Chapter 991

Alexander Hamilton's lips curved slightly, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "I bet Victor Laurent will be the first to react. Care to make it interesting?"

"No bets." Evelyn Carter refused bluntly. "You picked Victor, so I'm stuck with Simon Evans. But Vivian Dempsey would never choose him."

She absently stroked her rounded belly, her gaze clear and composed.

Alexander chuckled, caught in his own scheme. "I was going to wager a family trip. After the baby comes, let's take a vacation—just the two of us."

His eyes lingered on Evelyn's tired profile, heart aching. She'd endured so much lately. How he wished he could whisk her away from it all.

"We'll see." She didn't outright reject the idea, a gentle smile playing at her lips.

Alexander's eyes brightened.

"First, explain your reasoning." Evelyn steered the conversation back on track, glancing toward the distant bleachers.

The original trio had become four, yet the divide was stark. Simon stood close to Victor, while Vivian leaned toward Jasmine Valentine. Though their expressions were unclear, their animated conversation was obvious.

"Simon and Vivian are talking." Alexander narrowed his eyes.

The distance would challenge most, but his vision missed nothing.

"He's asking Vivian about financial planning..." Alexander narrated as if standing beside them.

Evelyn blinked. "You can see that from here?"

The奶茶店 was at least eighty meters away!

"I know a bit of lip-reading." His tone was casual, but Evelyn recognized his understatement—when Alexander said "a bit," he meant mastery.

Under the scorching sun, Evelyn couldn't walk further. "Then be my eyes."

On the bleachers, Simon was deep in discussion with Vivian. Normally reserved, he now spoke with uncharacteristic fluency, his professional expertise shining through.

Victor didn't notice at first—until their rapport became undeniable.

Logically, Simon should be discussing business with Alexander. The Hamilton Group dominated Hudson City's finance sector. Yet he'd chosen the Dempsey Group—a company fresh from a delisting scandal.

"Visit my office on a weekday," Vivian's voice held hopeful notes. "We're trying to relist, but the roadblocks..."

Her first application had been rejected outright, and few managers would touch the case since. She hadn't burdened Evelyn with these worries, not wanting to stress the pregnant woman. Instead, she'd opened up to this near-stranger, a former classmate.

Victor's alarm bells rang. He interrupted, heedless of abruptness. "Perfect timing—I want to invest! Take this future shareholder along!"

The excuse was hastily fabricated but plausible.

Vivian laughed. "This is a business meeting, not a field trip."

"It is business!" Victor protested like a petulant child. "I want to see how building materials are produced!"

Unable to dissuade him, Vivian relented. "Fine."

Simon adjusted his glasses, observing coldly. Their dynamic resembled bickering friends, which oddly boosted his confidence.

Noticing Simon's gaze, Victor immediately puffed up like a preening rooster.

From afar, Evelyn and Alexander simultaneously facepalmed.

"Young and energetic? More like juvenile." Evelyn sighed. "Vivian did say she liked younger men, but this is excessive."