Chapter 214

Evelyn Sinclair had just stepped into the office when Melissa Lee abruptly stood up.

"You stole the camera and deleted the footage!" she hissed through gritted teeth.

Evelyn calmly closed the door, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"I heard the department head is resigning?"

"Don't even think about it!" Melissa slammed her palm on the desk, causing water to splash from the teacup. "Evelyn, you won't beat me with these underhanded tricks!"

Her shrill voice pierced through the thin office glass.

Heads turned at the workstations outside.

"I never wanted to compete with you for anything," Evelyn said softly. "But you've targeted me at every turn, even spreading rumors about my relationship with Julian."

"Innocent?" Melissa suddenly burst into laughter. "Then whose bastard are you carrying?"

Evelyn's brow furrowed slightly.

"My husband's last name is Kingsley. You should know that well. Meanwhile, you threw yourself at Winston Strauss's assistant just to steal my interview—"

"Shut up!" Melissa grabbed the mouse from her desk and hurled it.

Evelyn sidestepped the projectile.

The mouse hit the door, swinging it fully open.

The entire office fell silent.

Everyone had heard Melissa's scandal.

Evelyn walked slowly to the doorway, then turned back.

"Oh, and Mr. Strauss specifically requested that the agreement include a clause barring you from ever working at Horizon Media again. Otherwise..." She paused. "Horizon would face bankruptcy from the penalties."

Her words echoed clearly across the floor.

Melissa's face turned ashen. She snatched her bag and stormed out.

Within half an hour, the entire company was buzzing:

Melissa Lee had tried to seduce Winston Strauss's assistant to steal an interview and was fired from Horizon.

The financial department erupted in chaos.

"Is Evelyn getting promoted to department head?"

"She hasn't been here long."

"Melissa was an outsider too when she started."

"At least Evelyn actually knows what she's doing..."

In the break room, a few female colleagues whispered among themselves.

"I heard she never actually married the Crown Prince."

"The Ashfords don't acknowledge her."

"Winston only chose her for the interview because of her looks..."

Meanwhile, Julian Ashford stood in the chairman's office.

"The financial department head position will be decided by the board," William Yearwood said coldly. "It won't be Evelyn."

"And why was Melissa qualified?" Julian scoffed.

"You!" William slammed his hands on the desk. "If it weren't for what you did back then—"

Their heated argument leaked through the door.

At the Kingsley estate, Madeline Kingsley anxiously clutched Eleanor Kingsley's hand.

"With all these vile rumors spreading, why is Alexander still letting her work outside?"

Eleanor withdrew her hand impassively.

"I haven't heard anything."

"You—!" The old lady stamped her foot in frustration. "A Kingsley daughter-in-law, pregnant and interviewing men—what kind of disgrace is this!"