Chapter 551
No.1
William Yearwood was the first to recover. He forced a smile. "Evelyn, we didn't have all the facts earlier—"
"You made conclusions without knowing the facts?" Evelyn chuckled. "So this is how Horizon Media's leadership operates."
Her words cut like knives.
"Since I'm leaving today, I might as well speak my mind." Her gaze swept across the room. "With Winston Strauss's interview in hand, finding a new employer shouldn't be difficult."
"Wait!" William shot to his feet. "Whoever spoke out of turn earlier—apologize to Evelyn now!"
A reluctant executive stood. "We're sorry for misunderstanding the situation—"
"Save it." Evelyn cut him off. "I'll take responsibility for my own decisions."
No.2
She turned to leave but paused beside Melissa Lee.
"Oh, and thank you, Director Lee. If not for your mocking phone call to Lance Yeager, he wouldn't have been so offended that he gave me the rights for free."
The room erupted.
"What phone call?" William demanded, glaring at Melissa.
Melissa paled. "I—I didn't know it was really Lance Yeager..."
Evelyn reached the door as William called after her. "Evelyn, please reconsider!"
"No need." She didn't look back. "I'm going home for my maternity leave."
No.3
An eerie silence descended.
Julian Ashford stood to leave, but William stopped him. "Julian, talk some sense into her."
"Why should I?" Julian's voice dripped with sarcasm. "No one stopped you from forcing her out earlier."
The tension between father and son thickened.
"That's a free interview with Winston Strauss!" William slammed the table.
"Now you realize its value?" Julian mocked. "Weren't you just calling it worthless?"
His icy gaze swept the room. "A bunch of spineless cowards."
No.4
No one dared respond.
William turned his fury on the others. "Mind your own business from now on!"
He snapped at Melissa. "I don't care how you do it—get that interview back!"
Melissa stumbled out, colleagues' whispers haunting her:
"Melissa really shot herself in the foot this time..."
"Only got her position because of her father..."
"Evelyn may be arrogant, but she delivers results..."
No.5
Each word stabbed like a blade.
She hid in a corner, nails digging into her palms.
Then Julian's voice cut through her thoughts:
"Evelyn Sinclair doesn't need men. Her talent speaks for itself."
"I'm sorry, Julian." Evelyn lowered her lashes, her voice feather-soft.
Julian studied her face for a long moment before stepping forward, trapping her against the wall.
"I know you have your reasons," he said quietly. "But Evelyn, don't go back down that path."
No.6
She turned her head away from his burning gaze.
The child in her womb had already made the choice for her.
Julian watched her before finally withdrawing the longing in his eyes. "Will you continue with Winston's interview?"
"Not sure." She pressed her lips together. "But Lance promised if I withdraw, Winston won't grant interviews to other media."
Julian gave a bitter smile. "That's your charm at work."
He knew Alexander's influence had secured Winston's cooperation. But getting Lance to make such a promise? That was purely Evelyn's doing.
Jealousy coiled like a venomous snake in his chest. Alexander could meddle freely in her affairs while he remained a powerless spectator.
No.7
That one mistake had already bound Evelyn and Alexander in a marriage of convenience. Every interaction between them diminished his hopes further.
To Melissa Lee, the conversation took on a very different meaning.
So Evelyn had seduced Lance to secure the interview!
And extracted such a promise.
"My only mistake was playing fair!" Melissa clenched her fists. "In pedigree and talent, how am I inferior? Why must she trample over me?"
The thought took root and festered.
After today's meeting, even her staunchest supporters among the executives wavered. They only saw results—her humiliating defeat, Evelyn's "capabilities."