Chapter 63
No.1
Some things needed saying face-to-face. He couldn't rest easy otherwise.
He knew certain habits of his were hard to change, but he refused to let them hurt her again.
Evelyn smiled, having regained her composure. "What's wrong with Finance Department?"
Julian hesitated.
"You said yourself before that I should experience other departments when possible." Evelyn met his gaze. "So I took the opportunity when it came."
Victoria had clearly used early regularization as bait to force her transfer.
All that talk about "now or never"...
No.2
Their previous promise about promotion after securing Vincent's interview had been empty words after all.
Had today's events not piled up, Evelyn might have deliberated more.
But now, she saw no reason for hesitation.
Would staying in Entertainment Department truly be safer?
She understood Julian's unspoken concerns perfectly.
"Evelyn." Julian called her name.
"Yes?"
No.3
"Are you... alright?" He asked cautiously.
Evelyn shook her head. "Perfectly fine. Why do you ask?"
"You're at the hospital..." He wanted to ask more but held back.
"I got regularization and a transfer today." Evelyn stood, rising slightly on her toes. "Let me treat you to celebrate?"
She deftly changed the subject.
Julian played along with a smile. "Sure. What are you buying?"
"My wallet's light right now." Evelyn counted on her fingers. "Only street food stalls, I'm afraid..."
No.4
"No problem. Didn't we eat at roadside stands all through university?" Julian agreed readily.
"True. The shops near Imperial Media were all so good." The conversation naturally turned nostalgic, a reminiscent smile appearing on Evelyn's face. "Too bad Kingsbury's so far..."
"No matter. There's a new food court near Ashford University. Shall we try it?"
"Perfect!" The shadows over Evelyn had lifted completely. "But I need to check on Sophie after."
With Mrs. Kingsley currently at Sophie's ward, Evelyn couldn't visit now.
Julian nodded, chatting lightly while subtly positioning himself to block her view in one direction, his eyes flickering toward the garden's depths...
......
No.5
Alexander stood there, gaze locked onto their retreating figures.
The aura around him transcended mere darkness.
He'd arrived just one step too late, only to watch her leave willingly with Julian...
In Evelyn Sinclair's pond, he'd never been the only fish.
"Discharge me." He ordered Ethan coldly.
Ethan panicked. "My lord—"
Demanding discharge the same day as surgery? This was suicidal!
No.6
Alexander's glacial stare silenced him. "Find a replacement if you refuse."
For all Ethan's years of service—though mediocre in skill, his loyalty had been unquestionable—Alexander had always overlooked minor mistakes.
This marked the first time Alexander explicitly threatened to replace him.
Trembling, Ethan went to process the discharge while secretly messaging Mrs. Kingsley to tattle.
"Madam, Miss Sinclair has no sense of propriety! Lord Alex merely asked her to wait briefly, yet she left with Julian Ashford! His lordship is so enraged he's demanding discharge!"
Mrs. Kingsley...
Ethan's sole virtue might be his inability to lie.
No.7
Mrs. Kingsley cursed outright: "Wait briefly? Who's being unreasonable here! Let him discharge himself if he wants! Who does he think he's threatening?"
She was done!
Consider this child a lost cause—let the world burn!
......
"Melissa, Evelyn reports to Finance Department tomorrow." Victoria Henn raised her glass. "Planned her welcome yet?"
"Finance has plenty to keep her busy." Melissa Lee smiled contentedly. "We'll see. I expected Ashford to come demanding explanations—prepared a whole speech for nothing."
"I told you—the Crown Prince's just amusing himself with her. Young girls dream big with pretty faces," Victoria agreed, "but actually marrying into aristocracy? Old money cares about pedigree. Everyone at Horizon knows you're the families' chosen match..."