Chapter 512

The winner was clear.

The misunderstanding between Evelyn and Xavier had been cleared up with her straightforward words.

The director's eyes lit up with excitement. "Enough talk! Let's reset and go again!"

Xavier shot Evelyn a pleading look. She simply took a seat beside the director, watching the scene unfold with detached interest. The studio equipment hummed in front of her.

Eleven takes.

That was how many times Xavier had to dive into the freezing water before the director finally gave his approval. By then, Xavier was shivering violently, his lips tinged blue. He barely remembered Evelyn existed as he stumbled away, desperate for warmth.

Exhaustion weighed his eyelids down.

The director, satisfied at last, called it a wrap.

He turned to Evelyn with a knowing smile. "Ms. Sinclair, Xavier still has much to learn. In the future, don’t hesitate to push him harder. After all, we can always edit out the mistakes. Actors need discipline."

Evelyn returned the smile, but there was no warmth in it. "Exactly. Hardship builds character."

Her words carried no favor for Xavier.

The director wasn’t stupid—he understood immediately.

Had Evelyn waited all this time just to say that?

Their relationship was clearly defined.

Xavier’s assistant approached cautiously. "Ms. Sinclair, I’ll arrange the car for you."

Evelyn nodded. "Don’t forget to wake him in three hours. He still has that commercial shoot."

He saw her as a wealthy patron.

She saw him as a profitable asset.

Both got exactly what they wanted.

The assistant nodded obediently. Though assigned to Xavier, he worked for Horizon Media. He knew who truly signed his paychecks.

By the time Evelyn returned to Sterling Manor, fatigue clung to her like a second skin. Lucas was lounging in the living room, eyeing her with an odd expression. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think better of it.

She had no energy to decipher his thoughts. Scooping up Leo, who was weaving excitedly around her ankles, she headed upstairs to collapse into bed.

The next morning, she woke later than usual.

Descending the stairs, she froze.

William and Lucas were already seated at the dining table, waiting.

Lucas arched a brow. "Little E, got something to hide?"

An interrogation?

Evelyn rolled her eyes and slid into the empty chair beside William. "Plenty. Which secret are you digging for today?"

William cleared his throat, pulled out a tablet, and tapped play.

A familiar voice filled the room.

A student’s question rang out: "What made you walk away from your past relationship?"

Then, her own voice, sharp and unapologetic: "Why settle for trash when I’m the whole damn treasury?"

Her hand, reaching for her coffee, stilled.

She recognized the footage instantly.

Lucas whistled. "Already hit six figures in views. If the platforms hadn’t caught it fast, limiting exposure and deleting it, this would’ve gone nuclear by now."

But their real concern wasn’t the video.

It was Preston Sinclair.

Evelyn met their gazes evenly. "What if we are?"