Chapter 49

"Sophia, stop." Evelyn grabbed Sophia Blanchet's wrist.

Sophia's fist froze an inch away from Adrian Valentine's nose.

Her jaw clenched, fury blazing in her eyes.

"Boss..."

"Business first." Evelyn shot Adrian a cold glance. "Once the truth comes out, you can hit him all you want."

Sophia reluctantly withdrew her hand, glaring daggers at Adrian.

Adrian stared at Evelyn's swollen cheek, his dark eyes stormy, chest heavy as if weighed down by a boulder.

She could have dodged that.

He'd put his full strength into that slap.

Evelyn pulled out a tissue and spat out blood.

Margaret Valentine's lips curled in satisfaction.

"Evelyn, confess now and spare yourself the pain," Isabella Langley taunted from behind.

Evelyn pressed her lips together, left ear ringing, half her face burning.

"Boss." Sophia's eyes reddened with心疼.

The pampered princess had never suffered such humiliation before.

The Valentines would pay.

"I'm fine." Evelyn suppressed the rising tide of pain.

"Hand over the stock transfer agreement, or you won't leave this house today," Adrian growled.

His grandmother's shares were the Valentine family's lifeline—they couldn't fall into outsider hands.

Evelyn met his gaze calmly. "I told you, I don't have it."

"Evelyn, embezzlement is a felony. No matter how much you hate Adrian, don't throw your future away." Isabella feigned shock, her smile radiant.

That slap had been so satisfying.

"Hate?" Evelyn laughed lightly, eyes glinting with shards of ice. "He's not worth it."

Adrian's breath hitched, heart squeezed by an invisible fist.

Margaret frowned impatiently. "Adrian, take Isabella to see Grandma. As for this thief, I'll let the police handle her."

They needed to end this quickly.

Adrian added coldly, "Throw that maid in jail too. Until they surrender the shares."

He'd make Evelyn beg on her knees.

Evelyn went cold, every limb numb with icy dread.

"Adrian, you claim Martha gave me the agreement. When exactly did that happen?"

Martha Dimucci's eyes darted nervously. "L-last night."

"Oh? Where did we meet?" Evelyn pressed.

Beads of sweat formed on Martha's forehead. She'd never even seen Evelyn.

"The b-back gate... Miss Langley, you can't abandon me now! I already took your two million..."

Isabella gasped dramatically. "My God! Grandma's shares are worth billions, and you fell for this?"

She turned to Evelyn, face a mask of shock. "Evelyn, how could you be so cruel?"