Chapter 59

Evelyn's brow furrowed. "Vanessa, where did you dig up some random guy to pretend for you? Do you seriously think Titan Capital Group would want you? This is ridiculous."

She remained silent, popping a freshly peeled shrimp into her mouth and chewing slowly.

Richard looked stunned. He hadn’t expected such an elaborate act. "You actually hired someone to play along? How much did that cost you?"

Still, Evelyn said nothing, methodically working through her plate of seafood.

Vanessa was scrolling through the call log on Evelyn’s phone when her expression abruptly shifted.

The number displayed was a landline with the prefix 888—a sequence exclusively used by Titan Capital Group in Cresthaven.

She recognized it instantly. Ethan had called her from that very number before.

"This is Titan Capital’s direct line." Vanessa’s grip on her fork tightened, knuckles whitening. "Did you actually go to Ethan for help? Evelyn, we’re engaged. Why can’t you leave him alone?"

Vanessa's words ended in a choked sob.

She didn't even wait to finish her meal. Covering her face with trembling hands, she fled to her room and slammed the door shut behind her.

Margaret immediately rushed after her, concern etching deep lines across her forehead. But after a few steps, she paused, turning back to glare at Evelyn with barely contained fury. "You made Vanessa cry. Didn't you swear to me you'd stay away from Ethan?"

Evelyn peeled off her gloves with deliberate slowness, her expression unreadable. She dabbed her fingers with a damp cloth before responding, her voice cool. "I'm simply going to work. Who told you I'm joining Titan Capital Group for Ethan?"

There was something in Evelyn's tone—a sharp, unflinching honesty—that made Margaret hesitate. After a tense silence, she finally turned away, following Vanessa upstairs.

Now, only Evelyn and Richard remained in the dining room.

Of everyone, Richard had taken the news of Evelyn's employment at Titan Capital Group the most calmly.

The truth was, Titan Capital was an industry titan. He'd spent years trying to forge connections with them, to no avail. Even with Vanessa and Ethan's engagement, no business opportunities had materialized.

The reason was simple: Alexander Whitmore, Titan Capital's CEO, was notoriously uncompromising. He didn’t play favorites—not even for family.

Evelyn exhaled slowly, her gaze drifting toward the window. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the polished floor, mirroring the tension in the room.

Richard finally spoke, his voice measured. "You're sure about this?"

Evelyn met his eyes, unflinching. "I don’t have a choice."

A beat passed. Then Richard nodded, as if he understood more than she’d said.

Neither of them mentioned the unspoken truth—that this decision would change everything.

Richard Hayes set down his wine glass with deliberate slowness. His cold gaze fixed on Evelyn Carter across the table. "Now that you're inside Titan Capital Group, things might finally change."

He didn’t bother with pleasantries. "Evelyn, I don’t care how you managed to get into Titan Capital. But remember—you’re still a Hayes, and a shareholder of Horizon Enterprises. Your loyalty should lie with our company first."

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around her fork. "What exactly are you implying?"

Ever since Richard had struck her on her birthday, she had stopped calling him "Father." The word tasted bitter now.

Richard’s expression darkened. "Vanessa has a project that Titan Capital rejected. You will find a way to access their internal files and secure it for us. Once it’s done, you’ll be compensated. You’ve held shares in Horizon for years without seeing a single dividend. Get this project, and that changes—starting this quarter."

A humorless laugh escaped Evelyn’s lips.

She thought bitterly, Grandfather William left those shares to Oliver and me—equal parts, no stake for Richard, Margaret, or Vanessa. Because of that, I’m one of the top three shareholders in Horizon. Richard may hold 10%, but Oliver and I match him.

The irony wasn’t lost on her. They wanted her to betray her new employer while dangling the dividends she was already owed.

Her silence stretched. Richard’s patience thinned. "Well?"

Evelyn met his gaze. "And if I refuse?"

His smile was razor-sharp. "Then you’ll learn exactly how powerless those shares make you."

The unspoken threat hung between them.

Evelyn pushed her plate away, appetite gone.

She had walked into Titan Capital for her own reasons.

But Richard Hayes had just drawn the battle lines.

The sun cast long shadows across the polished conference table as Evelyn Carter clenched her fists beneath it.

Horizon Enterprises had thrived in recent years. Shareholders received their quarterly dividends like clockwork—everyone except her.

Richard Hayes had made sure of that.

"Three years," Evelyn said, her voice dangerously calm. "Three years of my dividends, handed to Vanessa Hart. Because you think I owe her for what happened."

Richard didn’t flinch. His expression remained unreadable, but the tension in the room thickened.

Then came the proposition.

Evelyn turned sharply, her gaze locking onto his. "Let me get this straight. You want me to infiltrate Titan Capital Group? To spy for you?" A bitter laugh escaped her. "That’s not just unethical—it’s corporate espionage. Do you honestly expect me to risk prison for this?"

Silence stretched between them.

Richard finally leaned forward, his voice low. "It’s not just about the money, Evelyn. It’s about leverage. And you’re the only one who can get close enough."

Her pulse spiked.

The unspoken threat hung in the air—if she refused, what else would he take from her?

But if she agreed…

She’d be playing a dangerous game. One wrong move, and Alexander Whitmore would see right through her.

And then?

There would be no coming back.