The room fell silent.

All eyes turned toward the source of the ringing phone.

Their gazes landed on Evelyn Ross.

Fiona Valentine froze.

She watched as Evelyn slowly pulled out her phone.

Fiona scoffed. "How convenient. One might think you're actually N."

Evelyn answered the call and put it on speaker. "Hello."

The same voice came from Fiona's phone. "Hello."

Fiona's eyes widened in disbelief. She stared at Evelyn, then looked down at her own phone. "You... you..."

The same two words echoed from both devices.

The crowd understood immediately.

Penelope Valentine was the first to react. "You're N?"

Evelyn ended the call and gave a slight nod.

Mina Sherwood sneered from the side. "N stands for Nan. Our Grace has always been low-key."

She continued, "Who would have thought you'd accuse her of suppressing her own employees?"

Mina turned to Fiona. "Explain how NanTech could possibly suppress its own founder?"

Fiona's face turned pale. Her entire body trembled.

Evelyn spoke calmly. "Malicious poaching constitutes unfair competition."

She stated firmly, "The Ashcroft Group owes me an explanation."

Fiona looked at Penelope in panic.

Penelope remained composed. She stepped forward. "Director Nan, this is all a misunderstanding."

She explained, "My sister isn't an Ashcroft employee. This isn't a case of poaching."

Penelope added, "She simply saw N's name missing from the project document and acted impulsively..."

Her words completely absolved Fiona.

Fiona quickly nodded. "Yes, I was just defending what I thought was right. It was a misunderstanding."

Penelope sighed. "Sister, you must learn to control your impulsiveness."

They turned to leave.

"Stop."

Mina's voice cut through the air.

They froze.

Mina sneered. "Aren't you going to apologize for your mistake?"

Fiona frowned.

Penelope gave her a look.

Fiona gritted her teeth. She muttered, "Director Nan, I apologize."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "What was that? I couldn't hear you."

Fiona's face flushed red with anger. She shouted, "I'm sorry!"

Evelyn finally seemed satisfied. "Be more careful next time."

Fiona struggled to contain her rage.

The crowd immediately swarmed around Evelyn. Their attitudes did a complete one-eighty.

"Director Nan, you developed the project independently? You're amazing!"

"Yes, you're truly incredible! And so modest!"

Someone, noticing Evelyn's youth and beauty, joked, "Director Nan, are you married?"

Those in the know looked uncomfortable.

Fiona seized the opportunity. "You asked the right person!"

She announced, "Director Nan isn't just married. She's recently divorced!"

Fiona continued with a meaningful smile, "It's because of this project. Her ex-husband was afraid of the penalty fees. He ran away."

She added pointedly, "Director Nan, a woman should focus on her family. Spending all day in the lab... no wonder your husband left."

The single men's eyes, however, lit up.

Divorced? That meant there was a chance.

Mina immediately counterattacked. "Good riddance to that scum! He saved Grace the trouble of splitting assets!"

She declared, "Our Grace has plenty of charm. She already has a new boyfriend!"

Fiona glanced toward Alexander Vance in the corner. "Is Director Nan's new boyfriend that boy toy over there?"

Mina lifted her chin. "A boy toy is a standard accessory for a successful woman. It proves our Grace has appeal!"

Fiona scoffed. "Yes, so much appeal... enough to trick a college student into thinking she's a sugar mama."

She said smugly, "A power couple is better. Like our Penelope. She's engaged to the Vance family."

Fiona turned to Evelyn. "Director Nan, which family is your boyfriend from? You didn't really pick a boy toy with no background, did you?"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, deep in thought.

How should she answer this?

Just then, there was a commotion at the entrance.

Marcus Valentine and Kevin Sherwood entered together, chatting happily.

Kevin was asking, "I heard the Ashcrofts and Vances have a marriage arrangement. An alliance?"

Marcus paused.

Grace Nan and Evelyn Ross were twins. Evelyn was also his third uncle's daughter.

So, technically...

Marcus frowned. "The two families are already allied..."

Even if Evelyn was deceased, she was still his cousin!

Thinking of Evelyn, Marcus felt a pang of regret.

Compared to Grace's timidity, he much preferred Evelyn's bold and capable nature. If only she were still alive.

Marcus looked up and scanned the banquet hall.

His eyes immediately found Alexander Vance, even though he was sitting inconspicuously in the corner.

His longtime rival!

Marcus froze, thinking he was seeing things.

What was he doing here?

Hearing that the Ashcrofts and Vances were already allied, everyone looked at Penelope.

Fiona exclaimed in surprise, "Penelope, it was already settled? Why didn't you tell me..."

Penelope also looked bewildered.

She hadn't heard anything about it.

She looked at Marcus, but saw him excuse himself from Kevin and walk directly toward the "boy toy" that Grace Nan had brought...