Did You Miss Me That Much?

The internet erupted.

The hacker's evidence spread like wildfire.

No one could process the revelation.

"Holy crap! Julian Thorne manipulated the submission timestamp!"

"Wait... Julian altered the time? And Evelyn's signature is on the original file? That means she's the true designer and he stole from her!"

"This is unbelievable! The sheer audacity!"

"Did you all catch that? Julian submitted his design after Evelyn's gown was already on display. This was a deliberate setup!"

"Julian is the plagiarist! We all wrongfully attacked Evelyn..."

The screen recording provided by the hacker left the online community in stunned silence.

What an insane plot twist.

"Julian steals Evelyn's work, then has the nerve to accuse her of plagiarism? I can't even comprehend this level of deceit."

"What a despicable human being!"

Yet, even with this irrefutable proof, a few stubborn voices clung to their disbelief.

"Julian didn't even know Evelyn before this. Why would he frame her? What's his motive?"

"Are you seriously still defending him? Open your eyes! The man gained massive publicity from this entire scandal!"

"Julian's career was stagnating. Now he's the center of attention, landing new high-profile clients. That's a huge benefit right there."

The sudden shift in the narrative sent shockwaves through the digital world.

The internet became a chaotic battleground once more.

Evelyn found no peace, even after releasing her official statement.

She knew her own innocence, but proving it to the world had seemed impossible.

If public opinion remained against her, her career was finished.

Nathanial had destroyed her original drafts. Her digital signature was her last remaining piece of evidence.

When Evelyn saw the hacker's video, her breath caught.

Then, a wave of immense relief washed over her.

She never expected vindication to arrive so swiftly.

It was true. Julian Thorne had orchestrated the entire scheme against her.

The weight of the false accusation finally lifted. Tears of relief welled in her eyes. She was free.

A wave of relief washed over her.

Yet, confusion quickly followed.

Evelyn was completely baffled. She had never even met Julian Thorne before. There was no reason for him to target her. Why would he try to frame her?

Before she could untangle the mystery, the sound of a car engine cut through the silence.

Alexander was home!

Evelyn sprang to her feet and hurried outside. The moment she saw him, she couldn't contain herself. She ran straight into his arms.

"Alexander!" she cried out.

Alexander let out a low groan as a sharp pain shot through his injured arm.

His assistant's face twisted with immediate concern. He instinctively stepped forward to intervene.

Alexander silenced him with a single, icy glare.

The assistant immediately bit his tongue, stepping back.

Evelyn, startled by his pained sound, quickly pulled away. "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice laced with worry. "Did I hurt you?"

Before she could fully understand, Alexander pulled her back against his chest. His arm tightened securely around her waist. "I'm fine," he reassured her, his voice deep and soft. "You just surprised me. I didn't expect such a passionate welcome after being gone only a short while. Did you miss me that much?"