Chapter 167
No.1
"Three p.m. Horizon's physician will expect you."
When the needle pierced her vein, Evelyn turned her face away.
"Notify me immediately with results." She gave the doctor a strained smile.
The moment the door closed, Julian murmured, "Add progesterone and hCG panels."
Three hours later, Evelyn accepted the medication box.
"Take these on schedule." Julian tapped the pill bottle. "Next collapse lands you in inpatient care."
Scanning the iron supplements, her tension eased slightly.
No.2
"Field assignments are suspended." He hesitated. "Or... a department transfer?"
"I'm fine." She hugged the medicine bag and turned.
As the office door clicked shut, Julian yanked open his desk drawer.
The pregnancy test report glared up at him—hCG levels skyrocketing beyond normal range.
The shredder whirred loudly, reducing the medical report to confetti.
Julian Ashford stared blankly at the machine, fingers absently tapping the desk.
For the first time, he couldn't tell who was truly burying their head in the sand—himself or Evelyn.
No.3
Evelyn Sinclair swallowed the pill, feeling immediate relief from her persistent fatigue.
Lately, she'd been exhausted. Her appetite vanished. Dizziness struck without warning.
Julian's medication worked surprisingly well, restoring her energy almost instantly.
She ignored his warnings and resumed her fieldwork as usual.
Finance Team 5 had fractured into two factions since Penelope Pope's return.
Evelyn's side clearly dominated.
Evan Wells became her sharpest blade, striking Penelope's weakest spots.
No.4
"Slow productivity?" Evan smirked when Penelope criticized him. "Maybe you should've triplets next time."
Penelope's face turned livid.
His intern status granted Evan reckless freedom—he scoffed at workplace decorum.
When Melissa Lee returned from medical leave, Penelope rushed to complain.
"Evelyn's got Evan wrapped around her finger," she whispered. "Remember when he accused her of harassment?"
Melissa's eyes gleamed. "He said that?"
"Swore she made physical advances..."
No.5
Their gazes locked, scheming silently.
"PetStar?" Evelyn frowned at the assignment sheet.
Melissa smiled cryptically. "Evan's free. Take him along."
The boy bounced like a kid on a field trip. "Road trip, sis!"
Evelyn ignored him.
Horizon Media disgusted her now.
Once an industry pioneer, now just a den of corporate puppets.
No.6
Her parents had foresight leaving this sinking ship.
PetStar's headquarters looked half the size promised in documents.
"We leased out floors," the CEO explained, presenting property deeds.
Evelyn sipped coffee, her brow twitching imperceptibly.
"Not your taste?" Evan jumped up. "I'll get another."
He vanished for forty minutes.
The cup holder returned with a hidden message.
No.7
The factory tour proceeded as scheduled.
White buildings stood in neat rows like toy blocks.
"Wait here. The manager's coming," their driver said, leading them into an empty workshop before leaving.
Evan wiped dust off idle machines. "Spotless. No smells at all."
"Spotless?" Evelyn scoffed. "Look at the floor."
His fingers came away black with grime.
"Where is everyone?" He finally noticed the emptiness.