Chapter 402

Oliver Valrose felt cold sweat trickling down his back, his palms damp with perspiration. He forced himself to straighten his posture, though his voice wavered noticeably. "Mr. Chen is a busy man. There's no need to trouble him with such trivial matters."

Evelyn Roland tapped her phone screen lightly, a cold smirk playing on her lips.

Under the conference hall lights, the diamond studs on her earlobes glinted sharply.

"Five minutes," she said, sweeping her gaze across the room. "Any objections?"

The business tycoons exchanged glances. Some had already pulled out their phones to record the scene.

Oliver clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.

"Evelyn!" His voice trembled. "Must you humiliate me in public?"

She turned abruptly, the hem of her black blazer dress slicing through the air with precision.

"Scared?"

Those two words stabbed straight into Oliver's chest.

The room fell silent. All eyes locked onto Oliver's ashen face.

Master Xingyun retreated two steps silently, his prayer beads spinning rapidly between his fingers.

"I have Mr. Chen's private number right here," Evelyn lifted her phone. "Shall we verify?"

Oliver staggered back, knocking over a chair. Isabella Langley's gasp was drowned in the rising murmurs.

"Impossible!" His voice cracked. "A nouveau riche like you could never—"

Sebastian Valdemar stood abruptly, his black trench coat stirring a cold gust.

"One more word," he said, staring at Oliver's trembling fingers, "and you'll leave here on a stretcher."

The tycoons inhaled sharply. Someone recognized the Valdemar heir and urgently tugged at their companion's sleeve.

Evelyn had already initiated the video call, turning her phone toward the crowd.

The moment the screen lit up, Oliver's legs gave way, sending him crashing to his knees.

"It's Mr. Chen!" someone in the front row gasped.

The white-haired elder on screen sipped his tea, his face lighting up with affection when he saw Evelyn. "Little Evelyn..."

Isabella's handbag hit the floor with a sharp thud.

In the deathly silence, only Oliver's ragged breathing was audible. He stared at the tile seams as if willing the ground to swallow him whole.