Chapter 93
Evelyn struggled desperately.
But Matthew held her tightly, continuously deepening the kiss.
Evelyn grew ruthless and bit down hard. The metallic sweetness of blood spread between their lips and teeth.
Matthew winced in pain but still refused to let go.
Evelyn suddenly remembered that night three years ago.
Matthew had rolled down the car window and looked at her without emotion. From that moment, she became his prey.
He'd used a contract to buy three years of her time.
Did Matthew think she would never leave him?
Once so degrading, then so deeply in love.
Until finally, when the love faded, it had to end in such an undignified way.
Even if she didn't love him anymore, would he still force it?
Evelyn pushed him away forcefully.
"Matthew, where's your pride?" Her voice trembled. "Where's your self-respect? Even if I don't love you anymore, you still have to force this?"
Hearing "don't love," Matthew's heart contracted sharply.
He looked at Evelyn, his eyes showing hurt, stubbornness, and an indescribable obsession.
"Whether you love me now or not," he said word by word, "in the end, you can only fall in love with me. And only me."
With that, he ignored Evelyn and returned to the conference hall.
Evelyn stood there, her expression grave.
She shook her head, making herself set these thoughts aside for now.
Since she was here for the conference, she might as well listen properly to the latest developments in the AI market.
The meeting proceeded smoothly.
This was Evelyn's first time participating purely as an audience member.
Previously, she'd either been taking notes for Matthew, hosting, or advancing the meeting agenda—every conference had been mentally exhausting.
Speaking of note-taking, she noticed Matthew now had a new assistant beside him, a very young man.
Curious, she secretly messaged Thomas.
"Mr. Perkins specifically hired him," Thomas replied. "To replace your previous position. He specifically requested a male assistant."
Evelyn looked at the message, not knowing what to say.
The island conference didn't end until evening.
Around the same time, a photo of them kissing outside the conference hall was secretly taken by someone.
The photo quickly hit trending news, spreading wildly across major media headlines.
Many media outlets reported that Matthew had broken off his engagement with the Quinn family specifically to marry Evelyn.
Gossip-hungry people quickly dug up everything about Evelyn.
Only then did people learn that Evelyn had previously been Matthew's personal secretary and had now transformed into the favored person before Matthew's eyes.
Various mocking and disdainful comments emerged endlessly.
[She probably slept her way to the top, right?]
[Don't know about her professional abilities, but her bedroom skills must be good.]
[Let me tell you, I have insider information. Heard that Evelyn betrayed Mr. Perkins recently!]
[Mr. Perkins personally took her to get an abortion, but now they're back together?]
[What kind of charm does this Evelyn have? To make Mr. Perkins give up a fiancée like Miss Quinn with her prestigious family and beautiful looks?]
This last comment received many likes.
Suddenly, voices defending Marigold were everywhere.
Evelyn received an anxious message from Monica.
[What nonsense are these people spouting online? I'm so angry!]
Evelyn smiled bitterly.
From the day she started following Matthew, she'd known that sooner or later she'd face public scrutiny.
She comforted Monica, [It's fine, no big deal.]
Matthew also saw those messages. His face darkened, and he instinctively looked toward Evelyn.
But Evelyn left without looking back.
The news spread so quickly that the Perkins Group's PR department was caught off guard.
But before they could react, another voice emerged.
[Who says Evelyn is just a pretty face?]
[Sparkle at the Perkins Group was led and advanced by Evelyn, and many important projects had Evelyn's direct involvement!]
[Besides, everyone at the Perkins Group knows that only Evelyn can handle Mr. Perkins.]
[Yeah, we've worked with Miss Arden too. She's very easygoing, doesn't put on airs, and is extremely professional.]
[Miss Arden even received high praise from Mr. Ellen—that's top-tier talent certified by a master!]
[I don't know if Evelyn is professional, but she looks so beautiful!]
[Such a blurry photo can't hide her beauty—what must she look like in person?]
[Exactly, I simply can't look away.]
More netizens uploaded photos of Evelyn.
The comment section filled with amazement.
[In my opinion, Miss Arden is both beautiful and professional—who wouldn't love her?]
[I think Mr. Perkins is the one getting the better deal.]
[Evelyn, look at me—I declare myself your fan!]
The comment section's tide began to turn, even overwhelming the earlier voices throwing cold water on Evelyn and defending Marigold.
Just then, the Perkins Group's PR department released a carefully worded official statement.
The statement specified that the relationship between Matthew and Evelyn began with mutual consent.
Matthew had only officially established his relationship with Evelyn after completely dissolving his engagement with the Quinn family.
The circulating online rhetoric was pure malicious slander, with obvious traces of organized, premeditated internet troll operations.
The statement particularly emphasized that the reason for dissolving the engagement with the Quinn family was because that during wedding preparations, Matthew had accidentally discovered Marigold's chaotic private life before the alliance.
Out of responsibility to marriage, family, and his own feelings, Matthew had decisively terminated the engagement. Out of consideration for the Quinn family's dignity, he had only mentioned publicly that it was due to incompatibility.
But the Perkins Group's repeated concessions had only brought escalating smears.
Now the Perkins Group would no longer tolerate it and would strike back.
Less than ten minutes after this statement was released, another explosive piece of news shot to the top of trending news.
A complete audio recording was exposed.
In the recording, Marigold and Jack's conspiracy to frame Evelyn was clearly audible.
That cold tone, that casual manner of discussing murder, sent chills down the spine of everyone who heard it.
Immediately after, a set of photos exploded across the internet.
The Marigold in the photos was completely different from the dignified and elegant Quinn family's eldest daughter, who appeared in the public eye.
Under the dim lights of nightclubs, she was disheveled, intimate with different men.
The scale was shocking.
The comment section exploded.
[This is the Quinn family's young lady? Earlier, she was throwing dirt on Evelyn, saying she was improper?]
[My God, this recording gave me chills—this is about murder!]
[Feel so bad for Evelyn, being targeted by someone like this.]
[Mr. Perkins was right to call off the wedding! Whoever marries this kind of woman is asking for trouble!]
And just as public opinion completely reversed, another batch of information quietly surfaced.