Chapter 79

"Fine!" Dominic contemplated for a moment before agreeing. However, his call only connected when he borrowed someone else's phone—Evelyn had blocked both his and Vanessa's numbers.

Meanwhile, Evelyn had gathered all the research and analysis data, compiling it into a comprehensive report. All that remained was handing it over to Victoria. She had completed the task ahead of schedule—it wasn’t particularly challenging for her. Talent had always been on her side. Besides, she had practically lived in laboratories for years, making the environment second nature to her.

Given the nature of her work, the lab included a shower facility. She indulged in a much-needed bath, dressed quickly, and was drying her hair when her phone rang. "Hello?" Evelyn answered, setting the call to speakerphone while continuing to towel-dry her damp locks. "This is Evelyn speaking. Who is this?" The towel muffled her hearing slightly. She discreetly sniffed herself, ensuring no lingering scents remained—she didn’t want Alexander catching any unusual odors on her again.

She’s doing this on purpose! After all this time, she dares to pretend she doesn’t recognize me?!

Dominic clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay calm. "Evelyn, it’s Dominic. I need to talk to you. Can we meet?"

Evelyn glanced at the unfamiliar number on her screen. He must have used a different phone.

"No," she replied flatly, already moving to end the call.

"Wait—don’t hang up!" Sensing her intention, Dominic rushed to stop her. "I just want to talk. Haven’t things gone far enough? Do we really have to keep this up? We’re still friends, aren’t we? There are misunderstandings between us, but we can work them out—can’t we?"

"Friends?" Evelyn let out a sharp laugh. "Mr. Reeves, you must be dreaming."

Before she could disconnect, a shrill female voice cut in. "Evelyn, are you scared to face us? If you have grievances, say them outright. Must you resort to underhanded tricks?" Vanessa’s tone was razor-sharp.

"I think you’re the expert at tricks," Evelyn retorted, lifting the phone to her lips. "I have zero interest in whatever you two want to discuss. Whether we meet or not has nothing to do with fear—it’s common sense. Or have you forgotten your company is suing me? We’re plaintiff and defendant now. A private meeting would be highly inappropriate."

Her lips curled into a sardonic smile. "If you keep harassing me like this, I’ll record these calls and submit them as evidence in court." Without waiting for a response, she ended the call and tossed her phone back into her locker.

When she turned around, she froze—Victoria stood in the doorway.

Victoria raised her hands defensively the moment Evelyn spotted her. "I wasn’t eavesdropping. I came to find you because I heard you were in the dressing room. I didn’t catch much of your conversation."

Evelyn shrugged, pulling out a comb to tame her damp hair. "Doesn’t matter. It was nothing important anyway."

Victoria chuckled. "You sound confident. That’s reassuring—at least your personal issues won’t affect the company."

Evelyn met her gaze. "Ms. Sterling, does that mean you trust me now?"

"Let’s just say my opinion has shifted after reviewing your recent work." Victoria paused, then amended, "Actually, I read your latest analysis report. Impressive job."