It was four in the morning, and the entire street had closed for the night. Yet, The Onyx Room kept a private room open.
Bright lights shone from the window. The faint strains of classical music drifted out, and inside, costumed songstresses danced with ethereal grace.
Evelyn Rhys took a deep breath, plastered a wide smile on her face, and walked in. "Young President Valerius, I've heard so much about you. It's a true pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Killian Valerius, the heir of the Valerius Group, glanced sideways at her, a roguish glint in his eyes. "'Heard so much about me?' And what reputation is that? The one about me being a tyrannical, good-for-nothing playboy just wasting away his life?"
Killian Valerius did indeed have a terrible reputation. The rumor mill claimed he was all looks and no brains—a total spendthrift who was currently entangled with the famous actress Gia Shaw.
Evelyn Rhys continued with a hearty laugh. "Young President Valerius, your handsomeness is legendary—enough to put every male star in the entertainment industry to shame. Everyone in Silverwood knows it!"
"However, I think you might have a misunderstanding about my husband and your girlfriend, Young President Valerius. They just got drunk at a bar and... kissed. So..."
Killian Valerius sneered. "Evelyn Rhys. You won't face the truth until it's staring you in the face."
He dismissed everyone else in the room, then took out a tablet and played a video.
The video showed Dominic Falkner and Gia Shaw kissing passionately in the corner of a hotel lobby.
"I love you, baby. I think about you so much I'm going crazy," Dominic Falkner said, panting.
Gia Shaw nestled against his chest, her voice seductive. "But you're already married."
Dominic Falkner replied without hesitation, "My marriage has been over for a long time. It exists in name only. I have no feelings for Evelyn Rhys. If it weren't for the company, I'd divorce her right now..."
The words struck Evelyn Rhys like a bolt of lightning.
Her radiant smile, her vibrant charm, her dazzling confidence... it all vanished. Her face was now deathly pale, and she looked as if she had aged ten years in an instant.
After what felt like an eternity, Evelyn Rhys finally found her voice. "Why are you showing me this? What do you want from me?"
She was a businesswoman first, a woman second. She knew full well that the world runs on self-interest.
Killian Valerius stared into Evelyn Rhys's eyes, enunciating each word with grave importance. "I want you to divorce Dominic Falkner."
"Are you trying to destroy FalknerTech?"
"No. To be precise, I want FalknerTech to be broken up." Killian Valerius's gaze was sharp and lucid.
"FalknerTech is a comprehensive new energy group covering lithium batteries, energy storage, and hydrogen energy. It's on the verge of cornering the market."
"I need you and Dominic Falkner to split the company. He'll take the lead on the lithium battery division, and you'll take the hydrogen energy division. Then, you'll integrate your part with our Valerius Group's wind energy resources to create a closed-loop clean energy system."
Evelyn Rhys's first instinct was to refuse.
She didn't trust Killian Valerius. She'd rather tolerate her husband's infidelity and keep FalknerTech running smoothly than collaborate with a notorious playboy like him.
Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Killian Valerius played his trump card.
"One final warning," he said. "Dominic Falkner started transferring marital assets long ago. If you don't believe me, look into it yourself. He's already bought Gia Shaw eight villas overseas."
