"Absolutely! The founder is famously devoted. Remember, he just dropped a billion on a necklace at auction for his wife."

"Oh, that's right! I completely forgot about that!"

Evelyn, however, had little interest in such gossip.

Whether it was Amelia Sterling or the enigmatic founder of Aethelgard Industries, their lives had little overlap with her own.

Her only flicker of curiosity was about the founder's appearance. This morning, her thoughts were completely occupied with Theodore Vance's design.

She and Alexander had agreed—since Theodore refused to take the money back, the only way to settle the debt was to finish the design and deliver it.

That would clear her obligation.

After two solid days of intense work, Evelyn finally completed the wedding gown Theodore had commissioned.

Once it was finished, Alexander arranged for it to be delivered directly to Theodore's residence.

They didn't bother to check if he received it personally.

That day, Evelyn was deep in her work when a company-wide announcement sparked a wave of excitement.

"The annual company event is coming up soon!"

"The prizes are always unbelievable! I wonder what they'll be this year!"

"Never mind the prizes, I just want some extra paid leave!"

Stepping out of her office, Evelyn heard the chatter and smiled.

"Sounds like we all share the same dream. A few extra days off would be perfect," she commented.

A few colleagues turned to her, smiling. "Evelyn, what brings you out here?"

She grinned. "I saw the announcement too."

Then, someone proposed a wild idea. "What if the grand prize this year is a private dinner with the founder himself?"

The office erupted with excited murmurs.

"Oh my God! That would be a dream come true! I'd die for that!"

"Imagine the incredibly fancy restaurant he'd take you to!"

"All you ever think about is food."

One colleague turned to Evelyn with a playful grin. "What about you? You must want this prize. You've always looked up to the founder, haven't you?"

A few others turned to look at her, their expressions curious.

"Is that true?"

Evelyn gave a light laugh. "Well, my introduction to design was through the company he built. It inspired me to enter this field, so in a way, he played a part in shaping my career path."

"Ohhh, that makes sense."

"But I highly doubt I'd win anything," Evelyn added with a shrug.

"You never know! Everyone has a chance!" a colleague encouraged.

Evelyn smiled but shook her head. "Even if I did win, I couldn't go. My husband is ridiculously overprotective. He'd undoubtedly create a massive scene over it, and frankly, I don't have the energy to handle that."

The room fell silent for a moment as the realization sunk in. Oh, right. Evelyn wasn't just married—her husband was Alexander Blackwood, the eldest son of the powerful Blackwood family.

Alexander had a formidable reputation in Crestwood, but her colleagues genuinely wished her happiness.

"She says it like it's a burden, but you can hear the fondness in her voice."

"She's so kind and stunning—if I were her husband, I'd be watching everyone around her too."