Chapter 700

Leonard Laurent's knuckles turned white, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

"Dad!" Lydia Laurent steadied her swaying father before turning to Alexander Hamilton with practiced doe-eyed vulnerability. "Alexander, Father isn't feeling well. We should take our leave."

Alexander's gaze sharpened like a blade. "As you wish."

Lydia guided her father out, her nails digging into his arm. "Not here, Father..."

A flicker of clarity passed through Leonard's clouded eyes as he stumbled after his daughter.

The office door had barely closed when Daisy Lee hurried in. "Mr. Hamilton, surveillance shows they went straight to the underground garage."

Alexander drummed his fingers against the desk in a measured rhythm.

"Lydia's more dangerous than we thought." Evelyn Carter spoke suddenly, then gave a self-deprecating smile. "Though it's just my intuition."

She didn't expect Alexander's response—this very distance made his eyes darken.

"Why assume I wouldn't believe you?" Alexander closed the distance abruptly, his breath grazing her ear.

Evelyn retreated half a step. "Her innocent act is masterful, but controlling the entire Laurent Group..."

A cooing sound interrupted from the stroller. Alexander lifted his daughter with practiced ease. The infant nuzzled against his arm before drifting back to sleep.

"I should've realized sooner." Alexander settled the child back, voice gravelly. "When Leonard suddenly proposed our marriage alliance, something felt off."

Evelyn arched an eyebrow. "So the CEO was playing along?"

"I wanted to see you jealous." He tugged at his tie with a bitter smirk. "Turns out I was the pawn. From the fake engagement to those business trips—all Lydia's designs."

Daisy interjected, "Sir, I have an idea."

Evelyn's eyes lit up. "A honey trap?"

Alexander's expression darkened instantly.

"After all Lydia's scheming for you..." Daisy adjusted her glasses. "Just dangle some bait—"

"Out of the question!" Alexander yanked his tie loose. "She wants Hamilton Group's resources, not this—"

"Living billboard." Evelyn gestured to the towering ad outside featuring Alexander's profile. "Your market value is... quite irresistible."

Lily Waters suddenly clung to Alexander's leg. "Please save our village!"

Her brother Lotus Waters pressed a faded photograph into his hands—a panoramic view of their soon-to-be-flooded hometown.

Alexander's throat worked before he exhaled heavily. "I'll go. On one condition."

He seized Evelyn's wrist, enunciating each word as she stared wide-eyed: "You'll be my personal 'technical advisor.'"