Chapter 61

"You insolent fool! She's Evelyn Carter! The youngest Carter heir, your betrothed!" Reginald's voice boomed through the speakers, vibrating with barely contained rage.

He had sent Adrian to Pamore specifically to cultivate closeness with Evelyn.

Dominic had objected to this arrangement, forcing Reginald to promise secrecy about Evelyn's true identity. In exchange, Adrian had been permitted to work at Kingsley Industries.

Yet this imbecile had not only broken the engagement but dared to call Evelyn an ugly hag in front of their elders.

Reginald's temples throbbed with rising blood pressure. How he longed to reach through the screen and throttle his son.

Adrian staggered to his feet, shaking his head in disbelief as he stared at Evelyn.

The stunning goddess before him couldn't possibly be the same woman from his memories.

"The woman I've been pursuing... is the fiancée I've been trying to avoid?"

He wished the floor would swallow him whole. "This can't be happening!"

With a shuddering exhale, he stumbled out like a man possessed, drawing muffled laughter from Evelyn.

After terminating the call, she collapsed into gales of unrestrained laughter in her empty office. Sweet revenge tasted better than she'd imagined.

Watching her tormentor's soul leave his body brought more satisfaction than any lottery win. Moments later, Dominic called. "Yes, Dominic?" she answered, still breathless with amusement.

"How can you laugh when your fiancé just humiliated you publicly?" Dominic's voice crackled with indignation. How dare Adrian Prescott reject his precious sister?

"Of course I'm laughing. That arrogant peacock needed this reality check. Nobody insults a Carter and gets away with it."

"And his courtship?" Dominic paused. "Don't concern yourself with the Prescott alliance."

"Our business stands strong without marriage pacts. Follow your heart - I'll handle the fallout."

Warmth flooded Evelyn's chest. Her family's unwavering support always fortified her. "Dominic, you remember how he mocked me. Why would I—"

A small smile played on her lips. "At most, I hold a petty grudge. Nothing more."

"Understood," Dominic said simply. "Aunt Beatrice just returned from her global tour and will be in Frenda briefly. Care to visit?"

Evelyn's eyes sparkled. "Finally! I've been dying to see her!"

"She's hosting a photography exhibition there and requested your presence."

"Count me in. I'll fly over immediately after Sophia's jewelry showcase. Julian will be in Frenda too - perfect timing!"

Evelyn's heart swelled with joy. Dominic remained the sole person before whom she could shed her prickly exterior. After discussing the Horizon Technologies collaboration, they ended the call.

That evening, Evelyn accompanied Olivia to VERE Jewelry. Sophia was preparing another Pamore exhibition, demanding her best friends' support.

VERE's avant-garde designs had earned global acclaim.

Pamore's elite had gone into frenzy upon hearing designer Sophia Whitmore would exhibit locally.

Society women clutched their purses in anticipation. While browsing, Evelyn and Olivia discovered several exquisite bracelets.

As a staff member retrieved their selections, Evelyn's fingers brushed against another's.

Celia - or rather, Vanessa Sterling - stood surrounded by socialites, her face twisting in disgust.

"Ugh, my evening's ruined!" Vanessa sneered, snapping her fingers. "Someone fetch sanitizer. Immediately."

Olivia recognized her instantly. "Shouldn't you be in custody? The Sterlings must've pulled strings again."

Ice crystallized in Evelyn's gaze. Predictable - that family specialized in evading accountability.

Vanessa's expression darkened. "Slander! I'll sue you for defamation!"

"Please do! The publicity might revive your dying social relevance," Olivia shot back.

Gasps erupted from Vanessa's entourage. "Vanessa, we missed that banquet... Are the rumors true? Did you actually get arrested?"

"You insolent fool! She's Evelyn Carter! The youngest Kingsley heir, your betrothed!"

Reginald's voice boomed through the speakers with such force it seemed to rattle the screen.

He had sent Adrian to Pamore specifically to foster closeness with Evelyn.

Dominic had objected to this arrangement, forcing Reginald to swear secrecy about Evelyn's true identity. In exchange, Adrian had been permitted to work at Kingsley Industries.

Yet this imbecile had not only broken the engagement but dared to call Evelyn an ugly hag in front of their elders.

Reginald could feel his temples throbbing. He desperately wished he could reach through the screen and throttle Adrian himself.

Adrian staggered to his feet, shaking his head in disbelief as he stared at Evelyn.

The stunning woman before him bore no resemblance to the plain girl he remembered.

"The goddess I've been pursuing... is actually the fiancée I've been avoiding?"

He wanted the ground to swallow him whole. "This can't be happening!"

With a shuddering sigh, he stumbled out like a man possessed, his soul seemingly drained from his body. Evelyn couldn't suppress her laughter at the sight.

After ending the call, she laughed until tears streamed down her face in the privacy of her office. Revenge truly tasted sweetest when served cold.

Seeing her tormentor so thoroughly crushed brought her more satisfaction than any business triumph. Later, Dominic called. "Yes, brother?" Evelyn answered, still chuckling.

"How can you laugh when your fiancé just humiliated you publicly?" Dominic's voice simmered with anger. How dare Adrian Prescott reject his precious sister?

"Laugh? I'm celebrating. That arrogant peacock needed this lesson. Now he'll think twice before disrespecting a Kingsley."

"And what of his courtship now?" Dominic paused. "Don't concern yourself with the Prescott alliance."

"Our family needs no marriage contracts to secure power. Follow your heart, and I'll handle the consequences."

Warmth flooded Evelyn's chest. Her family's unconditional support was her greatest strength. "Dominic, after how he mocked me all these years? You think I could ever care for him?"

A small smile played on her lips. "At most, I'll stop resenting him. But that's all."

"Understood," Dominic said simply. "Aunt Beatrice just returned from her global tour and will be in Frenda briefly. Would you like to visit?"

Evelyn's eyes sparkled. "Finally! I've missed her terribly!"

"She's hosting a photography exhibition there and specifically requested your presence."

"Consider it done. I'll fly over immediately after Sophia's jewelry showcase. Julian will be in Frenda too. What perfect timing!"

Evelyn's heart swelled with joy. Only with Dominic could she shed her prickly exterior completely. They discussed the Horizon Technologies collaboration before ending the call.

That evening, Evelyn and Olivia attended VERE Jewelry's exclusive preview. As Sophia's closest friends, supporting her Pamore exhibition was non-negotiable.

VERE's avant-garde designs had captivated elites worldwide. Pamore's socialites had been in a frenzy since news broke of Sophia's exhibition.

Every heiress clutched their purses in anticipation. Meanwhile, Evelyn and Olivia browsed the collection, selecting several exquisite bracelets.

As a staff member retrieved their choices, Evelyn's hand accidentally brushed against another shopper's. She turned to face Vanessa Sterling, whom she hadn't seen since the scandal.

"Ugh, my evening's ruined!" Vanessa sneered to her entourage of socialites. "Someone fetch sanitizer immediately. I need to disinfect."

Olivia recognized Vanessa instantly. "Shouldn't you be in custody? The Sterlings must have pulled strings to spring you so quickly."

Ice flashed in Evelyn's eyes. Just as expected - the Sterlings' shameless privilege knew no bounds.

They always excused their family's transgressions while holding others to impossible standards.

Vanessa's face twisted in rage. "How dare you! I'll sue for defamation!"

"Please do! The publicity will remind everyone of your arrest," Olivia fired back without hesitation.

The socialites gasped. "Vanessa, we missed that gala. Are the rumors true? Were you actually detained?"