Chapter 67

Sophia turned to Evelyn with concern in her eyes. "Evelyn, what are you planning to do? They're tearing you apart like this. Even some of your old classmates have joined in. It's unbelievable—they were your peers! Even if they weren't close to you, how could they spread such lies?"

Evelyn sighed, stirring her coffee absently. "You can't blame them. I wasn't exactly social back then. Most of them probably never knew about Dominic and me."

She had to be honest about it. The truth was, she and Dominic had only officially gotten together after graduation—after he confessed to her when she won her first major award.

Later, when everything fell apart, he had stayed by her side. Maybe it was gratitude that made her fall for him, or maybe something deeper. Either way, Evelyn had thrown herself into their relationship, content to stay in the background while he shone. She had lived for the lab, for him, for nothing else.

Looking back now, with a clearer mind, it all felt like a carefully laid trap.

"Is that really how it was?" Sophia frowned, tapping her spoon against her cup. "Then... is there anyone else who knew about you two? Besides me, besides the three of you—any mutual friends?"

Evelyn shook her head.

"Even if there were, I wouldn't drag them into this. It would only make things worse."

"So you're just going to let them win?" Sophia clenched her fists, frustration burning in her chest.

People were destroying Evelyn's reputation, and she couldn't even defend herself. How was that fair?

"Don't you think everyone's focusing on the wrong thing?" Evelyn took a slow sip of coffee, her voice steady. "Between DR Holdings and me, the real issue is the ownership of Eternal Bloom. My past with Dominic is personal—it shouldn't be public gossip. So why is he exposing it now? Just to go public with Vanessa?"

Sophia's eyes widened as realization struck. She slammed her palm on the table. "I get it! He's using the scandal to distract everyone from the copyright dispute!"

Evelyn chuckled, glancing out the window at the bright sunlight. She had spent too long buried in the lab—she'd almost forgotten how beautiful the world could be.

"No," she said softly. "It's worse than that. Vanessa and Dominic are smearing my name to shape public opinion. They want people to see me as the kind of woman who steals other people's relationships—and other people's work."

Her voice was calm, but the words cut deep.

"They want everyone to believe I'm jealous of Vanessa—that I'm not as talented, not as successful, so I'm trying to take what's hers. And since I'm the 'other woman,' who would question it? No evidence needed."

Sophia stared at her, stunned. "That's... ruthless."

Evelyn smiled faintly. "Just petty tactics. But none of it matters. If I win this lawsuit, the truth will come out. Everything else is just noise."

At first, Sophia had thought this would be complicated, but Evelyn made it sound so simple. Still, she couldn't help but worry.

"But the evidence—"

"Evidence exists whether they like it or not," Evelyn interrupted. "Dominic thinks he has everything because he took my notes, my research. But the most important proof?" She tapped her temple. "He can't take this away."