Chapter 1904

No.1

The red fingerprint stained the paper like dried blood.

Melissa tucked the document away with a satisfied smile, checking her watch.

"Ten o'clock. Lance should be—"

"Exactly ten o'clock." Evelyn suddenly removed her oxygen mask, her voice startlingly clear.

Melissa whirled around.

Evelyn's eyes were sharp and alert, no trace of weakness in her posture.

"You—"

No.2

"Have you seen the news?" Evelyn's lips curved slightly.

Fumbling for her phone, Melissa's screen lit up with a breaking alert:

[Financial Titan Winston Strauss Comes Out, Aide Lance Yeager Confirms Decade-Long Romance]

Her hands shook as she scrolled to the next headline:

[Kingsley Group Emergency Funding Stabilizes Strauss's Stock Plunge]

"Impossible..." Melissa staggered back. "Alexander wouldn't—"

"Surprised?" Evelyn pushed herself upright. "Did you think you were the only one who could scheme?"

No.3

The door burst open.

Lance stood framed in the doorway, his expression dark as two police officers flanked him.

"Melissa Lee," he said with icy precision, "you're under arrest for attempted murder."

The officers seized her arms.

"It wasn't me!" Melissa thrashed wildly. "She set me up! Look at her—she's not even hurt!"

Lance held up his phone. "The recording we just made is more than enough evidence."

Turning to Evelyn, his expression softened. "He's awake."

No.4

Evelyn exhaled in relief.

She'd known the tide was turning when she saw Lance pacing outside her room last night.

"He wants to see you." Lance's voice cracked. "He said... thank you for the advice."

Evelyn looked toward the window.

Sunlight streamed through the glass.

Just like the truth Lance had confessed outside the ICU, tears streaming down his face—

"His greatest wish was to hold my hand in broad daylight, without hiding."

No.5

Winston's condition was far worse than Evelyn's.

The surgery lasted eight grueling hours, and his recovery had been rocky. Now another critical emergency struck.

Lance trembled as he watched Winston being wheeled back into the OR. He still hadn't formulated an answer to Evelyn's earlier question.

But fifteen minutes later, he made his decision.

To hell with Melissa Lee!

To hell with society's expectations!

His parents were progressive. Winston's had passed years ago. Their families had plenty of heirs—no need for him to carry on any bloodline.

No.6

Those pushy relatives only wanted profitable marriages.

Why couldn't they live for themselves?

Red-eyed, Lance told Evelyn his choice.

She regarded him calmly. "If that's your decision, the Kingsley Group will support you."

......

Lance had considered Alexander.

What tormented him most was that Winston and Alexander were natural rivals.

No.7

Different nationalities. Opposing stances. Competing empires.

Their mutual admiration was just a facade between equals.

Lance knew if Alexander were in trouble, Winston wouldn't lift a finger.

But Evelyn assured him that if Winston's business faced crisis, Alexander would intervene.

Lance credited that promise to Evelyn.

With this safeguard, he could finally love openly.