Chapter 529

Evelyn noticed Victoria's icy demeanor and felt a pang in her chest.

Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt as she suppressed her emotions.

Nathan's eyes had only warmed when Evelyn entered the room.

But Victoria wasn't ready to admit defeat and slink away like some pathetic loser.

As long as Nathan and Evelyn weren't married, there was still hope.

Even as an illegitimate daughter and imposter, being recognized by the Ashford family made her their Second Young Lady.

Victoria inhaled sharply before turning pleading eyes to Harrison. "May I use Mr. Blackwood's private washroom to freshen up?"

She needed to stay until Evelyn left. If Nathan saw her in his office, he couldn't possibly ignore her.

Harrison shifted uncomfortably. "I'm afraid that's not possible. President Blackwood's private spaces are strictly off-limits. Perhaps you could use the facilities in the lobby, Ms. Ashford?"

Victoria froze, stunned by the rejection.

Her face flushed crimson before settling into an ashen pallor. Forcing a brittle smile, she nodded and hurried away.

In the conference room...

Dominic couldn't resist teasing Nathan. "Mr. Blackwood, your popularity with women is impressive, but your rejection was brutal. How does anyone tolerate you?"

Nathan glanced at Evelyn, who remained impassive.

He exhaled sharply.

"If you feel sorry for her, take her home yourself."

Dominic rubbed his nose. "I'm a married man..."

Evelyn tapped the table sharply. "Let's focus. I have another appointment."

Dominic's expression turned serious. "The AI car chip we developed was sent to Europe, but there was an incident during the third test at the European Autopilot Research Institute."

The air grew heavy.

Nathan's eyes narrowed while Evelyn fixed Dominic with an intense stare.

This project was the flagship collaboration between their three companies. After pioneering AI in medicine, their follow-up research had drawn global attention.

Failure would be catastrophic.

Dominic handed a flash drive to Harrison, who quickly projected the data.

The test footage showed initial excitement turning to stunned silence. Everything proceeded perfectly until...

The vehicle completed a flawless right-angle turn before suddenly careening into an abandoned factory wall.

Smoke obscured panicked shouts as the car crumpled against concrete. The collapsing structure buried the vehicle and researcher beneath debris.

The video froze on that horrifying final frame.

Evelyn's breath caught. She whirled toward Dominic.

"Casualties?"

Dominic's face was grim. "The researcher survived but remains hospitalized. European public opinion has turned against us. The backlash could be devastating."

Nathan's expression darkened. "Cause?"

Evelyn leaned forward.

Dominic explained, "The test vehicle was entirely AI-controlled with no manual override. Human error is impossible. The chip is clearly defective, but European authorities have seized it for investigation. Access will be difficult."

Evelyn exchanged glances with Nathan, whose jaw tightened. "I'll handle this. If the chip's faulty..."