Chapter 779

Evelyn rolled her eyes. Her brother Lucas had zero tact, always bringing up the wrong people at the worst possible moments.

"Did they take down the trending topic?" She was a master at changing subjects.

Lucas nodded eagerly, updating her on the situation.

"Gone two hours before Preston predicted. Vanished without a trace. That woman's account got suspended too. She posted a retraction, admitting she was paid to spread lies."

He leaned forward, eyes gleaming.

"Turns out she barely knew Preston. Just interned at his investment bank once. That 'couple photo'? Cropped from a group shot during her internship."

Evelyn's lips curled in disgust. "She's got a death wish."

Lucas smirked. "The internet turned on her fast. Everyone's calling her out for manipulating public sympathy. But Preston?" He whistled. "That man plays dirty."

"How so?"

"Normally, victims send lawyer letters. Get an apology and move on. Not Preston." Lucas chuckled. "He took her apology letter straight to the police as evidence. Got her arrested red-handed. Brutal efficiency."

Evelyn's smile turned razor-sharp. "Waste not, want not."

"Would've been perfect if she hadn't tried fleeing the country at dawn." Lucas sighed dramatically. "Police nabbed her at the airport. Wish I'd seen that."

She couldn't care less about the spectacle. Only the outcome mattered.

"Any stock market fallout?"

"Opposite. With the rumor-monger arrested, all accusations against you collapsed. Public sympathy sent our stocks soaring."

Evelyn exhaled in relief. The tension in her shoulders eased.

"Good. As long as my money's safe."

Pushing her plate away, she stood. "I'm calling Alexander."

Lucas frowned, gulping down her abandoned orange juice. "He said to focus on recovering. No work."

Evelyn turned, icy laughter hanging in the air.

"This isn't work. It's annihilation." She didn't just mean Nathan Blackwood. She meant them all.

Lucas pressed his lips together. Wise men didn't interfere when women waged war.

Thirty minutes later, Evelyn emerged from the study, phone in hand, victory already dancing in her eyes.

Bypassing Lucas and Donovan, she contacted a media platform. Got a number. Dialed.

A groggy, raspy voice answered. "Who's this?"

Evelyn's tone dripped honeyed venom. "Hello, 'Shai.' Evelyn Sinclair, CEO of Sterling Enterprises."

Dead silence. Then sharp, panicked breathing. The infamous anti-fan never expected her personal call.

"Y-You—"

Shai had taken fortunes to smear Evelyn—fabricating affairs, scandals, every vicious lie imaginable. Half his peers were in jail thanks to her lawsuits.

Evelyn's laugh was velvet-wrapped steel. "Relax. If I wanted you arrested, I wouldn't be calling."

She paused, letting fear sink in.

"I need a favor. Do it well, and I'll pay ten times your usual rate. Plus a job at Horizon Media." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Interested?"