Chapter 211

"What does a blurry photo prove?" Melissa Lee's face turned ashen, her nails digging deep into her palms.

She slammed the table and stood abruptly. "I saw Winston kiss you with my own eyes! Don't forget my profession, Lance. This photo alone is enough to ruin you both!"

Lance Yeager lounged lazily on the sofa, a mocking smirk playing on his lips.

"Since when is a friendly hug between brothers suspicious?" He twirled his phone carelessly. "Or is the esteemed journalist Melissa Lee throwing a tantrum because she couldn’t get her exclusive interview?"

Melissa's breath hitched.

"Go ahead. Publish it." Lance suddenly leaned forward, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Horizon Media, right? I wouldn’t mind wiping your entire company from this industry—"

He drew a finger across his throat.

A chill ran down Melissa's spine.

Lance was right.

Without solid evidence, she didn’t dare act recklessly.

She had seen it with her own eyes—Winston holding Lance by the waist, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

Yet all she had was this damned blurry photo of a casual shoulder touch!

Regret crashed over her like a tidal wave.

She cursed her own complacency for letting such a golden opportunity slip through her fingers.

"Melissa Lee." Lance narrowed his eyes. "I’ll remember you."

As security dragged her out again, her nails scraped against the carpet with a grating screech.

Once the threat was neutralized, Lance finally exhaled in relief.

The door across from him opened silently.

Evelyn Sinclair stepped in, her footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. She took the miniature camera Lance handed her without a word.

"Returned to its rightful owner."

The device Melissa had treasured was, in fact, a decoy Evelyn had swapped in.

Identical in appearance to Horizon’s standard equipment, Evelyn had gambled on Melissa not checking the serial number.

The moment Evelyn discovered the footage inside, she had immediately contacted Lance.

He had just ended Melissa’s call, his entire body numb with dread.

"My boss has footage of you and Winston, but I have it now," Evelyn had said rapidly. "I’ll leave a blank device at reception. You must stop her from checking the contents."

The plan had unfolded seamlessly.

Even Lance had to admire her decisiveness.

"Alexander Kingsley is one lucky man," Lance mused suddenly.

Evelyn arched a brow.

"Beautiful, brilliant, unshakable under pressure." Lance propped his chin on his hand. "What did he do to deserve you carrying his child?"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Unless… the child isn’t his?"

Evelyn smiled without answering.

"I see." Lance nodded slowly. "A mutually beneficial arrangement. But once the baby’s born and DNA tests—"

"That’s his problem to handle," Evelyn said lightly. "Meanwhile, you—the world is far more accepting of same-sex relationships now. Why the fear of exposure?"

Lance’s smile froze.

After a long pause, he gave a bitter laugh. "It’s Winston who wants to go public."

Lately, Winston had been deliberately affectionate with him in public, as if making a statement.

"Winston’s family… is complicated." Lance clenched his fists. "Some of his conservative elders are pressuring him to marry and have heirs. If his orientation gets out—"

His voice trailed off.

"But Winston is powerful enough now," Evelyn cut in. "He doesn’t need his family’s approval to rule Wall Street."

Lance blinked, startled.

"Today, I happened to intercept the evidence." Evelyn met his gaze squarely. "What about tomorrow? How long can you rely on luck?"

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, dusk slowly enveloped the city. Lance studied their reflections in the glass, genuinely considering the possibility of coming out for the first time.