Chapter 293

"Isabella, do you have too much free time on your hands?" Evelyn slammed the documents onto the desk. "The design department's progress is unacceptable. What kind of director are you?"

Lily Lu paled. "Evelyn, we've been working overtime—"

"I don't want excuses!" Evelyn cut her off coldly. "I want fifty new designs within a week. Otherwise, someone else will take your position."

Lily clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.

Stepping out of the office, she took a deep breath and called the design team.

"Everyone, meeting room. Now."

The moment the new demand was announced, chaos erupted.

"Fifty?! Is she insane?"

"She still hasn't explained the plagiarism scandal from the last competition, and now this?"

"I heard she and Ethan—"

Lily slammed the table. "Enough! Anyone who wants to quit can leave right now!"

Meanwhile, in the MY CEO's office.

Evelyn stared at her computer screen, unable to focus.

Last night, Ethan had claimed a company emergency. But Sophia had seen him escorting a drunk Isabella into a hotel.

Her phone rang.

"Evelyn." Ethan's voice came through the receiver. "What would you like for dinner? I'll have the kitchen prepare it."

Her grip tightened on the phone. "Where were you last night?"

A noticeable pause.

"There was an urgent matter at the office—"

"Ethan!" She shot to her feet. "You're still lying to me?"

After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Isabella was drunk. I just took her to the hotel."

"And then?" Her voice trembled. "What happened there?"

"Nothing! I left right after dropping her off. You can check the security footage!"

Evelyn hung up with a bitter laugh.

Thirty minutes later, Ethan's text appeared: I'm outside your office. We need to talk.

In the underground parking lot.

Ethan grabbed her arm as she tried to leave. "At least let me explain."

"Explain what?" She yanked free. "How you keep making exceptions for her? Or why you lied to me?"

"It was an accident. Her client kept pressuring her to drink, and Colin was unavailable—"

"Enough!" She cut him off. "The same excuses every time. I gave you chances, Ethan."

As she turned to leave, he pulled her into an embrace from behind.

"Trust me one last time." His voice held rare desperation. "I swear I'll cut all contact with her."

She pried his hands away. "I can't believe your promises anymore."

For the next week, Evelyn stayed at the office.

Until the call came from Harmony Manor: "Madam, the family expects you at Master Adrian's welcome banquet tonight."