Inside the penthouse office, Marcellus sat at his desk working, while Evangeline sat nearby, hunched over her sketchbook. The atmosphere was quiet and harmonious; there was a peculiar sweetness in simply being near the person you loved, even if you weren't saying a word.

As time slipped away, Evangeline glanced at the darkening sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. She stood up, curled herself into the man’s lap, and pressed a soft kiss to his jaw. "I have to head back now."

Marcellus wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest, his grip tightening as if trying to imprint her into his own skin, an unspoken vent for his reluctance to let her go.

After a long moment, he finally steeled himself. He loosened his hold, gave her lips a lingering, possessive kiss, and punctuated the moment with a firm, playful smack to her backside. "Go on, then."

As Evangeline left the Alexander Corp building, the secretarial pool outside the executive suite was already buzzing.

"Oh my god! That lady was in there for hours again."

"Did you guys notice she wasn't wearing that outfit when she walked in?"

"Four hours, man... our CEO is truly a machine!"

"Who would’ve thought the guy who looks like a monk in a suit would be like that?"

Hearing the chorus of gossip, Preston Wright rubbed his temples, a headache brewing. "Do you all have a death wish, gossiping about the CEO?"

"We wouldn't dare do it to his face, obviously! Come on, Preston, you aren't going to tattle on us, right?" A sweet-faced young secretary leaned in, teasing him.

Preston shook his head firmly. "That is Miss Montgomery. She is the apple of the boss's eye. Do yourselves a favor and don't cross her."

Hearing the gravity in Preston's tone, the group nodded in unison, clearly getting the message.

The next day, at the Montgomery family breakfast table, Evangeline turned to her father. "Dad, I’ve just finished a series of design sketches and my brain is a bit fried. I’m bored stiff at home, so why don't I head to the office with you this afternoon? I’d love to shadow you and learn the ropes."

Hearing their daughter wanted to take an interest in the business, Edward and Marilyn were thrilled. With only one daughter, they were relieved to see her finally stepping up, rather than letting the company’s future drift into the hands of outsiders.

"That sounds wonderful! Come with me this afternoon," Edward beamed.

Cassidy, sitting at the far end of the table, gripped her fork so hard her knuckles turned white, her nails digging into her palms. *This naive little brat,* she thought, *she’s been acting so strangely lately.*

That afternoon at Montgomery Enterprises, Edward walked Evangeline through the various departments, making introductions.

"Evangeline, this is Austin Jones, our Marketing Director."

"And here is Cameron White from Human Resources."

"Your sister is currently overseeing the Planning Department."

"Evangeline, this is Dennis Smith, your Uncle Dennis—he’s our CFO."

Evangeline followed her father from floor to floor, shaking hands and flashing smiles until her cheeks felt frozen.

The office was predictably ablaze with whispers.

"Do you think the Chairman is grooming the eldest daughter to be his successor?"

"I heard she’s a designer. Does she actually know how to run a business?"

"I always thought the company would eventually go to the Director, Cassidy."

"Are you kidding? Don't you know? Cassidy is just an adopted daughter."

"Cassidy is so sharp and capable, I wonder if the eldest daughter can even keep up!"

The snide comments drifted into Cassidy’s ears, sharp as needles. She detested being compared to Evangeline. From the time they were children, Evangeline had always managed to steal the spotlight without even trying. Why did she always have to fight her for everything?

A text notification chimed, pulling Cassidy from her bitter thoughts. She checked the screen.

A wave of warmth flooded her heart; the message was a lifeline, a bit of encouragement she desperately needed. She smoothed her expression and dove back into her work.

After a long afternoon, a tired Evangeline slumped onto the sofa in her father's office. "Dad, I never realized how massive this place was. Managing it all must be exhausting."

"Evangeline, a corporation carries the dreams of an entire team and the livelihoods of thousands of families. As a leader, you have to shoulder that responsibility. You can never let down the people who rely on you."

Listening to Edward’s resonant, authoritative tone, Evangeline straightened her posture, her eyes hardening with resolve. "I understand, Dad. I will keep that in mind."

Seeing the seriousness in his daughter’s expression, Edward smiled, feeling a rare sense of pride.

That evening, when the three of them returned home, Marilyn greeted them at the door. "How was it, sweetie? You must be exhausted."

"I am," Evangeline pouted, playing up her weariness. "I felt like an exhibit in a museum all day."

"Oh?" Marilyn glanced at her husband, confused.

"I spent the day introducing her to the department heads. It was a long walk," Edward laughed.

"I see! Well, go wash up, dinner is ready," Marilyn ushered them toward the dining room.

Cassidy stared at the food, her stomach churning. She’d been feeling off lately, assuming it was just stress, but the very smell of the dinner made her want to gag. "Mom, I’m feeling a bit unwell. I’m going to skip dinner and head upstairs."

"Are you alright, dear? You’ve barely been eating lately. Let me take you to the doctor tomorrow," Marilyn said, her voice laced with genuine concern. Despite the mess with Jonah Harrison, Cassidy was still a daughter she had raised from a child. It was painful to see her losing weight.

"I’m fine, Mom. Just a bit down, I'll be back to myself in a few days," Cassidy managed a tight smile before retreating upstairs.

Evangeline watched her sister go, a thrill running through her. *Morning sickness already?* It seemed Cassidy would realize exactly what was happening within the next few days.

She needed to start making preparations.

The next morning, after telling her father she had errands to run before coming into the office, Evangeline headed to the mall. She made a beeline for the designer handbag boutique, picking out several of the latest models. She had a grand gift to prepare for Cassidy.

After running her errands, she headed to the office to continue her training. She knew the lessons of her past life; if the company were to fall apart again, she refused to be a helpless bystander waiting for the end.

That evening at home, Evangeline stopped Cassidy as she was heading upstairs. "Wait, sister. I have a gift for you."

Evangeline pulled several high-end shopping bags from the car and led a confused Cassidy into the living room. "These are for you. You’ve been so unhappy lately, and I didn't know how to cheer you up. I know how much you love luxury bags—open them and see if you like them."

Cassidy peeled back the tissue paper. They were all the latest seasonal arrivals from HRS, including one limited-edition piece. The haul had to be worth over a million. A flash of genuine delight lit up her face. Evangeline had always been generous with her in the past, so Cassidy didn't think twice and happily accepted the offerings.

"Thank you, sister." Cassidy loved them; the style was perfect for her.