Chapter 5

The moment the article about Zenith Capital was published, it caused an uproar.

The public discussion surrounding the scandal reached an unprecedented level. The mysterious investment firm even sent Vivian an invitation, stating that they hoped to have a friendly discussion regarding certain details mentioned in the report.

A waiter led her through a long corridor lined with soundproof carpeting and stopped in front of a heavy walnut door.

Inside was a private room decorated in a classic Western style, and standing there was one person.

The moment Vivian saw that face, her mind went blank.

It was Evelyn.

"Miss Carter, it is a pleasure to meet you." Evelyn walked forward gracefully and extended her hand. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Evelyn Riley from Zenith Capital."

Vivian forced herself to raise her hand and briefly shook hers.

"Why were you here?"

Evelyn smiled elegantly. "Why pretend to be so surprised? You already knew that the real owner of Zenith Capital was Sebastian. Was that not why you approached him, pursued him openly, and even married him? All just to investigate his company and obtain insider information?"

The insulting accusation made Vivian clench her fist. The pain from her nails digging into her palm was the only thing that brought her back to reality.

"I never had that intention."

"It does not matter." Evelyn did not seem interested in her answer. "I just find you pitiful. You threw away a woman’s dignity pursuing a man. On your wedding day, you were discarded like a piece of trash."

Evelyn put on a faint smile. "Women should still have some restraint. When Sebastian realized he loved me, he was the one who pursued me. From his confession to his proposal, he initiated everything. He always said those were things a man should do, because he could not bear to make the woman he loved take the first step."

Ever since Vivian decided to pursue Sebastian, she heard countless versions of the same story from different people.

She believed she had become immune to it. However, when she heard those words from Evelyn herself, the humiliation and bitterness cut deeper than ever before. Still, Vivian composed herself and met Evelyn’s gaze.

"I never believed that loving someone and bravely pursuing them was something shameful. As for you…" Vivian’s voice remained calm, though an almost imperceptible tremor slipped through. "Someone who interfered in another person’s relationship, what right did you have to stand here and mock my feelings?"

Evelyn’s expression turned cold. Then she smiled.

"Your mental strength really was impressive, Miss Journalist." She stood and slowly walked toward the other side of the room. "I am curious whether you will still be this calm later."

She reached out and pressed a button on the wall. The panels slid open. Behind them was a much larger private room. Beyond the one-way glass, voices carried clearly from the room on the other side.

"Sebastian, you were out of the underworld for over a decade, but when you finally made a move, you cleaned the house and installed an entirely new power structure in the Backstreets. No one here had your kind of nerve." A familiar male voice laughed.

"I also heard that Miss Carter sold all the jewelry and wedding dresses from the ceremony as secondhand items. Your disappearing act really angered her badly. So were you two still getting married?" The person speaking was one of the wealthy heirs. After a brief silence, Sebastian’s voice came through.

"Yes. We will reschedule."

"You were still going through with it?" The young heir sounded disapproving. "Sebastian, do not take this the wrong way, but why bother? The only person you ever really loved was Evelyn anyway. Why not use this opportunity to completely end things with the Carter family?

"Even if your grandfather does not approve of Evelyn, after all these years, as long as you stand your ground, he will eventually give in. Why drag Miss Carter into this? She was just a proper, ordinary journalist. She was not from your world."

Vivian felt every fingertip go numb. As she looked at Evelyn’s composed profile, the truth dawned on her. This had all been a setup.

"She was someone perfectly suited for marriage." Sebastian’s calm voice came through the glass. "She came from a respectable family, had a gentle temperament, knew how to conduct herself, and would make an excellent Mrs. Hayes. She loved me. Besides…"

He paused.

"I did not want marriage to become a cage for Evelyn. She deserved to be free."

Boom.

Vivian felt a loud ringing explode in her ears. Her vision darkened. She nearly lost her balance.

Every fantasy she ever held was crushed by those simple, emotionless words.

She could not stay any longer. She turned around and fled.

The corridor remained silent. Only after she rushed out of the building did she finally stop. Her eyes burned painfully, yet not a single tear fell.

At that moment, her phone vibrated violently inside her bag. She answered mechanically. Mr. Cole’s panicked voice exploded through the receiver.

"Vivian, where were you? Zenith Capital just released an official statement. They completely denied your report. They claim your data sources were unreliable, that your article was based on malicious speculation, and they are preparing to pursue legal action against you."