Chapter 84: The Threat
Evelyn returned to the empty mansion and locked herself in the guest room. The master bedroom, with its double bed, felt suffocating now. She needed a private space to process everything that happened. She didn't turn on the lights, letting the darkness consume her.
The scene of Damian defending her at the estate played like a movie in her mind. For a second, her heart had actually fluttered. But his calculating words and the image of him kissing Sienna at the gate immediately crushed that tiny spark.
He didn't care about her. He only cared about his company, his stock price, and the respect that came with the title "Mrs. Green." Evelyn was nothing more than an accessory, a tool to be used and discarded at will.
She curled up under the covers, her hand resting on her lower belly. This small life was the only thing she truly had left.
The next morning, Evelyn was startled awake by a knock. She opened her eyes, her head pounding, feeling utterly exhausted.
“Evelyn! Open the door!” Damian’s agitated voice sounded from outside. She grabbed a robe and opened the door.
Damian stood there, his face tight with irritation. Without waiting for her to speak, he threw a stack of files at her face.
The folder hit the carpet with a thud, scattering papers. The top one was a court-stamped summons. The plaintiff was Omni Group, the defendant was Sophie.
Evelyn’s pupils contracted. She bent down to pick up the files; every word scorched her eyes. “Are you out of your mind?! Sophie has done a lot of design work for the company. You’re actually suing her?”
Before, Sophie had only received a warning letter from Omni Group's lawyers. Now, this was a formal lawsuit, initiating legal proceedings.
“Helping the company?” Damian sneered. “She was helping you. Evelyn, did you honestly think I didn’t know what you two were plotting?”
He leaned down, pinching her chin to force her to look up. “I warned you not to pull stunts. Your friend has dirty hands; she leaked company secrets. Being sued is exactly what she deserves!”
“She didn’t! It was a setup by you and Sienna!”
“A setup?” Damian’s eyes turned cold. “The evidence is solid. If I choose, Sophie faces not only a massive fine but prison time. She’s a designer who just moved back—do you think she can fight me?”
Evelyn’s heart plummeted. She swayed, gripping the doorframe to stay upright. She knew Damian was telling the truth. He had innumerable ways to ruin Sophie’s life.
“What do you want?” Damian let go, pulling a new file from his pocket and dropping it at her feet. “Ayla Vance. Vance Group heiress and a top fashion influencer. Get her to endorse the Omni Group’s fall/winter collection.”
“Succeed, and I’ll drop the lawsuit against Sophie. Fail…” He paused, his gaze filled with menace. “Not only will Sophie be ruined, but guess what happens to the St. Jude Orphanage land acquisition? I’ll make sure the sale goes through immediately.”
Sophie and St. Jude Orphanage. Damian used the people and place she cared about most to put two chains around her neck.
“You’re despicable!” Evelyn gritted her teeth, hatred practically overflowing from her eyes.
“This is your own doing.” Damian adjusted his tie, looking down at her. “Don’t forget, Evelyn, you are ‘Mrs. Green.’ As my wife, your only value is clearing obstacles for my career. Play your role, and stop causing trouble.”
He turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the hall. Evelyn sat on the floor until her limbs felt numb. She knew she had no choice.
Late that night, Evelyn forced herself to open her laptop and research Ayla Vance. The screen light illuminated her face, highlighting her exhaustion.
Ayla Vance was a maverick heiress. She had zero interest in mainstream commercial advertising but an intense passion for avant-garde art.
Evelyn’s fingers hovered over the keyboard. A headline caught her eye: New York Museum of Modern Art to host exclusive exhibition: Unseen works by pioneer masters on display.
Evelyn's eyes lit up. She knew this might be her only way in. She had to go, find Ayla Vance, and secure the deal.
She clenched her fist, burying the humiliation and resentment, and began gathering information about the exhibition.
Just then, her phone screen lit up with a text message. The sender was Ryan. The message was short, just one sentence: The exhibition will be crowded. Watch out for Sienna.
Evelyn’s heart gave a violent jump, and a chill ran down her spine. Ryan… How could he know she was going to the exhibition? Why did he always seem to anticipate her every move?
Damian had forced this task on her only ten minutes ago. No one but herself knew her thoughts or her next steps. Unless Ryan was monitoring Damian, or worse—monitoring her. The feeling of being watched made her skin crawl. She had just escaped one predator only to be targeted by another.
But she didn't have time to worry about Ryan's motives. Evelyn took a deep breath and put her phone into her purse.
She walked over to the mirror and looked at her reflection. The woman staring back was haggard, but her eyes were still defiant.
She chose a dark blue silk shirt and high-waist trousers. The outfit was professional, hid her pallor, and the bun exposed her neck, giving her a calm, composed appearance.
Evelyn took one last look at the empty house, turned, and walked out the door. She had to win this fight.
The entrance to the New York Museum of Modern Art was swarming with high-profile guests. The entire Manhattan art and fashion elite seemed to be there for the exhibition.
Evelyn presented the exclusive invitation for the Omni Group representative. As she reached the VIP entrance, a guard stopped her.
“I apologize, ma’am,” the guard said expressionlessly, looking at the red light on the scanner. “Your invitation is invalid.”