Chapter 71

Tires screeched through the night.

Evelyn's skirt brushed against the Maybach's hood as she stumbled onto it.

"Trying to get yourself killed?" Alexander flung the car door open and closed the distance in three strides.

His fingers were icy as he swept her into his arms without explanation. The driver paled, hands trembling on the wheel.

"Hospital. Now." Alexander's voice simmered with restrained fury.

"I'm not hurt!" Evelyn struggled free. "There's an emergency—"

"Address." He cut her off, his grip unrelenting on her wrist.

"Printing factory. 23 Longtian Road." The words tumbled out.

The Maybach tore through the darkness.

Machines roared when Evelyn burst into the workshop. Her eyes immediately locked onto the Heidelberg press churning out Vincent Sullivan's feature.

"Shut it down!" She lunged for the control panel.

Silence swallowed the workshop. The operator moved to stop her, but she'd already deleted the layout files.

"What's the meaning of this?" The factory manager rushed over.

Evelyn flashed her press pass. "Critical errors in the article. Immediate revisions required."

"Preposterous!" The manager pulled out his phone. "I'm calling your supervisor—"

"Dial Julian Ashford." She snatched the device. "Only he can verify this."

Alexander's voice cut through the argument from the doorway: "Do as she says."

Black-suited security personnel swiftly secured the area. Alexander's gaze swept the frozen crowd before landing on Evelyn. "Need instructions on how to proceed?"

Evelyn produced a flash drive. "Take me to the office."

"This is illegal—"

"Name your price." Alexander's glacial tone silenced the manager.

The electronic payment notification chimed moments later. The manager swallowed hard at the sum displayed, then wordlessly led the way.

Dawn approached when the final stack of corrected pages rolled off the line. Rubbing her throbbing temples, Evelyn staggered out of the factory.

Morning mist curled around the Maybach idling roadside.

She froze.

Once, she'd been the one keeping vigil through endless nights, waiting where he might appear. Back then, she'd wondered if he'd ever glance her way.

Now their roles had reversed, leaving only barren emptiness in her chest.

Evelyn opened the car door. "Thank you."

Alexander slowly opened bloodshot eyes. "How do you plan to repay me this time?"

His fingers tapped the armrest like a predator awaiting its prey's surrender.