at first.
Kim stood near the left wing of the estate, her perfectly controlled mask shattered. Fury burned openly on her face, sharp and unhidden. Her nails were clenched into her palms, jaw tight enough to crack teeth.
I didn’t flinch.
This was not the time for emotions. If there was a single purpose to everything unfolding this evening, it was to make one thing unmistakably clear to the people.
I want them to believe that I’m no longer searching for Delilah. I had to silence the dangerous story they were already crafting in their minds about me finding Delilah but decided to keep it away from them.
My gaze shifted again and this time, it landed on Nolan.
He stood rigid, shoulders tense, eyes locked on Evelyn like he was fighting every instinct not to cross the distance between us. I could see it in his stance, the restraint, the silent war raging inside him.
Try, I thought coldly. And I will end you.
My focus snapped back to the crowd.
“Tonight,” I continued, my voice stronger now, “I will grant more wishes than ever before.”
The cheers doubled.
“This charity gala is special. And because it is special, I will be generous.”
The energy changed instantly. Hope surged. People clutched each other, whispered prayers, tears streaming freely now.
“Enjoy the night,” I finished. “Dance. Celebrate. Believe.”
For a moment, there was silence.
Then someone shouted from the crowd, loud and reckless, “Party time!”
The grounds exploded.
Music roared to life. Laughter spilled freely. People rose, dancing, drinking, rejoicing like their problems had already been solved.
I turned to Evelyn as the chaos bloomed around us.
She looked overwhelmed, terrified and extremely beautiful.
“You look stunning,” I said quietly.
Her cheek stretched with the most beautiful smile that I have ever seen in ages.
“I love the dress.”
Her hand trailed along her fabric, pressing it down as she fought not to meet my eyes.
My head turned toward the crowd. Everyone was already carried away, lost in the spectacle, their attention divided and unfocused.
I moved closer to Eve, closing the small distance between us.
She felt it immediately. Her breath hitched, just slightly, and her fingers curled at her side as if she wasn’t sure where to place them. Her gaze dropped for a heartbeat before lifting again, lashes lowering in a shy flutter.
I brought out my hand. “Do you care for a dance?”
She hesitated, just for a moment, as if she were gathering courage. Her head flickered, eyes searching through the crowd.
“But I can’t…..”
“Shhh.” I whispered softly to her ears. “Just…..follow my lead.”
She smiled softly and gave in.
Her hand was warm when it met mine, her grip light, tentative, as though she feared drawing too much attention. She avoided my eyes at first, her shoulders stiff with nerves, but the faint smile curving her lips betrayed her.
We moved in small, unhurried steps, close enough that I could feel her breath whenever she shifted. Her head tilted slightly, lashes lowered, avoiding my eyes, but every now and then, she glanced up, and the space between us tightened.
My hand slid along her back, holding her firmer now, while my other lifted her hand. I guided her into a slow spin, watching the fabric of her dress flare before she fell back against my arm, her breath catching as I steadied her.
Then the rhythm shifted faster, bolder, and something in Eve changed with it. She pulled free, laughter flickering in her eyes, the shyness melting away as if it had never existed.
She moved with confidence now, hips finding the beat, gaze lifted to meet mine without hesitation. I followed her lead, and when we came together again, our bodies aligned effortlessly, locking into each other at every close step.
The space between us disappeared. There was only the music, the heat, and the unspoken understanding that whatever this was, it was meant to be seen and felt.
“I’m beginning to love it here,” she whispered.
I tilted my head, one brow arching slightly. “Oh, wow. Glad to hear that.”
Our movements slowed, then stopped altogether. The noise of the crowd blurred into nothing, as though the night itself had narrowed its focus. It felt like there was only Eve, the darkness, and me.
Our eyes tangled, soft smiles forming, unguarded and that was when something screamed inside me.
Kiss her.
No. Not here. Not in public, another voice warned.
I didn’t listen to either.
I drew Evelyn closer by the waist, closing the final inch between us, my face lowering until our lips brushed barely there, a promise more than a touch. She didn’t pull away. She didn’t tense.
That was all I needed.
My eyes fluttered shut, ready to seal it.
“Boss.”
The voice came from behind us.
I turned to find Gideon standing there.
“Boss,” he called again.
Evelyn flinched instantly, stepping back, her gaze shifting away as if nothing had almost happened between us.
“What the fuck do you need again?” I snapped, frustration clawing up my throat.
Gideon bowed his head. “We have an important guest you need to meet.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not again.”
I was exhausted, tired of humans, tired of pretending I enjoyed their presence, tired of smiling when all I wanted was to disappear from them.
I was about to refuse when Eve’s fingers slipped into mine, stopping me.
“It’s fine,” she said softly. “You can go. I’ll be waiting.”
I looked at her for a long moment, long enough to memorize the calm in her eyes, the quiet certainty in her voice.
Waiting.
Somehow, that single word made leaving harder than staying.