Chapter 79
No.1
Evelyn clasped her hands warmly. "Auntie."
Madam Zade studied her face intently. "I heard someone's bullying you? Tell me who, I'll handle it!"
"With you here, no one would dare." Evelyn smiled sweetly.
The stunned crowd watched their intimate mother-daughter dynamic. This poised, articulate woman bore no resemblance to the alleged mental patient.
Vincent's expression darkened dangerously.
"Explain this." He slammed a printed document onto the table.
Victoria turned deathly pale.
No.2
It was the fabricated article she'd substituted—the exposé about Vincent imprisoning his mentally ill wife.
"The byline says Duan Sheli..." Melissa forced out weakly.
"Lies!" Madam Zade interrupted fiercely. "Evelyn would never write such filth!"
Multiple sharp gazes pinned Melissa down. She immediately shrank back.
Victoria trembled violently, sweat soaking her blouse.
"Who wrote this?" William demanded.
Silence.
No.3
"IT," he ordered, "lock down all systems. Trace the original file."
Victoria knew the game was over.
"Mr. Yearwood..." Her voice shook uncontrollably.
She was finished.
Every ambition crumbled in this moment.
Regret flooded her. Why had she listened to Melissa? Why target Evelyn?
"Where did these photos come from?" William pressed.
No.4
"P...Photoshopped," Victoria stammered.
She'd paid for doctored images, though her informant swore they'd seen the imprisoned woman.
"Any other fabricated evidence?"
Victoria nodded hopelessly.
She knew Horizon would prioritize protecting the Sullivans' reputation.
Evelyn had won.
Had the article been published, Victoria would be standing triumphant now.
No.5
"Accomplices?" William's final question made Melissa tense.
Surprisingly, Victoria shook her head.
Not out of kindness—she kept Melissa's secrets for future leverage.
One hour later, Horizon issued a termination notice.
Victoria Henn was fired on the spot for fabricating news.
In the conference room, Minister Lightfoot smiled at Evelyn. "I've long admired your work, Ms. Sinclair. Let's collaborate sometime."
William gave a thoughtful glance.
No.6
Madam Zade never released Evelyn's hand. "Come visit soon, darling. It's time we made our relationship official."
Evelyn's cheeks pinked.
She remembered that fateful day in the Sullivan garden—
The dark room.
The chained woman with wild hair who wept upon seeing her:
"Evelyn, I'm your mother..."
Evelyn Sinclair stood frozen.
No.7
Madam Zade's scalding tears fell onto the back of her hand.
"Evelyn..." The name carried emotions too complex to decipher.
Trembling fingers brushed her cheek. "Mom finally found you..."
Evelyn instinctively stepped back.
For a split second, she glimpsed clarity in Madam Zade's eyes before they clouded over again.
"What's going on?" Vincent Sullivan's furious voice echoed from the doorway.
He strode forward to pull Evelyn away, but Madam Zade clutched his sleeve desperately.