Chapter 724

The office door rattled under heavy blows, accompanied by the metallic clang of something striking its surface.

Evelyn set down her fountain pen, fingertips brushing over Alexander's handwritten authorization letter. The paper still carried his signature ink scent, each stroke pressed deep into the fibers.

"Dr. Carter, don't go out there!" Emily Zade's forehead gleamed with sweat. "They're here to make trouble."

Evelyn folded the document neatly and tucked it inside her blazer. She'd deliberately worn the charcoal gray suit Alexander gifted her, even pinning her hair into a flawless chignon.

As the lock gave way, the man brandishing a fire axe froze mid-swing under her arctic glare.

"Mr. Feng." Her voice could frost glass. "Hamilton Group's emergency equipment is for saving lives, not circus performances."

The project manager paled, shrinking behind his entourage of burly security guards now holding their breath.

"Mrs. Hamilton, we're just concerned about Mr. Hamilton's safety—"

"Concerned enough to break down doors?" Her heels clicked like ice cubes on marble. "Or perhaps more concerned about those untraceable kickbacks?"

Emily gasped. Attorney Grant immediately began recording.

Feng's Adam's apple bobbed violently. "That's slander! I'll file a complaint with the board!"

"Unnecessary." Evelyn extracted a file from her briefcase. "These are your financial transactions with Laurent Group. Three days after Alexander disappeared, you wired eight million offshore—need I remind you this constitutes embezzlement?"

The hallway plunged into tomb silence.

Feng's face turned ashen. He lunged for the documents, but Evelyn sidestepped smoothly. A private seal clattered to the floor.

The Hamilton crest gleamed coldly under fluorescent lights.

"Two choices." She retrieved the seal. "Take your severance and vanish, or I invite the Economic Crime Division for tea."

Muffled gasps erupted. Several board-appointed observers retreated toward the elevators.

By afternoon, Hamilton's intranet exploded.

[SHOCKER! CEO's wife wields authority, Feng escorted out immediately]

[Finance Dept purge: 3 accounts frozen]

[Insider: Mr. Hamilton left contingency—seal & authorization with Dr. Carter]

Evelyn stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, watching sunset bleed across the skyline. Baby Chloe babbled in the nursery where Lily Waters sang newly learned lullabies.

"Dr. Carter, Directors Wang and Zhao demand an emergency board meeting." Emily entered with a tablet. "The group chat says—"

"That this outsider isn't fit as interim CEO?" Evelyn's fingertip traced the scrolling messages. "Tell them I expect every director in the conference room by 10 AM tomorrow."

Midnight found Evelyn pacing the bedroom with a wailing infant. The tiny fists clutched her collar between hiccuping sobs.

"If Alexander were here..." Her gaze drifted sideways to the empty bed where only an unfinished financial report lay.

In the bedside frame, Alexander cradled their daughter with heartbreaking tenderness—their last photo after returning from the island retreat.

Dusting the frame, she discovered a note tucked behind. Familiar handwriting pressed deep into the paper:

"If I'm ever gone, remember our promise."

A teardrop smudged the ink. The baby suddenly quieted, pressing a soft palm to her damp cheek.