Chapter 6
The black Maybach’s door slammed shut. Evelyn Sullivan walked away without looking back.
In the rearview mirror, her slender figure grew smaller. Ethan Sullivan’s knuckles turned white gripping the steering wheel.
He yanked his tie loose in frustration. The engine roared as he floored the accelerator.
His phone rang sharply over the noise.
“Ethan, my stomach hurts…” Isabella Jackson’s weak voice trembled through the line.
“I’m on my way.”
After hanging up, his expression darkened. He couldn’t understand why his once-docile wife had suddenly become so resolute.
Mountain winds tangled Evelyn’s hair as her phone lit up.
“Where are you?” Daniel Sterling’s voice held urgency.
“Mid-slope.” She kicked a pebble. “He’s gone.”
An engine revved through the phone. “Stay put!”
Five minutes later, headlights split the darkness.
Daniel sprinted to her side. Only after confirming she was unharmed did he exhale and open the passenger door.
“Since when are Best Actor winners this attentive?” Evelyn smirked.
“Care to upgrade me to boyfriend status?” His tone was playful.
“Top-tier candidate.” She blinked. “Too bad we’re both heartbreak veterans.”
Daniel watched her self-deprecating smile in the mirror, his throat tightening.
In the villa, cold coffee mirrored two exhausted faces.
“Goodnight.”
“See you tomorrow.”
Dawn filtered through sheer curtains as Sophia Reynolds paced the living room clutching files.
“President Reynolds, one more day off?”
“Dream on!” A thick stack of documents thudded against Evelyn’s chest. “We’re cleaning house today!”
As pages rustled, Sophia suddenly leaned in. “Did the Best Actor stay over last night?”
“Your high school English teacher would weep—”
“Don’t change the subject!” Sophia’s eyes sparkled. “Mrs. Sullivan having an affair with a superstar? Scandalous!”
Evelyn shut the file. “First, we’re just friends. Second—”
A shrill ringtone cut her off.
“Evelyn Sullivan!” Ethan’s roar vibrated the phone.
She powered it off and tossed it to Sophia. “Get me a new number.”
“I’m not your secretary!”
“Then let the company go bankrupt.”
“Fine! I surrender!”
At MY’s conference room, shareholders filed out grim-faced.
Sophia gave a thumbs-up. “Boss moves.”
“The list.” Evelyn tapped the desk. “Layoffs start tomorrow.”
“Isn’t that too rushed?”
“Send complainants directly to me.”
Before the floor-to-ceiling windows, Evelyn surveyed the city lights. Three years away had left MY Fashion Group riddled with flaws.
News spread like wildfire through business circles.
On the top floor of Sullivan Holdings, Colin Keller cautiously presented documents. “MY’s founder has returned.”
“Raise the bid by 100 million.” Ethan glared at his dark phone screen.
“But that founder is—”
“Proceed with acquisition.” A pen snapped in his grip. “Surveillance on Daniel Sterling’s villa. Now.”
Colin hesitated before returning with a blue velvet box. “Angel’s Tears has arrived.”
The diamond shimmered with icy blue light—mirroring someone’s defiant gaze.
Ethan stood abruptly, sending papers flying.
His phone rang again.
