Evelyn was wearing flat shoes today, and at 165 cm, she barely reached the man’s earlobe. Last night, in her hurried state, she had only caught a fleeting glimpse of him, leaving little impression. Now, standing less than a meter apart, his sharp features were clearly visible.

He wore understated luxury, and the maturity in his eyes belied his youthful age of just over twenty. The calm and warmth radiating from him was evident. From his perspective, Evelyn appeared casually dressed, her softly curled hair cascading lazily over her shoulders, exuding a relaxed yet vibrant charm. It was a stark contrast to the elegance she had displayed at the gala.

“It was just a small effort, Miss Joy. Please don’t take it to heart,” he said, his voice clear and pleasant. “Has the repair shop given you a quote? I can transfer the repair costs immediately.”

Evelyn lowered her gaze to WhatsApp; the 4S shop had already sent her the estimate—28,700 for the original bodywork plus labor costs. She held her phone up for him to see. “Twenty-eight thousand seven.”

“I’ll transfer it to you right away.” He pulled out his phone, a smile dancing in his eyes. “PayPal, WhatsApp, or bank transfer?”

“PayPal would be easier,” Evelyn replied, not wanting to get into lengthy negotiations.

He frowned slightly. “I apologize, but I don’t have PayPal set up. Let’s go with WhatsApp instead. Please provide your number, Miss.”

Evelyn found it hard to believe that someone in this day and age hadn’t activated PayPal yet, but she provided her number nonetheless. He quickly added her contact and processed the payment.

“Thank you,” Evelyn nodded, creating a bit of distance between them as she began to contact the repair shop. After a brief conversation, she learned that a technician would arrive in about thirty minutes to take her car away. Until then, she would have to wait.

The movie was set to start in ten minutes, so Evelyn sent Jean a voice message explaining the situation and that she would join her once things were sorted out. Ending the call, she looked up to find herself meeting the man’s gaze once more.

“I’m truly sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you, Miss Joy,” he said, his voice soft with genuine regret.

Jason was always domineering, and even when she was in the right, she never received the apology she deserved. The man before her, however, exuded politeness and made her feel respected again. She smiled reassuringly. “It was just a coincidence. Please don’t worry about it.”

He handed her a high-quality business card. “This is my card. If you encounter any issues with the repairs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”

Evelyn’s gaze was immediately drawn to the three prominent words on the card: William Leighton. As a financial news anchor, she was no stranger to that name. He was the only son of industrial tycoon Henry Leighton, recently appointed as the CEO of SinoContinental Group last month.

In the Riverton business district, there were four families at the top of the pyramid. To the east were the Starks, to the west the Custs, to the north the Gales, and to the south, the Leightons. The Stark family, led by the elder Mr. Stark, had established the Stark Group. In contrast, the Leightons represented Henry and William's SinoContinental Group.

The Stark men were known for their flamboyant presence in the business world, frequenting major financial media. Yet, the Leightons were famously low-key; even routine business interviews were nearly impossible to secure. As a result, when William took over as CEO of SinoContinental, all media could do was report the news with an old photograph of him from years ago.

Out of politeness and professional instinct, Evelyn accepted the business card with both hands. “So, you’re Mr. Leighton from SinoContinental. It’s an honor.”

Most of the guests on her interview program were notable figures from the business community. To boost viewership, Director Logan had made several attempts to arrange an exclusive interview with Henry Leighton, all of which had been politely declined. For Evelyn, an interview with the junior Mr. Leighton would be even more intriguing. He was young, wealthy, and handsome, perfectly camera-ready, and his poise and eloquence would undoubtedly elevate her program.

“I have some matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave,” William said, glancing at his wristwatch.

“Mr. Leighton,” Evelyn called out urgently, “could we schedule an interview?”

“What program?” William asked, his demeanor calm and unhurried.

“It’s called Business Talks,” she replied, her excitement palpable. “This year, the show has consistently ranked in the top five financial programs in the country.”

William shook his head apologetically, his gaze revealing depths others couldn’t see. “I’m sorry, but my father has always advised me to focus on doing the work and avoid seeking the limelight.”

“Our interview program offers substantial depth, Mr. Leighton. Your participation would provide a valuable opportunity for the audience to gain insights into SinoContinental. It’s far from being just a publicity stunt.”

Evelyn continued to plead earnestly, “If Mr. Leighton prefers not to go to the TV station, we can choose a filming location that you’re comfortable with.”

William paused, his smile lingering as he considered her request. “I’ll get back to you tomorrow, Miss Joy.”

“I’ll be waiting for Mr. Leighton’s good news,” Evelyn replied, determined not to show any sign of weakness. “I can assure you that as long as Mr. Leighton agrees to the interview, our team will accommodate any filming requests you have.”

“I can sense your sincerity, Miss Joy.” William’s smile remained polite as he turned to step into the elevator. “I really must get going now.”

Evelyn watched as William’s figure disappeared, carefully placing his business card into her handbag.

Jean, having waited until the movie began but not seeing Evelyn, decided to come down and find her. As she walked from the elevator into the parking lot, she immediately noticed Evelyn’s car had been damaged, instantly abandoning any thought of watching the film.

While they waited for the 4S shop to send someone for towing, Evelyn, worried that Jean would tire from standing, opened the trunk and pulled out a folding chair.

“I’ve built up the stamina to stand for four or five hours from hosting my program over the past two years. You, on the other hand, will get leg cramps if you stand too long. Sit down and take a break.”

As she rummaged through the trunk, Evelyn noticed a package of herbal medicine Grace had given her for pregnancy. The strong scent of Chinese herbs wafted out, catching Jean’s attention.

“What’s this?” Jean asked curiously, picking up the package and sniffing it. “When did you start taking this?”

“Jason lied to his mother, saying I was pregnant. This is the medicine his mother bought specifically for me,” Evelyn replied, her expression weary.

Jean took another whiff of the herbal packet and carefully tore open a small corner, pouring a bit of the brown liquid onto her fingertip and tasting it with her tongue. “I don’t know much about traditional medicine, but it looks more like an abortion drug to me. It contains safflower, after all.”

Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat, leaving her momentarily speechless. Jean came from a family of gynecologists, and she wouldn’t make such a statement lightly. Thank goodness she hadn’t been pregnant or taken the herbal medicine, or she might have been completely unaware of what was happening.

Grace—who, after all, she had called “Mother” while following Jason—was far too cruel!

“Don’t panic; you haven’t taken any of it, so you’re fine. I’ll take an unopened package home and have my grandfather take a look. I’ll let you know what he says,” Jean reassured her, tossing the opened packet into a nearby trash can and pulling another one out to place in her bag.

Evelyn felt a chill run down her spine. She had always known that Grace disliked her and never expected any warmth from her, but she couldn’t have imagined that Grace would so meticulously scheme against her.

Grace would rather sabotage her own grandchild than allow her to bear a child for Jason!