Chapter 436

Gregory Wilson's brow furrowed briefly before smoothing again. He knocked gently on Evelyn Carter's door, his voice warm. "We're back."

White Coat wagged its tail and barked happily.

"Yeah." Evelyn's response was absentminded. She sat curled in the armchair by the window, her gaze unfocused as she stared outside.

Gregory didn't press her. He silently cleared the dining table before retreating to the kitchen. The sound of running water and clinking dishes filled the space.

The living room was so quiet the ticking of the clock echoed.

"Did the talk not go well?" Gregory emerged drying his hands, crouching before her.

Evelyn forced a bitter smile. Not well? It had been a disaster. She steadied her voice. "He's in no state to communicate right now. Thank you, Dr. Wilson, but I need to be alone."

"Alright." He rose, hesitating slightly before moving to the doorway. He crouched again to ruffle White Coat's head. "Stay with her." The dog nuzzled his palm before obediently settling by the entryway.

The clock struck three in the afternoon. Her phone screen remained stubbornly dark. Evelyn finally couldn't sit still any longer. She dialed Vivian Dempsey's number.

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable..."

The automated voice repeated five times. Evelyn grabbed her coat and bolted out the door, heading straight for Dempsey Tower.

The once-grand office building now stood eerily empty. The reception desk was unmanned. A handful of employees packed their belongings. Seeing her enter, they shook their heads. "Miss Dempsey's phone is off. The bank representatives were just here—they're seizing company assets."

Before they finished speaking, several uniformed figures exited the conference room. The lead lawyer flipped through documents. Evelyn approached quickly. "Are you with the bank?"

The lawyer eyed her. "Are you Vivian Dempsey?"

"I'm her friend. How bad is it?"

He adjusted his glasses. "It's beyond bankruptcy liquidation. These assets won't cover a fraction."

Evelyn's fingers turned icy. "Are you pressing charges?"

"The legal representative must be held accountable." He closed the folder. "Sorry, we're on a tight schedule."

"Wait!" She blocked his path. "Just thirty minutes. I promise it's not a delay tactic."

The lawyer frowned. "What could change in thirty minutes?"

"Pushing someone into jail helps no one." Evelyn met his gaze squarely. "If nothing changes by then, I won't stop you."

He checked his watch. "Thirty minutes."

Evelyn ducked into the fire escape, hands trembling as she dialed a long-saved number.

"Evelyn?" Anthony Taylor's voice held surprise. "Are you okay?"

"Dad..." The word caught in her throat. "I need to borrow money."

"How much?"

"Fifteen million."

Silence stretched for several seconds. Anthony sighed. "I have three million in personal funds. The rest..." He paused. "Company funds require Alexander's authorization to move."