Chapter 151

"I value your connections in Kingsbury." Evelyn Sinclair met Triad Hyde's gaze squarely. "In finance, networks and information are everything. You've built your influence here for years, with ties to both sides of the law. Your help would save me considerable trouble."

She paused, pointing at the four trembling figures in the corner. "And I want them too."

Triad Hyde narrowed his eyes. "What use could those worthless fools possibly be?"

He preferred straightforward deals. Evelyn's blunt admission of wanting his resources actually eased his suspicions. But her equating herself with those idiots irritated him.

"They're mine." Evelyn's voice remained steady. "My people, my responsibility. Those who harm them will answer to me. If fingers need cutting, I'll wield the blade myself."

Triad Hyde stiffened.

He hadn't expected such steel beneath this delicate woman's refined exterior.

Noticing his reaction, Evelyn extended both hands. "I give you my word. Should I ever betray you, these hands and wrists are yours to claim."

"Good!" Triad Hyde slammed the table and stood. "I like your spirit! From today onward, anyone who touches a hair on your head in Kingsbury answers to me!"

He waved a hand. "Release them to Miss Sinclair! Give her the knife too!"

Only now did he truly see the woman before him. To walk alone into his territory took extraordinary courage. Her worth had long surpassed mere gender or beauty.

Evelyn emerged from Triad Hyde's domain with four battered young men in tow.

Evan Wells sobbed uncontrollably. "S-sis..."

"Quiet." Evelyn tossed him a tissue pack and hailed a cab. "We're working late tonight. If anyone gets docked pay for unexcused absence, it's coming from you four."

The other three froze mid-tear-wipe.

This woman saved their lives but wouldn't even grant them a proper emotional moment!

"Penelope Pope orchestrated everything," Evan blurted in the taxi. "From the initial PPT trap to planting bugs at Kingsley Group—all her schemes!"

"She made us frame you! Worst part? She only used Snapchat-style messages to cover her tracks!"

"Sis, let me stay at Horizon to help you take her down!"

Evelyn gave him a sidelong glance. "Go back to school."

This naive stupidity was precisely why Penelope had chosen them—perfect disposable pawns.

Yet such single-minded loyalty was exactly what Evelyn valued most.

Originally, all eight members of Finance Team 5 had been against her. Now four had switched sides. Combined with Triad Hyde's new alliance, tonight's gamble had paid off.

Men like Hyde respected loyalty above all...

The dilapidated Autumn Detail building flashed through Evelyn's mind.

Someday, she'd restore its former glory...

Evelyn marched her four "punching bags" back into the office.

"Bar fight over barbecue." She deadpanned to their supervisor. "Started it, lost badly, too embarrassed to call cops. Came back to work instead."

Anyone could see through the lie, but the quartet maintained perfect silence.

Evelyn's warning during the ride had been clear: anyone revealing tonight's events would answer to Triad Hyde's blades.

Evan was first to pledge allegiance: "Sis, my life's yours from now on!"

The others quickly echoed.

The Social Affairs Department supervisor was midway through warning Evelyn about Alexander Kingsley's earlier visit when a tall silhouette appeared at Finance's entrance.

Evelyn barely settled at her desk when shadows eclipsed her monitor's glow.

She looked up into Alexander's glacial stare.

"Outside." Fury simmered beneath his controlled tone.

Her peripheral vision caught the belated warning flashing onscreen:

[Social Affairs]: Heads up! Alexander Kingsley came looking for you earlier!

Evelyn: "..." Perfect timing.