Chapter 1835

No.1

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..."

Their gazes locked, scheming silently.

"PetStar?" Evelyn frowned at the assignment sheet.

Melissa smiled cryptically. "Evan's free. Take him along."

No.2

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.

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.

No.3

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.

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.

No.4

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.

Evelyn was already striding toward the exit. "Because this isn't a real factory."

No cell signals.

Electrified fences hummed.

No.5

Only their breaths echoed in the vast compound.

"We're trapped," Evelyn said calmly, scanning surveillance cameras.

This wasn't an interview.

It was an elaborate cage.

Melissa Lee's carefully designed assignment was indeed a trap in disguise.

"Let's get to work." Evelyn Sinclair clapped her hands calmly, as if she had anticipated this outcome.

"What work?" Evan Wells looked utterly confused.

No.6

"First, we dismantle the surveillance cameras."

Evan's eyes widened. "?"

This abandoned factory actually had cameras installed?

......

"What an unexpected visit, Lord Alex." Triad Hyde puffed on his pipe, deliberately tapping ashes everywhere.

Alexander Kingsley's piercing gaze locked onto him.

"I'm here for Evelyn Sinclair."

No.7

Triad Hyde made a show of cleaning his ear. "Who?"

His feigned ignorance was masterful.

"I know she's working for you." Alexander waited for the ashes to settle before leaning forward slightly.

"No idea what you're talking about." Triad Hyde snorted.

Alexander's intel network was impressive.

He'd already discovered the new asset by his side?