Chapter Sixty-Five

EVELYN’S POV:

It took me moments—more like hours—before I could breathe again. Leonard held me close in a soothing manner, but it wasn’t enough. It felt like the end—not just my end, but my father’s legacy. His name, his company, everything he had worked for.  

The notification wasn’t from the same number that had texted earlier. It was an update from the internet: my father, Mr. Wyatt, and his company were being dragged through the mud. As if that wasn’t enough, rumors of a court case were beginning to circulate.

I wailed louder now, and Leonard did all he could to calm me down. But I knew this was no accident—it was a calculated setup. My father wasn’t capable of what they were accusing him of. He didn’t have to tell me; I knew. He was being framed, and Gregory Dana—the so-called victim—was an obvious part of the facade.

Leonard remained silent, his pained eyes mirroring my torment. But I was too shattered to focus on him. A knock on the door startled us.

“I’ll get it,” Leonard said, heading to answer. I knew it was my dad, but I wasn’t ready to face him. It felt like everything was happening because of me. What if I had just allowed Caleb to marry me? Maybe none of this would’ve happened.

I took a deep breath and adjusted myself as my father walked in.

His eyes betrayed him. Though he tried to put up a brave front, the torment was unmistakable.

“I swear, Evelyn, I didn’t do it. I never—ever—had any personal moments with her,” he said, his voice heavy with desperation.

“Dad, I trust you. We’ll get to the bottom of this,” I assured him, gripping his hands in mine.

“I’m sorry you have to go through this,” he said, his eyes filled with sincerity. But there was something he wasn’t saying. I could feel it. Still, I didn’t push. Sorting this mess out was the priority.

An awkward silence followed until Leonard broke it by offering to make breakfast. As he left for the kitchen, Dad and I sat together in wordless worry.

When breakfast was ready, I forced myself to eat, even though every bite felt like a chore. I needed strength to handle the situation. Dad, however, didn’t eat at all.

“Dad, starving yourself won’t change what’s already happened. Please, eat something,” I urged. He reluctantly ate a little, and we finished breakfast in a tense quiet.

We moved to the living room, where a flood of emails awaited us. Two companies had terminated their deals with us. If we didn’t act fast, the worst was yet to come. Messages poured into our phones—too many to ignore.

Meanwhile, Leonard made some calls. I didn’t ask what they were about; I trusted him enough to know he was working on the situation.

My phone buzzed. My secretary’s name flashed across the screen.

“Ma’am, you need to come here. Reporters are causing chaos. We’ve tried to send them away, but they won’t budge. Some of the employees are even submitting resignation letters.”

Each word hit me like a dagger; didn't they have a conscience? Why would they resign from work just because of a rumor that's barely even true? Why was the press there? Or were they sent?

“I’ll be there soon,” I replied and hung up.

Both Dad and Leonard looked at me, their expressions mirroring concern and disapproval.

“You can’t go in this state,” they said in unison, as though rehearsed.

“I have no choice. Someone has to speak up. We can’t just sit here all day if we want to clear Dad’s name,” I argued.

The company is on the brink of falling if this issue doesn't get resolved soon. We will lose everything.

“Evelyn, we won't lose anything; all I need is time; I’m doing something,” Leonard countered. “Trust me, if you can.”

But I had made up my mind. I looked to Dad for support, but his face gave me no clear answer. Resolute, I went to my room to change, with Leonard reluctantly following me to drive me to the office.

When we arrived, we were met by a sea of reporters. Cameras flashed, microphones shoved in my face as they bombarded me with questions.

“Miss Evelyn, are the allegations true? Is your father guilty?”

“Your silence implies guilt. What’s your response?”

“Miss Evelyn, is Mr. Wyatt prepared to face trial?”

Leonard intervened, his voice commanding. “Mind your words. Miss Evelyn will answer one question. And if these allegations prove false, be assured that any media outlet spreading falsehoods will face legal action.”

“ Even though Leonard has a chill personality, he was feared, especially because of his influence.”

His tone silenced the crowd. I took a deep breath and mustered all the courage I could.

“My father, Mr. Wyatt, is not guilty. Until the real culprits behind this setup are identified, we stand by his innocence. That’s all, Mr. Wyatt, all through the years, has been known for his good name, and his dignity must remain.”

The turmoil inside me was immense, but I kept my voice steady. Leonard and I pushed through the crowd and entered my office.

Once inside, I began sorting through files, approving the resignation letters of those who had left. I addressed the remaining staff, acknowledging their concerns while urging them to trust us. Though some eyes held disgust, I think they believed the rumor, I c; Idn't wait to prove my dad's innocinnocenceI conso tinued to speak anyway.

Leonard drove me home after a long day. The drive was quiet. His earlier threat to the media seemed to have worked; updates on the situation had slowed.

At home, we reassured Dad that we were handling everything. He still looked troubled, but I understood. After talking for a while, Leonard made to leave.

As I watched him walk away, I felt a sudden wave of loneliness. Tears filled my eyes, and I ran to stop him.

“Stay,” I whispered, hugging him tightly.

Surprise flashed across his face, but before he could respond, something outside caught our attention.