Chapter 451

Evelyn stood frozen for a moment. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "I suppose so."

"What about the children?" Richard's question came slowly, weighted with concern. "They'll be devastated if you two separate, won't they?"

Evelyn pressed her lips together until they formed a thin line. "Nathan promised we'd co-parent after the divorce. That means I can still be part of their lives..."

Richard's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Nathan Goldmann actually said that?"

Honestly, he'd never expected the ruthless CEO to make such concessions.

Evelyn gave a small nod. Given Nathan's power and influence, he could have easily stripped her of all parental rights. He could have made sure she never saw the children again or received a single penny.

Yet he hadn't. This convinced her there were deeper reasons behind his sudden demand for divorce - reasons he stubbornly refused to share.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Gregory. Stepping aside, she answered. "Yes, Uncle Gregory? Alright, I'll be there shortly."

"Gregory needs you?" Richard inquired as she ended the call.

Evelyn turned to face him. "Yes. Dad, could you watch the kids? I need to head to the office for a bit."

Richard smiled warmly. "Of course. Drive carefully."

Arriving at Soul Jewelry's headquarters, Evelyn immediately spotted Gregory in deep discussion with the photography crew in the main hall.

From their earlier phone conversation, she'd learned Soul had contracted rising starlet Iris Linwood as their new spokesperson. Today was the scheduled shoot, but the temperamental actress had kept everyone waiting all morning without showing up.

Multiple calls to Iris's assistant had yielded only threats - they'd cancel the entire deal if pressured further, as Iris was allegedly tied up filming a reality show.

Soul could reschedule, but the photography crew's time was money.

"Zoe," Gregory approached her, frustration evident in his tone, "The crew can't wait any longer. Ms. Linwood signed the contract, but her behavior is completely unprofessional and jeopardizing our entire production schedule."

Evelyn studied his face. "Have you managed to speak with Ms. Linwood directly?"

Gregory shook his head grimly.

Nearby, a staff member muttered under their breath, "That Iris is being a complete diva. If she didn't want the job, she shouldn't have signed the damn contract."

Every element was prepared - costumes, jewelry sets, lighting rigs. The crew stood ready, their expensive equipment idling. Even basic rehearsals would take hours they no longer had.

Evelyn rested her chin thoughtfully on her hand. After a moment's consideration, she announced, "We'll find a replacement."

"A replacement?" The staff exchanged shocked glances. Finding someone suitable on such short notice seemed impossible.

Moreover, as a new player in the jewelry industry, Soul lacked connections. Their million-dollar contract with Iris represented a major investment. Who would step in at the last minute?

Evelyn's gaze remained steady. "They breached contract first by failing to show. I see no issue with replacing them. We can't afford to wait indefinitely."

"But who could possibly help us now?" Gregory frowned. Securing another celebrity within hours was unrealistic.

Then inspiration struck. Evelyn's lips curved into a knowing smile. "We don't necessarily need an actress. We just need someone with significant social influence, correct?"

Gregory blinked. "Zoe, you don't mean..."

"I have the perfect candidate in mind," Evelyn said, already scrolling through her contacts. A crew member nearby asked skeptically, "Who besides a celebrity has that kind of reach?"

Evelyn raised the phone to her ear, answering calmly, "How about Lucas Laurent, the heir to the Laurent fashion empire?"