Chapter 160

"Cousin!" Evan Wells suddenly pointed at Melissa Lee, his voice trembling with indignation. "She threatened to sue me!"

Cousin?

The term made everyone freeze.

All eyes followed Evan's accusing finger to the tall figure standing at the doorway.

Julian Ashford.

How was he Evan's cousin?

......

Julian strode in with measured calm, his steady breathing betraying no trace of his earlier frantic dash.

Thirty minutes ago, he'd received word of his mother's sudden illness, summoned urgently to a suburban hospital.

But instinct told him something was off.

Midway there, his suspicions were confirmed—a deliberate distraction.

He'd turned the car around immediately while contacting Eleanor Kingsley.

Now, seeing Evelyn Sinclair unharmed, the knot in his chest loosened slightly.

"Julian, you must stand up for your aunt!" Evan's mother rushed forward. "That woman claims to be carrying Evan's child. Our family can't accept some questionable—"

"Proof?" Julian's icy interruption silenced her.

She faltered.

"You'll believe any rumor?" His sharp gaze cut through her. "Have you considered Evan's future with this spectacle?"

The Wells matriarch elbowed forward with a simpering smile. "What does it matter for a man? It's not like he's at a disadvantage—"

"If it's truly no consequence," Julian countered coldly, "then why stage this farce?"

He knew exactly who'd orchestrated this charade.

Were it not for family dignity, he'd expose his mother's scheme on the spot.

Mrs. Wells stammered, "Everyone says she's pregnant..."

"'Everyone'?" Julian's mocking eyebrow lift was lethal. "Are you a fool or a willing pawn? Remember—Horizon Media answers to me."

His words landed like a guillotine.

The Wells clan shriveled into silence.

Their boldness had stemmed from perceived backing.

Now facing true authority, their defiance evaporated.

"Julian..." Melissa's face drained of color.

She couldn't believe he'd personally authorized PetStar's exposé.

Nor that Evan was his cousin.

He'd never shared these connections, watching her humiliation unfold...

Julian's glacial stare swept over her.

He knew precisely who'd spread the rumors.

PetStar's corruption ran deeper than he'd imagined.

The so-called premium pet food company was a shell operation—its factory crammed with scrap metal, products outsourced from unlicensed manufacturers.

They'd scammed consumers with marketing gimmicks, then faked reports for IPO profiteering.

And Melissa had been foolish enough to imprison Evelyn there.

A self-inflicted disaster.

The irony? Evelyn had been ten steps ahead.

She'd not only uncovered PetStar's fraud but initiated a short sell strategy.

Now Evan took credit for it all.

"The editor-in-chief and I noticed red flags immediately at headquarters," Evan narrated smoothly. "I scouted the layout during a coffee run, relaying intel through coded messages..."

Every word came from Evelyn's coaching.

But secrecy was paramount.

Recognizing the cup's hidden symbols, Evelyn had contacted Triad Hyde to short the stock.

Now Hyde reaped millions while Melissa and Penelope faced ruin.

Isabella Winslow had rewarded their anti-Evelyn efforts with discounted PetStar shares.

Melissa's gamble for redemption became worthless paper overnight.

Penelope fared worse—savings obliterated, drowning in debt.

Their plan? Lock Evelyn and Evan without food or water for two days.

Ideally capturing compromising footage.

Instead, surveillance cameras were dismantled within hours.

Evelyn arrived prepared with ample supplies, investigating and drafting exposés while Hyde gathered evidence externally.

Now Melissa understood Evelyn's "go count your funeral money" taunt.

Empty threats met with devastating financial retaliation.

......

With Julian and Eleanor present, the Wells family performed instant reversals.

"A misunderstanding," Mrs. Wells backpedaled with strained cheer. "We were misled—"

Eleanor's laugh was arctic. "How convenient—words change with the wind."

The matriarch resorted to theatrics: "What more do you want? She's unharmed!"

Her bony finger jabbed toward the entertainment department staff. "Ganging up on elders now, are we?"