The Queen Returns—And She's Unforgiving

Even Sebastian found it odd. He had never met Brian before the engagement

party, and that was their first and only encounter. Still, the man seemed genuinely interested in Flying Seal Group.

"Maybe it's just my... magnetic charm?" Sebastian joked, indulging in a rare moment of self-flattery.

Evelyn didn't bother acknowledging the joke. She simply said, crisp and to the point, "Go. Networking is always a good thing."

Sebastian lowered his head to reply to Brian's message.

Later that day, he had a detailed conversation with Lucas about the specifics of the joint bid.

He had expected Lucas to be aggressive about control, maybe even hard to negotiate with. But to his surprise, Lucas was entirely cooperative. He agreed to every term Flying Seal Group proposed without pushback.

Evelyn understood why.

Lucas wasn't looking to carve out a major profit share for Arrowpoint Solutions in this military bid. What he wanted was for the company to gain market visibility—a strategic entry point, a foundation.

He was playing the long game for Tiffany's future. But whether Tiffany could lead Arrowpoint Solutions down a stable path after this door was opened was another story entirely.

Evelyn stayed focused. She and Sebastian fine-tuned the contract, adding penalty clauses and explicit lines regarding responsibility to prevent any possibility of dodging accountability.

The bid proposal was finalized.

The military bidding event was held at the Clementon Public Resource Exchange Center.

There was a rise in the temperature. On the day of the event, Evelyn wore a tailored purple business suit that was fitted at the waist with subtle ruffles. She paired it with a sleek pencil skirt. It was understated and professional yet full of quiet elegance.

Representatives from all over the country had flown in for the bid. The place was filled with industry leaders and elites.

As she entered the main venue, Evelyn immediately spotted the most influential figure in attendance that day.

Caleb had arrived, surrounded by a quiet entourage.

The location and details of the conference had been tightly guarded, with only essential personnel allowed in.

Now, it made sense why there were so many security checks outside.

Caleb also saw Evelyn. She nudged Sebastian, and the two made their way over to greet him.

"Ms. Reed," Caleb greeted her with a hint of warmth that slightly softened his usual sharp-edged demeanor.

Evelyn smiled gently. "Mr. Carter, this is Sebastian Hill. You may already know him."

Sebastian dropped his usual laid-back attitude and nodded respectfully. "It's been a while, Mr. Carter."

He hadn't really interacted with Caleb before, except through Graham's occasional political ties. He had only met Caleb once during a research institute event.

Caleb patted Sebastian's shoulder. "Let's catch up soon. With talents like you and Ms. Reed, Flying Seal Group's future is looking very bright."

"I'll hold you to that." Sebastian gave a polite nod.

Evelyn smiled.

Then came a stir in the crowd. They vaguely heard a few people whispering, "Mr. Grant..."

Even Sebastian turned to look.

At the entrance of the venue, Lucas walked in side-by-side with Tiffany. His identity was well-known, and business leaders from across the country quickly came over to greet him.

Tiffany, having followed Lucas to enough of these events by now, moved through the crowd with ease.noveldrama

Soon enough, Lucas noticed Evelyn. His gaze paused on her for a brief She looked effortlessly elegant today, so much so that even in a formal setting like this, several men couldn't help but sneak glances in her direction.

ent.

He hesitated for half a second before shifting his eyes toward Caleb, who stood across from her. Then, he led Tiffany across the crowd toward them.

"Mr. Carter." Lucas greeted him with his usual calm poise.

Caleb paused for a beat and gave Lucas a measured look. He knew the Grant family well. They were titans in various sectors of domestic tech and long-time collaborators with top-tier government projects.

"Are you bidding on behalf of Grant Group this round?" he asked.

Lucas gave a slight smile and replied smoothly, "Grant Group is just assisting. The company officially bidding is Arrowpoint Solutions."

Evelyn had expected this.

An event like this, with high-level names in attendance, was the perfect opportunity to introduce Tiffany to the big players.

Naturally, Tiffany also recognized the weight of the man in front of her-someone most people would never get within ten feet of. She couldn't hide the flicker of excitement in her chest.

She stepped forward and introduced herself gracefully, "Mr. Carter, I'm Tiffany, representing Arrowpoint Solutions. It's an honor to meet you."

Caleb turned his eyes to her for the first time.

Standing beside Lucas gave Tiffany enough confidence to carry the moment, and deep in her gaze was a clear spark of ambition.

Caleb's eyes flicked briefly to Evelyn, who stood quietly, her expression calm and unreadable. He already knew from Graham that Lucas and Evelyn were legally married.

Now, watching Lucas behave indifferently toward his own wife while presenting a loving front with another woman...

Even Caleb, who had seen plenty of political theater in his time, found it jarring.

He made no move to respond to Tiffany's greeting. With one hand folded behind his back, he simply nodded, offering her a cool, impersonal acknowledgment. Whether he actually registered her name or not was anyone's guess.

Then, he turned back to Evelyn, his tone returning to its usual gentle warmth. "Ms. Reed, I'll let you get back to work. I'm heading inside."

Evelyn dipped her head politely. "Of course."

Caleb was quickly ushered toward the inner conference rooms by his team.

But Lucas stayed back for a beat longer. His gaze lingered on Evelyn, thoughtful. The way Caleb had addressed her was noticeably different.

Tiffany, standing beside him, felt it too. She had caught the subtle shift in tone, the way her own greeting had been met with distant civility while Evelyn was treated with something more akin to familiarity-even respect.

Her heart clenched with a trace of discomfort, but she quickly rationalized it.

Cable didn't look down on her. He simply didn't know her yet. That was all.

After all, Sebastian was Graham's son. The Hill family had long-standing ties with influential figures like Caleb.

And Evelyn, by extension, benefited from those connections. That had to be it. Otherwise, what other reason could there possibly be for Caleb to give Evelyn special attention?