Chapter 158

No.1

"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."

The air turned glacial.

Evelyn opened her eyes to meet his unyielding stare.

"I—"

No.2

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!" 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.

No.3

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?"

"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.

No.4

"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.

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.

No.5

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

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

"Surface evidence points to a South American trading firm." He handed her a file. "But the methods resemble what happened seven years ago."

Papers rustled as Evelyn flipped through the documents.

"Too coincidental." She murmured. "Alexander just told me about the positions yesterday."

Julian's eyes darkened.

"Did you check the exchange records?"

No.6

"Yes." Evelyn shook her head. "No unusual login activity."

Silence filled the office.

Evelyn knew what Julian was thinking. Everyone suspected her of leaking the positions.

Including Alexander.

"Kingsley Group took too much risk this time." Julian said suddenly.

"Shorting coffee futures during a bumper harvest is standard practice." Evelyn instinctively defended.

Julian smiled bitterly. She always protected Kingsley Group like this.

No.7

...

The Winslow mansion blazed with light.

"Perfect!" Mrs. Winslow slapped the armrest. "Let's see Alexander recover from this!"

Mr. Winslow swirled his wine glass, unable to hide his smirk. "Ten billion in losses will cripple Kingsley Group."

"Serves them right!" Mrs. Winslow turned to her daughter. "Isabella, this was all thanks to you."

Isabella smiled faintly, discreetly dialing William's number.