Chapter 289

"I can see you're still recovering from surgery, so I won't argue with you anymore."

Dominic turned the wheelchair around, his voice clipped. "I need to go rest. I'll arrange for someone to take care of you. As for going home, we'll discuss it when you're discharged."

There was nothing more to say. Besides Evelyn, he had to consider the company’s interests. Vanessa couldn’t hold her position indefinitely.

The moment Evelyn got home, she rushed into the shower. Today had been a relentless assault of bad luck.

Vanessa wasn’t a real threat, but the entire ordeal had left her seething.

She hadn’t expected Vanessa to weaponize her pregnancy like that.

The woman was far more ruthless than Evelyn had ever imagined.

Stepping out of the shower, Evelyn noticed a missed call from "Grumpy Artisan." Her lips pursed. Something must be wrong.

She hit redial.

After a few rings, a low voice answered. "Hello?"

"Good employees don’t skip work," Evelyn teased. "Aren’t you afraid your boss will fire you?"

Given his earlier behavior, he should’ve been terrified of his employer. But the man on the line sounded anything but amused.

"I don’t want to do it anymore. Find someone else."

He tried to hang up, but Evelyn cut in sharply. "Wait! Why? You already agreed! Is it the pay? What’s the issue?"

"Nothing. I just don’t want to."

"That’s not how contracts work!"

Silence. Then, quietly, "I’m sorry."

The line went dead.

Evelyn called again. No answer.

She clenched her fists.

What is happening today? Everything’s falling apart.

Frustration coiled inside her. She needed an outlet.

Changing quickly, she stormed to Phoenix Labs.

Her private lab had been locked since the last project’s success. With Sophia away, no one had been inside.

Evelyn slammed the door shut behind her, locking it.

Outside, confused murmurs rose.

Victoria Sterling, alerted to Evelyn’s arrival, hurried over and knocked.

"Evelyn? It’s Victoria."

No response—only the faint clinking of glassware.

A new project? There’d been no announcements.

"Evelyn, are you working on something? Need help? Should I call Sophia?"

Still nothing.

Whispers spread. "Do you think something’s wrong?"

Victoria shot them a glare. "Nonsense. She’s developing a new product. Unless you’ve all finished your quarterly assignments?"

The staff scattered instantly.

Alone in the lab, Evelyn exhaled sharply.

Today’s chaos wasn’t over yet.