Chapter 11
Evelyn stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the executive floor.
As the elevator climbed, she pulled out her resignation letter and read through it one more time.
The date at the bottom was from three days ago.
She'd made up her mind right after leaving Sophie's place. The only reason she'd waited this long was to wrap up the projects she was handling.
Now there was no point in waiting.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened to a quiet executive hallway.
Three people sat in the secretary's office. When they saw Evelyn step out, two of them exchanged a glance and quickly lowered their heads, pretending to look at their computers.
As Evelyn walked past them, she caught a whisper. "That's her..."
Evelyn didn't stop. She pushed open the door to the CEO's office.
Sebastian was sitting behind his desk reviewing documents. He looked up, surprise flashing across his face for a split second before his usual condescending expression returned.
"You're back? How'd it go with Mr. Larry?"
His tone was almost casual when he said it.
Evelyn stared at him.
When Sebastian said Mr. Larry's name, there was no panic. No guilt.
He was waiting.
Waiting for Evelyn to come back crying and begging.
Waiting for her to say, "You were right. I'm nothing without you."
Evelyn set her resignation letter and the core Farcry project materials on Sebastian's desk.
"My resignation. Effective immediately. All the project files are here. I'll email the handover checklist to Mr. Lewis."
Sebastian didn't touch either document. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs, looking at her.
"What are you throwing a fit about now? Last time you said you'd quit, and now you're actually doing it? You know you can't just walk away from those projects, right? The contracts say—"
"Mr. Larry locked the door."
Evelyn cut him off.
Sebastian's words caught in his throat.
Evelyn kept going, her voice quiet but deliberate.
"He had someone lock the door from the inside. He had the key. He said he'd rented out the entire floor. When he came at me, I smashed a wine bottle over his head. I only got out because I hit the fire alarm myself."
The office went silent for about three seconds.
Sebastian dropped his legs from the chair and leaned forward.
"He touched you?"
Evelyn didn't answer that question.
Instead, she rolled up her sleeve to show the bandage on her arm where the flower stand had scraped her.
It was from last night's dinner, but it served the same purpose.
Then she held out her palm. The scrapes hadn't even scabbed over yet.
Evelyn gave a mocking smile. "Stop pretending. I know you set this up."
Sebastian's expression changed. "Mr. Lewis arranged the business meeting. I just—"
"You just what?" Evelyn took a step forward. "You told Mr. Lewis I was too stubborn and didn't know my place. You wanted me to hit a wall and suffer a little. You also told him not to respond no matter what messages I sent for help. Are you seriously going to deny saying all that?"
Sebastian's lips moved, but no sound came out.
Evelyn's tone went flat. "Sebastian, you sent me to that man. Do you have any idea what the worst-case scenario could've been?"
"I didn't know he was..." Sebastian finally spoke, his voice much quieter than before. "I didn't know Mr. Larry would do that. I just wanted to make you—"
"Make me what? Make me run back scared and crying? Make me realize I can't survive without Ashford Group? So I'd be your obedient little wife again and watch you play house with Arianna?"
Sebastian stood up.
He walked around the desk toward Evelyn, reaching out to grab her.
Evelyn stepped back faster than he could move.
"Don't touch me."
Sebastian's hand hung in the air.
He opened his mouth, his expression conflicted. Not quite guilty, not quite angry. Just lost.
"Eve, I'll admit I didn't think this through. But I didn't think Mr. Larry would do something like that. Don't assume the worst. I wasn't trying to hurt you..."
"What were you trying to do?"
Evelyn looked at Sebastian and gave a bitter smile.
Sebastian didn't like that expression on her face. It made him uncomfortable.
"You wanted to prove I couldn't survive without you. You wanted to watch me get humiliated and then come crawling back on my knees. The only difference is you didn't do it with your own hands."
"Evelyn." Sebastian raised his voice. "Don't make me sound like a monster. I'm your husband."
"Not for much longer."
Evelyn tapped the resignation letter on the desk with her finger.
"Mr. Ashford, it says right here. Effective immediately. Also, you already signed the divorce agreement. After the one-month cooling-off period, it goes into effect automatically. I already confirmed it with the court. If you want to back out, you can go through legal channels. But you signed it. That was your decision."
Sebastian froze.
"What divorce agreement? When did I sign anything?"
Evelyn tilted her head. "Last week. You were on the phone with Arianna at the hotel and you signed it. You forgot?"
Sebastian's face went pale.
He remembered.
That day he'd been rushing to take Arianna's call. Evelyn had handed him a document and he'd signed it without looking. He'd assumed it was a company file—
"You tricked me?" Sebastian's hands clenched into fists. A vein pulsed at his temple.
"I didn't trick you. I asked you before you signed. You just didn't bother to read it. Whose fault is that?"
"You took advantage of me not paying attention—"
"Not paying attention?" Evelyn shot back. "What were you doing? You were telling Arianna not to drink cold things on her period. You were reminding her not to catch a cold. I put something in front of you and you signed it without even looking. Sebastian, be honest with yourself—in the past two years, have you ever actually looked at anything I've given you?"
Sebastian had no response.
The office fell silent.
Evelyn adjusted her sleeve, covering the bandage again.
"The files and my resignation are on your desk. I've said everything I need to say. If you need to discuss the project handover, have Mr. Lewis contact me. I'll cooperate. Everything else—I'll see you in court."
Evelyn turned and headed for the door.
"Evelyn."
Sebastian's voice came from behind her, much quieter than before.
Evelyn's hand rested on the door handle. She didn't turn around.
"Are you really... not leaving any room for us?"
Evelyn looked down at the handle, her fingers tightening slightly around it.
She didn't answer.
The door opened. Then Evelyn closed it softly behind her.
Out in the hallway, all three secretaries were staring at their screens, typing loudly.
Evelyn got into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor.