"Understood," Evelyn said, her voice calm and even.

Amelia stood up, swinging her designer handbag onto her shoulder. She walked out alone. "Ensure the design is completed promptly. I will return to evaluate it in a few days."

Stepping out of the conference room, a glint of pure confidence shone in Amelia's eyes.

A subtle, knowing smile curved her lips.

Just as anticipated, Evelyn remained completely unaware that her husband was the powerful figure behind Aethelgard Industries. His choice to reveal this truth to Evelyn spoke clearly of his utter indifference towards her.

A beautiful face meant little without the right pedigree and connections.

She, Amelia Sterling, was in an entirely different league compared to Evelyn.

This certainty only served to amplify her self-assurance.

Meanwhile, Evelyn had just shut her notebook when her colleagues quickly swarmed around her desk.

"Evelyn, how did the meeting go?"

"What brought Miss Sterling here to see you?"

"It's a shock to see her back after she left in tears last time, all because of something involving our founder."

"I saw her leaving—Miss Sterling actually looked pleased."

"Our founder upset her, yet she's smiling after a meeting with you."

Evelyn let out a soft laugh at their wild speculations. "Your imaginations are truly something else."

Holding up her notebook, she raised an eyebrow. "Miss Sterling was here for a business discussion. That's all."

A wave of disappointment washed over the group.

"Just business? We were hoping for some real drama."

Evelyn playfully tapped the head of the most notorious gossip. "Always digging for scandal, aren't you? Want to know all the secrets."

She clapped her hands sharply to get their attention. "Enough chit-chat. Everyone back to work, unless you want to be here until midnight."

"Understood, Evelyn," they chorused, dispersing back to their workstations.

Evelyn released a quiet sigh of relief as they scattered.

Thankfully, the conference room's soundproof walls had kept her entire conversation with Amelia private.

Back in her private office, Evelyn placed her notebook on the desk.

Despite Amelia's agreement to proceed with the design collaboration, the probing questions about her personal life lingered uncomfortably.

Something felt distinctly off about Amelia's intense focus on her marital status, particularly the pointed inquiries about her husband.

Evelyn recalled the office gossip suggesting Amelia might have developed feelings for the founder of Aethelgard Industries.

Yet, Evelyn herself had no connection to the man.

Despite this, a nagging feeling insisted this information was significant. It was a thought she couldn't easily dismiss.

A memory suddenly surfaced in Evelyn's mind.

Not long ago, she had been embroiled in a plagiarism scandal and was forcibly dismissed by Nathanial, who was managing the department at the time.

Later, when her name was cleared, she remembered that the founder of Aethelgard Industries had personally defended her using the company's official social media account.

At the time, Evelyn had been astonished that someone of his immense stature would publicly support a designer of her standing.

Now, thinking back, could Amelia's hostility possibly stem from having seen that very public endorsement?