Chapter 224
No.1
"It's gone?"
Her face drained of color.
The phone rang again.
"Miss Lee," Lance's mocking tone cut through. "I'm waiting in the hotel lobby with the agreement."
Melissa forced composure. "I'll be right there."
The receptionist handed her a familiar black device. "Is this your missing camera?"
She grabbed it like a lifeline, not bothering to check the contents.
No.2
The elevator ascended to the penthouse. Lance stood silhouetted against the floor-to-ceiling windows, his backlit figure ominous.
"Did you bring it?"
Melissa raised the camera. "Everything's here."
Her fingers froze the moment she entered the password—
The storage was completely empty.
Lance leisurely tore the agreement to shreds. Paper snowflakes fluttered to the ground.
"Miss Lee," he leaned in menacingly, "next time you try blackmail, make sure your evidence still exists."
No.3
Melissa staggered back, knocking over a coffee table. The shattering glass mirrored her crumbling confidence.
"Impossible... I clearly..."
"You clearly what?" Lance picked up a glass shard, twirling it before her eyes. "Like this glass, some things can't be put back together once broken."
He turned and pressed the intercom. "Security. Escort her out."
Melissa stood dazed in the elevator until the mechanical voice announced the lobby.
The glass walls reflected her disheveled appearance. She finally noticed her smeared lipstick—the crooked red grin made her look like a pathetic clown.
"What does a blurry photo prove?" Melissa Lee's face turned ashen, her nails digging deep into her palms.
No.4
She slammed the table and stood abruptly. "I saw Winston kiss you with my own eyes! Don't forget my profession, Lance. This photo alone is enough to ruin you both!"
Lance Yeager lounged lazily on the sofa, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.
"Since when is a friendly hug between brothers suspicious?" He twirled his phone carelessly. "Or is the esteemed journalist Melissa Lee throwing a tantrum because she couldn’t get her exclusive interview?"
Melissa's breath hitched.
"Go ahead. Publish it." Lance suddenly leaned forward, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Horizon Media, right? I wouldn’t mind wiping your entire company from this industry—"
He drew a finger across his throat.
A chill ran down Melissa's spine.
No.5
Lance was right.
Without solid evidence, she didn’t dare act recklessly.
She had seen it with her own eyes—Winston holding Lance by the waist, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Yet all she had was this damned blurry photo of a casual shoulder touch!
Regret crashed over her like a tidal wave.
She cursed her own complacency for letting such a golden opportunity slip through her fingers.
"Melissa Lee." Lance narrowed his eyes. "I’ll remember you."
No.6
As security dragged her out again, her nails scraped against the carpet with a grating screech.
Once the threat was neutralized, Lance finally exhaled in relief.
The door across from him opened silently.
Evelyn Sinclair stepped in, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. She took the miniature camera Lance handed her without a word.
"Returned to its rightful owner."
The device Melissa had treasured was, in fact, a decoy Evelyn had swapped in.
Identical in appearance to Horizon’s standard equipment, Evelyn had gambled on Melissa not checking the serial number.
No.7
The moment Evelyn discovered the footage inside, she had immediately contacted Lance.
He had just ended Melissa’s call, his entire body numb with dread.
"My boss has footage of you and Winston, but I have it now," Evelyn had said rapidly. "I’ll leave a blank device at reception. You must stop her from checking the contents."
The plan had unfolded seamlessly.
Even Lance had to admire her decisiveness.
"Alexander Kingsley is one lucky man," Lance mused suddenly.
Evelyn arched a brow.