Chapter 62: Sealing the Deal
All the coincidences that had happened during her most desperate moments suddenly made sense. They hadn’t been coincidences at all.
He paused, his lips almost brushing her earlobe. “So, whether it’s Ryan K. Lawrence, CEO of the Nova Group, or your sponsor, Mr. K, are you clear now?”
Evelyn’s body went rigid. Her heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand, threatening to stop. She sharply raised her head, trying to break free from his dangerous embrace.
“You…”
She pushed against his solid chest, but his arms tightened, as if he wanted to mold her into his own body. All her struggles were futile against his sheer power.
“Let go of me!”
Instead of releasing her, Ryan laughed softly, the vibration in his chest transferring through her thin clothes to her palms. His other hand, hot against her skin, casually traced the curve of her waist, an intimate, deliberate gesture.
“You were fascinating at the auction, especially when you were straddling me.”
Evelyn’s face instantly flushed crimson, the color spreading from her neck to her earlobes. The humiliating memory of that night, when she had fallen into his lap in such an intimate position, washed over her. She wanted to erase it from memory, but he was recalling it with a casual, relishing tone.
He continued whispering in her ear, “To be honest, I thought my sincerity would have moved you by now.”
This straightforward, almost shameless provocation felt like a branding iron, making Evelyn want to leap out of her skin. Shame and anger instantly eclipsed her fear.
“Shut up! Don’t say another word!”
Ryan finally realized she was genuinely upset. Her beautiful eyes were bright, not with gratitude, but with the humiliation of being cornered. The amusement in his eyes faded. He finally released his grip and took a step back, giving her space.
The air was breathable again, but Evelyn felt suffocated. She self-consciously adjusted her disheveled collar, turning her face away so he wouldn’t see her watering eyes.
A brief silence fell over the office.
Ryan picked up a brown folder from his desk and presented it to her. “Take a look at this.”
Evelyn hesitated, looking at him, then the folder, but didn't reach for it. Ryan raised an eyebrow, opened the folder himself, and spread the document out in front of her.
The bold black title instantly captured her attention: Nova Group Exclusive Copyright Acquisition Agreement for the ‘Rebirth’ Collection.
Her heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to calm down, pushing back the surging emotions, and began to read the agreement word for word. She expected it to be full of the traps and injustices Damian used, but the more she read, the wider her eyes opened.
The terms were incredibly generous.
The Nova Group was offering an astronomical price for the exclusive rights to the ‘Rebirth’ collection—an amount she could never have dreamed of. That long string of numbers was enough for her to buy her own apartment in the city’s best neighborhood and secure her financial future.
But that wasn’t all.
The contract explicitly stated that she, Evelyn, would retain permanent attribution rights for all works in the collection. Her name would be featured alongside the Nova Group’s brand on every garment and promotional item. For a designer, this was more valuable than money—it was the highest form of honor and respect.
The last clause was the most shocking: in addition to the acquisition fee, she would receive a percentage of the global sales profit for the collection over the next five years. This wasn't a simple acquisition; it was an invitation for a high-level partnership.
Evelyn looked up at the man, incredulous. He was offering her money, reputation, and a future—everything an independent designer could ever hope for.
“Why?” She didn't believe in handouts, especially not from the man who had just flirted with her so shamelessly.
“I told you, from the first design I saw in college, I knew you were a genius. I don’t invest in trash; I only invest in genius.” His tone was calm but imbued with undeniable confidence. “This contract is what you deserve. Your talent is worth this price.”
Evelyn’s heart was struck hard by his words. Damian would only mock her "daydreams" and call her designs "worthless." This man, however, affirmed her value in the most direct, powerful way possible. This feeling of being completely trusted and admired was something she had never experienced in eight years of marriage.
She looked at the contract on the table, then into Ryan's bottomless eyes. She knew signing this meant an intense partnership with this mysterious and dangerous man. But did she have another choice?
No. For her child, for herself, and for the dream that had been crushed for eight years, she had to seize this lifeline.
Evelyn stopped hesitating. She picked up the pen. The cool touch of the metal instantly calmed her mind. She didn't look at Ryan, focusing only on the signature line. Then, clearly and firmly, she signed her name.
As the last letter dropped, the pen left a small, deep mark on the paper, like a period signaling the end of her past eight years of misery.