Chapter 1489

No.1

His gaze turned stormy.

In two strides, he caged her against the sofa's armrest. "You know exactly how I—"

"Urgh—"

Evelyn clapped a hand over her mouth, her face draining of color.

She shoved Alexander away and stumbled toward the bathroom.

He stood frozen.

The sound of violent retching echoed through the suite.

No.2

When Alexander finally followed, he found Evelyn slumped on the marble floor, her bangs plastered to her forehead with cold sweat.

"What's wrong?" He knelt beside her, rubbing circles on her back.

She shook her head weakly.

"Hospital. Now." He scooped her up effortlessly.

"No need..." She struggled feebly. "Just...food poisoning..."

Alexander stilled.

His eyes narrowed at her pallid face. "The medicine you bought last week—for food poisoning?"

No.3

Evelyn's pulse jumped.

"Mm." She turned away. "Work stress..."

He deposited her on the lounge bed, fingertips grazing her clammy cheek.

"You were saying something earlier," he said abruptly.

Her lashes fluttered.

"Nothing important." She shut her eyes. "I should leave."

Alexander pinned her shoulders. "Finish your sentence."

No.4

The air turned glacial.

Evelyn opened her eyes to meet his unyielding stare.

"I—"

Another wave of nausea hit.

She curled into herself, her blouse soaking through.

Alexander brought her water, supporting her as she sipped.

"I'm calling the doctor." He reached for his phone.

No.5

"No!" Her fingers closed around his wrist. "Just...need rest..."

His gaze dropped to her slender hand—once so quick to embrace him, now only pushing him away.

"I'll take you home," he conceded.

Horizon Media Headquarters.

Melissa Lee watched Evelyn's hurried exit on the security feed, crimson lips twisting.

"The fish took the bait," she purred into her phone. "Time to reel it in."

A chuckle crackled through the receiver. "How did Kingsley react?"

No.6

"Explosive." Melissa twirled a fountain pen. "Even better than we hoped."

"Excellent." A pause. "Clean up your tracks."

Dawn light filtered through the curtains when Evelyn's phone screamed to life.

"Disaster!" Martha Nash's voice shook. "Kingsley Group's under international short attack—massive losses!"

Evelyn bolted upright.

"The whole industry's buzzing..." Martha lowered her voice. "They're saying you leaked Kingsley's trading positions."

The phone clattered to the floor.

No.7

Ice flooded Evelyn's veins.

The nightmare from seven years ago was repeating.

Evelyn's fingers trembled slightly as she pushed open Julian's office door.

"Was it William?" Her voice was tight. "The Kingsley Group incident."

Julian set down his documents, his gaze lingering on her pale face.