Evelyn's gaze was trapped.

It was pulled into the profound depths of Alexander's eyes, an irresistible force drawing her in like a moth to a brilliant, consuming flame.

Her palm rested gently against the solid wall of his chest.

Through the fine fabric of his shirt, she could feel the powerful, steady thumping of his heart.

The rhythm was strong and vital.

It seemed to sync with the bittersweet ache pounding within her own chest.

A soft, warm flush began to spread across her cheeks.

The warmth was a visible sign of the emotions swirling inside her.

Yet, she did not pull away.

She held her ground.

A powerful wave of gratitude washed over her, followed by a deep, swelling affection.

The feelings were overwhelming.

But they were also profoundly comforting.

She looked at him, her expression tender and full of resolve.

Evelyn gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"Alright," she whispered, her voice soft but firm. "I will always believe in you."

In that moment, her gratitude for fate deepened immensely.

She was thankful for the unexpected twist that had brought Alexander into her life.

She was thankful for their sudden, arranged marriage.

In her entire world, only two people held this absolute trust.

One was Charlotte, her steadfast childhood friend.

The other was Alexander.

She believed, with all her heart, that he would never betray her.

On the laptop screen, the tense drama continued to unfold.

Julian Thorne faced Cassandra Sterling's sharp, incisive questions.

He maintained an outward calm.

But it was a mask for the turmoil raging inside him.

"On my way here, I felt watched," Julian explained, his voice carefully measured. "There were shadows, following my every move. To lose them, I had to take several detours. It unfortunately cost me precious time."

His eyes were wide, projecting a feigned panic.

"Miss Sterling, you've seen the online frenzy, haven't you?" he pleaded, his tone becoming desperate. "I've been exposed. Evelyn's counterattack was swift. It was merciless. What am I supposed to do now?"

He looked at her, his expression begging for salvation.

"Miss Sterling, you have to help me. You're my only hope."

His words struck a raw nerve in Cassandra.

A furious, white-hot anger ignited within her.

She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

She had a powerful urge to strike the fool standing before her.

He was the source of all this trouble.

But the problem was much larger than just him.

It was a looming catastrophe.

If not dealt with swiftly and decisively, it would explode again.

Cassandra took a long, deep breath.

She forced the storm of her anger back down.

Her voice, when she spoke, was controlled and icy.

"Dragging this out is pointless," she stated coldly. "Given the mess you've created, your only option is to leave. Pack your things. Get out of the country. Stay hidden. Stay completely off the radar. Wait for things to cool down."

She paused, her gaze sharp.

"I will think of a way to bring you back when it's safe."

Julian's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

His lips twisted into a bitter, cynical sneer.

"Bring me back?" he echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "After all this, do you honestly believe there is any coming back for me?"

He released a heavy, burdened sigh.

The sound was filled with a profound bitterness.

"Aligning myself with you has destroyed my reputation," he accused. "Shattered it completely. And now? Now you want to shove me aside? Like I'm just garbage to be swept under the rug?"

He shook his head, his expression turning hard.

"That's not how this works, Miss Sterling. You can't just throw me away."

Fifty million was the price for the job.

But you've destroyed my life.

You're forcing me to leave this city.

You need to pay extra for that.

Her jaw was tight, her teeth clenched.

"How much?" Cassandra demanded, the words sharp.

"Fifty million," Julian Thorne answered instantly, without a hint of hesitation.

A harsh, bitter laugh escaped Cassandra's lips.

"Julian," she snarled, "You have some nerve."

Beside her, Genevieve's face flushed with rage.

"Are you insane?" she shrieked. "Where are we supposed to get that kind of money? Do you think fifty million is pocket change?"

Julian scoffed, his contempt clear.

"Don't play dumb with me," he retorted. "One of you is a famous actress. The other was born into wealth. Look at me! I was a celebrated designer. Respected. Admired. Now I have nothing. My reputation is in ruins because of you."

He gave a low, dark chuckle, his eyes gleaming with threat.

"If you want to avoid your perfect worlds collapsing, you will pay. Pay me what I'm owed. Or I will go public. I will tell everyone how you two conspired to frame Evelyn."