Chapter 64

Daniel, who had already approached, froze in his tracks.

He turned to stare at Ethan with bewilderment.

Mr. Ethan Caldwell is getting married?

Why is he telling me this?

Is he expecting a wedding gift?

Just as Daniel hesitated over whether to respond, Ethan spoke again, his voice low and rough.

"Evelyn," he said, swallowing hard, as if the words were stuck in his throat.

"I'm getting married. Did you hear me?"

An inexplicable emptiness settled in his chest.

"Evelyn, wait!" Ethan called out, his gaze locked onto her retreating figure.

His voice rose, sharp with urgency.

"I said I'm getting married! Are you listening?"

Evelyn finally turned, her expression cool and detached.

Her eyes met his, devoid of any reaction.

The air between them grew heavy.

Ethan clenched his fists, waiting—hoping—for something, anything.

But Evelyn merely studied him for a brief moment before turning away again, leaving him standing there, hollow.

Daniel watched the exchange, unease prickling at him.

This wasn't just about a wedding announcement.

Something deeper, something unresolved, lingered beneath Ethan's words.

And Evelyn's indifference only made it more unsettling.

"Fine, congratulations," Evelyn replied, her voice steady and devoid of emotion.

Ethan Caldwell froze, unprepared for her indifferent response.

His brows furrowed in irritation. Her reaction was absurd. "What did you just say?" he demanded.

In Ethan's mind, Evelyn had always been obsessed with him. She should have been devastated, begging him to reconsider.

Didn't she love him? Could she really let him go so easily?

Congratulations?

She actually had the nerve to congratulate him?

"If you regret this later, I might still be willing to give you another chance," Ethan murmured, his tone laced with condescension.

But when his gaze met hers—cold and unyielding—he was suddenly reminded of that night at Eclipse Lounge, when she had shattered a bottle against the wall just inches from his head.

In the past, Evelyn would fret over the slightest cough he had. Now, she looked at him as if he were nothing.

A bitter frustration twisted inside him. "You don’t even want this opportunity?" he pressed, his voice tight.

Evelyn didn’t flinch. A mocking smile curved her lips. "No."

Without another word, she turned and pressed the elevator button.

Daniel didn't anticipate stumbling upon such explosive information. He pressed himself against the elevator wall, wishing he could disappear.

When Evelyn stepped inside, he quickly followed, barely making it before the doors slid shut.

Ethan Caldwell stood frozen, his outstretched hand grasping at empty air as the elevator descended without him. His jaw clenched, eyes darkening with barely contained fury.

A junior marketing associate rounded the corner just then, clutching a pile of contracts. "Mr. Caldwell! These need your—"

"Out of my sight," Ethan snarled, swatting the papers from her hands. Documents exploded into the air like confetti, fluttering to the marble floor.

The girl recoiled, her back hitting the wall as if struck. She'd never witnessed the usually composed CEO in such a state—his rage was a living thing, crackling in the space between them.

Trevor Moss emerged from a neighboring elevator, took one look at the scene, and immediately fell into step behind Ethan.

The marketing intern remained statue-still, not daring to breathe until both men disappeared down the corridor. Only then did she sink to her knees, trembling fingers gathering the scattered pages.

Upstairs, Evelyn's knuckles whitened around her purse straps. The elevator's mirrored walls reflected her stormy expression—lips pressed into a bloodless line, eyes glittering with something dangerous.

Daniel cleared his throat. "So... that happened."

Evelyn's answering smile could have cut glass. "Indeed it did."

The numbers above the door continued climbing. Somewhere beneath them, Ethan Caldwell was undoubtedly plotting his next move. But Evelyn Carter-Whitmore had stopped running long ago.

Let him come.

She had an empire to protect.

"Ethan, what's going on? You look furious. Let's hit the Eclipse Lounge after work."

Silence.

Ethan strode toward his office, his expression icy.

Trevor followed, but before he could step inside, the door slammed in his face.

"That's… unusual," Trevor muttered, rubbing his nose.

He frowned, wondering who could have possibly angered Ethan this much.

At Horizon Enterprises, it was tradition for the President’s Office to host a welcome dinner for new hires.

Tonight’s venue? The illustrious Cresthaven Grand Hotel—a seven-star luxury establishment dominating the city’s most vibrant district.

The hotel was a masterpiece, its towering architecture gleaming under the night sky.

Rumors claimed its interiors rivaled royal palaces, dripping with opulence.

But prestige came at a price.

Everyone knew the Cresthaven Grand was exclusive.

Its private rooms were reserved for elite guests only.

And the minimum spend? A staggering six figures.

In the break room of Titan Capital Group's executive floor, Cassandra was preparing coffee when she casually remarked, "Ms. Sloan, I heard Mr. Whitmore reserved the entire Cresthaven Hotel for our team dinner. And he's covering all expenses—is that true?"

Victoria's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Mr. Whitmore has always been exceptionally generous with us. Even while on his business trip to Ostraoland, he made sure to arrange this. Since he can't attend, this is likely his way of compensating."

Cassandra stirred a sugar cube into her coffee thoughtfully. "Speaking of which, what's the name of that new hire in Division Two? We should probably thank her. Rumor has it Mr. Whitmore's sudden generosity might be connected to her."

Victoria's brow furrowed slightly. "Some forgettable name. I don’t even recall it." She waved a dismissive hand. "Thank her? Hardly necessary. She’s just another fresh face. Do you really think someone like her could have that kind of influence?"

The unspoken tension lingered between them, neither willing to voice the quiet suspicion that perhaps the newcomer wasn’t as insignificant as she seemed.

Outside the break room, the office buzzed with excitement over the upcoming dinner—unaware of the subtle power shifts already at play.