Chapter 1496
No.1
Her peripheral vision caught the belated warning flashing onscreen:
[Social Affairs]: Heads up! Alexander Kingsley came looking for you earlier!
Evelyn: "..." Perfect timing.
Evelyn Sinclair rose slowly from her desk, stepping away under the collective gaze of her colleagues.
Alexander Kingsley's piercing stare traced every movement of her retreating figure.
She had barely taken her first step when he strode past her, his broad shoulders cutting through the air like a blade.
His footsteps echoed with restrained fury, his expression stormy.
No.2
The finance department exchanged uneasy glances. No one understood why the CEO had sought out Evelyn, but they all sensed impending disaster.
Evelyn felt it too.
They reached a deserted corridor.
She stopped.
The office was nearly empty at this hour.
Faint lighting cast elongated shadows across vacant workstations. Glass doors reflected the gloom like gaping voids.
"Was there something—"
No.3
Alexander yanked her into an unyielding embrace before she could finish.
His arms locked around her like steel bands.
"Just let me hold you." His voice scraped raw.
Evelyn stood frozen.
After an eternity, she stirred.
"Don't." He tightened his grip. "A little longer."
She waited in silence.
No.4
Minutes bled together.
"Enough," she whispered.
"Never enough." Alexander released her only to grip her shoulders. "Evelyn, what must I do?"
She met his gaze.
Flames danced in those depths, threatening to consume her.
"I need nothing from you. Just... stay away."
"Don't say that!" His voice cracked. "Do you know how terrified I was? Your sudden disappearance—"
No.5
Even after confirming her safety, he'd needed to see her, touch her, to believe it.
Alexander had surrendered.
Begging was his only recourse now.
The mere thought of her in danger—
Agony lanced through him.
"Alexander," Evelyn lowered her lashes, "I thought you understood. I'm not coming back..."
Her clear eyes lifted to his.
No.6
"Thirteen years was enough. There's nothing left for you."
"You need do nothing. Let me be the one—" His grip tightened desperately. "Name your terms, just stay."
"Like before?" A humorless laugh escaped her. "Impossible. My world gained color after leaving you. I won't return to that grayscale existence."
"Then tell me how!" Alexander refused to release her. "Must you push me to extremes?"
He was trapped.
"If danger found you while I—" His voice broke. "Have you no care for my torment?"
"Alexander," Evelyn interrupted, "I met with Triad Hyde tonight."
No.7
Silence swallowed the corridor.
"I know." His jaw tightened. "I was there too."
He'd anticipated her rescuing the colleague.
"The bugged conference room, the leaked position—all my doing."
Every move calculated.
"My colleague is safe." Evelyn held his gaze. "I don't need your protection anymore."
The unspoken truth hung between them—