Chapter 740

The crowd fell silent instantly.

Evelyn Sinclair's piercing gaze swept over them. "I'm not Lawrence Sinclair or Victor Langley. I never made you any promises." Her voice cut through the air like ice. "You took unemployment benefits from the state and wasted your days here. I've paid every cent Zenith Corp legally owed you. I have more integrity than they ever did."

The sheer force of her presence left everyone stunned. The silence was deafening.

A restless murmur spread through the group. Someone shouted, "That's our right! You bought the company—you should pay us! We demand the same compensation as those ten people earlier. Why the difference?"

"Yeah! Why not?"

"You barely gave us anything!"

Evelyn's eyes turned glacial as she locked onto the speaker. "No contract, no obligation. I'm not a charity or an endless vault of cash. If you're unhappy, sue me." The moment the words left her lips, the crowd erupted in outrage.

Then, her tone softened.

"But... I understand life isn't easy for any of you." She gestured to a briefcase nearby. "There's a million dollars here. Split between a hundred of you, that's ten thousand each. If you want it, go register your name and ID. Take the money and leave."

Excitement rippled through the crowd. Ten thousand for sitting around for two days? It was more than they'd expected.

Evelyn continued, her voice firm. "But let me be clear—if you take this money today, don’t come back later crying foul. Those who refuse the cash and want a job will get hiring priority."

The offer hung in the air.

Take ten grand and walk away, or stay for a chance at employment. Both were tempting. The crowd hesitated, weighing their options.

Then, a voice cut through the tension. "Don't trust her! That's nothing! We deserve more!"

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. She flicked a glance at Bennett, who signaled the bodyguards. Within seconds, the troublemaker was restrained.

Her voice remained eerily calm. "Lawrence Sinclair is already behind bars. He doesn’t care about you. He’s using you to cause trouble. If I call the police, every one of you will have a criminal record. Think about your kids—their schools, their futures. You have thirty minutes to decide. After that, I dial the police."

Fear flashed across their faces.

They hadn’t realized the consequences. Some already regretted coming. Their own lives might be ruined, but their children? That was unforgivable.

Evelyn knew their weakness.

The million was her mercy. The police threat, her leverage.

She tossed the megaphone to Jonathan Reeves and strode toward the office, Bennett at her heels.

Inside, her tone was clipped.

"Register every person who takes the money. If they accept compensation, they’re admitting they’re not unemployed. We’ll need proof for the authorities."

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