Chapter 58

Ethan Miller froze.

Had Alexander Kingsley's words just now been meant for someone other than Evelyn Sinclair?

He'd been lying in a hospital bed all day, not even working. How could he possibly be tired?

Isabella Winslow immediately put on her most tender expression. "Alex, I won't disturb your rest—"

"Get out."

Alexander's expression darkened instantly. "Who invited you here?"

Isabella stood rooted to the spot.

Seven years. In all that time, he'd never spoken harshly to her, never looked at her with such undisguised irritation...

"Alex..." Her eyes welled up instantly, voice trembling. "How could you speak to me like this..."

Alexander's face grew stormier, like gathering thunderclouds.

What shattered Isabella most was how he refused to even glance at her, instead snapping at Ethan:

"Ethan, are you brain-dead?"

Ethan jolted into action, practically shoving Isabella toward the door. "Miss Winslow, Lord Alex needs rest. Please come back another time."

Isabella tried to resist.

BANG!

The hospital door slammed shut.

The sound of curtains being drawn followed, blocking even the observation window completely.

Ethan leaned against the door, watching Alexander's fury with a stutter. "M-my lord... they're... they're all gone now..."

Alexander ground his teeth. "All?"

Ethan nodded frantically. "Y-yes, Miss Sinclair and Miss Winslow both left... You... you can rest properly now..."

"Ethan. Miller."

Alexander spat out the name through clenched teeth.

How had he tolerated such an idiot for over twenty years?

......

Evelyn hadn't even reached Sophie's ward when her phone rang.

Julian Ashford.

"I heard you're transferring departments?"

Evelyn answered absently. "Mhm."

"Why didn't you tell me first?" His voice held unusual reproach.

"The paperwork's already signed. It makes no difference which department I'm in." Exhaustion weighed on Evelyn's words.

At the office, she'd been in a hurry to visit Mrs. Kingsley at the hospital.

When Victoria Henn pressured her for an immediate decision, she hadn't hesitated.

"HR needed an answer. I didn't want to delay things." Her voice softened. "Getting early regularization is good."

Silence stretched on the other end.

That silence became a tangible pressure transmitted through the line.

"Julian," Evelyn suddenly felt an inexplicable tightness in her chest, "I'm sorry, don't be angry..."

"I'm not." Julian answered almost too quickly, urgency in his tone. "Evelyn, where are you?"

"The hospital." She answered truthfully.

Julian misunderstood immediately. "Is Sophie hurt?"

"Nothing serious..."

"I'm coming. Wait for me."

......

When Julian arrived, Evelyn sat on a bench in the hospital garden, radiating indescribable weariness.

Sometimes, secondary wounds drained one's spirit more than the initial injury.

"Evelyn, what happened? Is Sophie alright?" Julian's sharp instincts caught the unusual atmosphere.

Evelyn looked up calmly. "Everything's fine. Why did you come?"

Julian exhaled in relief. "I wasn't scolding you. But you secured Vincent Sullivan's exclusive—that alone qualifies you for early regularization. There was no need to transfer."

Some things needed saying face-to-face. He couldn't rest easy otherwise.

He knew certain habits of his were hard to change, but he refused to let them hurt her again.

Evelyn smiled, having regained her composure. "What's wrong with Finance Department?"

Julian hesitated.

"You said yourself before that I should experience other departments when possible." Evelyn met his gaze. "So I took the opportunity when it came."

Victoria had clearly used early regularization as bait to force her transfer.

All that talk about "now or never"...

Their previous promise about promotion after securing Vincent's interview had been empty words after all.

Had today's events not piled up, Evelyn might have deliberated more.

But now, she saw no reason for hesitation.

Would staying in Entertainment Department truly be safer?

She understood Julian's unspoken concerns perfectly.

"Evelyn." Julian called her name.

"Yes?"

"Are you... alright?" He asked cautiously.

Evelyn shook her head. "Perfectly fine. Why do you ask?"

"You're at the hospital..." He wanted to ask more but held back.

"I got regularization and a transfer today." Evelyn stood, rising slightly on her toes. "Let me treat you to celebrate?"

She deftly changed the subject.

Julian played along with a smile. "Sure. What are you buying?"

"My wallet's light right now." Evelyn counted on her fingers. "Only street food stalls, I'm afraid..."

"No problem. Didn't we eat at roadside stands all through university?" Julian agreed readily.

"True. The shops near Imperial Media were all so good." The conversation naturally turned nostalgic, a reminiscent smile appearing on Evelyn's face. "Too bad Kingsbury's so far..."

"No matter. There's a new food court near Ashford University. Shall we try it?"

"Perfect!" The shadows over Evelyn had lifted completely. "But I need to check on Sophie after."

With Mrs. Kingsley currently at Sophie's ward, Evelyn couldn't visit now.

Julian nodded, chatting lightly while subtly positioning himself to block her view in one direction, his eyes flickering toward the garden's depths...

......

Alexander stood there, gaze locked onto their retreating figures.

The aura around him transcended mere darkness.

He'd arrived just one step too late, only to watch her leave willingly with Julian...

In Evelyn Sinclair's pond, he'd never been the only fish.

"Discharge me." He ordered Ethan coldly.

Ethan panicked. "My lord—"

Demanding discharge the same day as surgery? This was suicidal!

Alexander's glacial stare silenced him. "Find a replacement if you refuse."

For all Ethan's years of service—though mediocre in skill, his loyalty had been unquestionable—Alexander had always overlooked minor mistakes.

This marked the first time Alexander explicitly threatened to replace him.

Trembling, Ethan went to process the discharge while secretly messaging Mrs. Kingsley to tattle.

"Madam, Miss Sinclair has no sense of propriety! Lord Alex merely asked her to wait briefly, yet she left with Julian Ashford! His lordship is so enraged he's demanding discharge!"

Mrs. Kingsley...

Ethan's sole virtue might be his inability to lie.

Mrs. Kingsley cursed outright: "Wait briefly? Who's being unreasonable here! Let him discharge himself if he wants! Who does he think he's threatening?"

She was done!

Consider this child a lost cause—let the world burn!

......

"Melissa, Evelyn reports to Finance Department tomorrow." Victoria Henn raised her glass. "Planned her welcome yet?"

"Finance has plenty to keep her busy." Melissa Lee smiled contentedly. "We'll see. I expected Ashford to come demanding explanations—prepared a whole speech for nothing."

"I told you—the Crown Prince's just amusing himself with her. Young girls dream big with pretty faces," Victoria agreed, "but actually marrying into aristocracy? Old money cares about pedigree. Everyone at Horizon knows you're the families' chosen match..."

Victoria had initially wanted no part, but Melissa made an irresistible offer—

Horizon Video needed a deputy head. All Victoria had to do was maneuver Evelyn to Finance Department, and Melissa would recommend her.

Money talks.

So Victoria assigned Evelyn the impossible: securing Vincent Sullivan's interview.

When Evelyn miraculously succeeded, the plan simplified further—

Victoria dangled early regularization to pressure Evelyn into transferring.

They'd analyzed every angle, certain Evelyn would complain to Julian.

Instead, Evelyn signed without argument.

Julian never came demanding answers.

Their scheme had succeeded beyond expectations. After work, they'd met to celebrate.

Near Ashford University, a new barbecue place had opened.

They chose a window seat—perfect for chatting while people-watching.

As Victoria flattered, Melissa smirked smugly... until her expression froze.

She stared through the window, eyes sharp as blades.

Victoria followed her gaze and gasped: "Is that the Crown Prince with—"