Chapter 4

I sprinted forward and grabbed Evelyn's arm, pointing straight at the giant billboard.

Regardless of the VIP guests and press around us, I demanded an answer.

"Don't you have anything you want to explain to me?"

"Why are my personal drafts being exhibited out here under Julian Hayes's name?"

Over the past few months, Evelyn's PR team had pushed Julian hard, turning him into an overnight industry darling.

And tonight's grand gala was orchestrated solely to crown him as the next big icon.

The press had already hyped up his reveal of a "generational masterpiece."

In this business, almost no one alive earned the right to call their work a generational masterpiece.

Back in the day, only my breakthrough creations had ever been hailed with such reverence.

My eyes burned red as I glared into Evelyn's eyes.

But she only glared back with deep annoyance, sounding entirely justified.

"If you couldn't keep track of your own papers, what are you coming at me for?"

My grip on her arm tightened. I felt as if an invisible hand were choking the life out of me.

Only two people on this earth knew the passcode to that safe.

If not her, who else could it possibly be?

As curious glances started turning our way, Evelyn lowered her voice and clicked her tongue.

"Julian lost his drafts, and you know this exhibition couldn't be postponed. I just let him borrow your sketches for the night. Why do you have to be so petty?"

"Besides, you're a cripple now! Did you honestly think some drawings were going to bring your glory days back?"

"Instead of letting them rot in your safe like useless paper, isn't it better to give them to someone who actually has a future?"

Hearing her brazen excuses, my shock melted into pure, incredulous laughter.

How could a human being say something so foul with such absolute righteousness?

Seeing zero remorse on her face, I pulled out my phone.

Evelyn lunged to snatch it from my hands.

"What do you think you're doing? Nathan, I'm warning you, don't you dare make a scene!"

What was I doing? I was calling 911!

From this second on, I wasn't going to spare her a shred of dignity.

Seeing our struggle, Julian rushed over to grab my wrists. Right then, a chorus of screams erupted above us.

"Look out!"

Before I could process what was happening, a massive shadow swallowed me.

The heavy steel frame supporting the overhead display truss had snapped, plummeting straight down.

In that split second of life and death, Evelyn grabbed Julian and yanked him backward with all her might.

CRASH! With a deafening boom, the steel structure smashed squarely on top of me.

Agonizing pain exploded across my spine, forcing a choked scream from my throat as warm blood flooded my mouth.

Chaos erupted across the hall. Someone was shouting for emergency services.

But when the on-site paramedics sprinted toward where I lay crushed, Evelyn threw herself in their path.

"Wait!"

"Julian's hand was grazed by the metal edge! You need to treat him first!"

"He's a top designer! If anything happens to his hands, you won't be able to pay for the damages!"

The paramedic froze, looking in sheer disbelief at my pinned, bleeding body.

"Ma'am, this man is being crushed! His condition is critical!"

Evelyn didn't even flinch. "I'm his legal wife! I'll sign a liability waiver right now—if anything happens to him, you won't be held responsible!"

"Now listen to me! Leave him alone and save Julian right now!"