Chapter 11. Guilty Before Proof

After hanging up, the car fell into silence.

Sebastian glanced at her. “If you don’t want to go home right now, I can help.”

“You’re joking, Mr. Reed? Even if I don’t go back now, I’ll have to sooner or later.”

His cold stare made Evelyn rush to change her tone. “I mean, even if it’s about filing for divorce, I still have to face him, right?”

“So how are you planning to explain what happened today?”

“Didn’t you already give them an explanation?”

One of Sebastian’s brows arched slightly. In a calm voice, he said, “How many people do you think will actually buy that story? Delivering a business proposal in a bar, just happening to fall into someone’s arms, and then just happening to be photographed at the perfect angle? What are the odds of that? Anyone with half a brain will figure it out.”

The reporters hadn’t left Reed Group because they believed him. They left because none of them dared challenge Sebastian Reed. In Boston, his words could turn black into white. Evelyn, however, didn’t have that kind of power.

“I know,” Evelyn murmured softly, lowering her head. She didn’t continue.

The car sped north toward the residential district.

“Mr. Reed,” Daniel spoke up from the front seat.

They weren’t at the Callahan estate yet, but even from a distance they could see people crouched by the gates, surrounded by cameras, blocking the entrance.

Evelyn immediately straightened in her seat. “Why are they here too?”

“Daniel, turn around,” Sebastian ordered.

“No!” Evelyn cut in quickly. “You won’t get in like this. Better to go somewhere else until security and the property managers clear them out.”

“No need. I have another way in.”

“Mr. Reed, thank you for driving me today. I’ll handle the rest.”

She opened the door and stepped out.

In the rearview mirror, Sebastian frowned. His long, well-shaped fingers twitched as if he’d raise them, then slowly dropped back against the leather seat.

“This is a gated neighborhood, sir,” Daniel said carefully. “The management would never just let reporters swarm in like that.”

“Security at Reed Group isn’t sloppy either, is it?”

Daniel froze, then nodded, understanding. “You think someone set this up?”

“I want every single one of these stories gone before tonight.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll take care of it right away.”

“And find out which outlet ran the photo first, and who fed it to them.”

“Understood.”

In the mirror, Sebastian’s eyes stayed cold, his sharp, chiseled features like a cliff face that made people instinctively avoid meeting his gaze for too long.

By the time Evelyn slipped in through the Callahan back door, the living room felt more like a courtroom than a home.

Her mother-in-law, her sister-in-law, and her husband Lucas were all waiting. The television in the background was running a live broadcast outside their house.

A reporter in the front row wore a mask, with the Callahan villa behind him. “What you’re seeing is the Callahan estate. We’ve just confirmed that Evelyn Sinclair has left Reed Group. As for the alleged inappropriate dealings between her and the Reed Group CEO, we are still trying to verify. For context, Evelyn Sinclair has been married for three years to Lucas Callahan, the young CEO of Callahan Group, and they have yet to have children…”

The last line set Evelyn’s mother-in-law off like a lit fuse.

“Evelyn Sinclair! You have the nerve to come back here? You’ve disgraced this family!”

“Mother, you actually believe garbage like that?” Evelyn’s voice faltered.

The older woman’s words struck like knives. “Garbage? You call it garbage when it’s already on TV? I always wondered how you managed to land so many projects. Turns out this is how you’ve been doing it!”

“Lucas, open your eyes. Look at the kind of woman you married!”

Every word was a thunderclap in Evelyn’s head.

“Exactly, sister-in-law,” Madison sneered, her tone dripping with mockery. “You’ve got no shame. Lucas has done nothing but spoil you, giving in to everything you wanted, and this is how you repay him? By destroying this family’s reputation? Do you know how much this must be breaking his heart?”

Evelyn clenched her fists. Her voice trembled. “What exactly have I done wrong?”

“You still dare to play dumb? Reporters are camped at our front door. If it weren’t for Sebastian Reed’s influence in Boston, your affair would’ve been completely exposed. Lucas would never have found out if not for this scandal!”

She knew Madison had always looked down on her, flaunting her wealth and privilege at every opportunity. Now, with the perfect chance to tear her down, she wouldn’t hesitate for a second.

Evelyn forced herself not to snap back. She turned to the man standing behind Madison. “Do you think that too?”

Lucas just stared at her, silent, unreadable.

“Lucas,” she pressed, “I’m asking you.”

Finally, his brow furrowed. “This isn’t about what I think. You owe me a clear explanation.”

“There’s only one explanation,” Evelyn said firmly. “I secured a partnership contract with Reed Group.”

She pulled the signed contract from her bag. “If you really think I got this through dirty means, then I might as well tear it up right now.”

Her fingers gripped the papers, ready to rip, when Lucas snatched them away.

“Are you insane? Do you have any idea what you’re doing?” he barked.

Evelyn’s heart cracked. In that instant, she knew the truth—Lucas valued that contract far more than he valued her. Even though it was her own effort that made it possible.

“Look at the TV!” Madison suddenly shouted.

Everyone turned toward the screen.

Sebastian Reed appeared, his expression hard and unreadable, his voice calm but carrying authority.

“I deeply admire Evelyn Sinclair’s professional abilities. That is the sole reason I chose to collaborate with Callahan Group,” Sebastian declared.

A reporter immediately jumped in. “But what about the photos in the bar?”

“Gender discrimination in the workplace is still rampant,” Sebastian shot back, his eyes cold. “Are there really still people who think it’s acceptable for men to meet clients in a bar, but the moment a woman does the same thing, she’s branded immoral?”

The press conference erupted in chaos. Questions flew at him one after another.

“But Callahan Group hasn’t released a statement. Doesn’t that mean they’re admitting guilt? And why did you personally show up here?” another reporter pushed.

“That’s correct,” Sebastian replied coolly.

The journalists swarmed, sensing blood.

Inside the Callahan villa, the family members watching the live broadcast looked visibly uncomfortable, as if every accusation they’d hurled at Evelyn moments ago had been slapped back in their faces.

Sebastian turned to the side. His assistant Daniel stepped forward, blocking the cameras. “Ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow morning at ten o’clock, Mr. Reed and Mrs. Sinclair of Callahan Group will hold a joint press conference. You can ask all your questions then. For now, we won’t be addressing personal matters.”