Chapter 712

After James left, Haley leaned back in her office chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk as she pondered. The large office was eerily quiet, and after a long while, a sigh escaped her lips.

Haley picked up her phone and found Steven's number in her contacts. The phone only rang twice before it was answered, and she heard his slightly hoarse voice.

"Haley, why are you calling me out of the blue? Is something wrong?"

"No, Steven. James came to see me today."

Steven fell silent, his tone becoming tense and urgent. "Did he cause trouble for you again? I'll call him back right away and give him a good scolding."

"No." Haley explained softly, "He came to plead for Evelyn. I agreed."

Steven tightened his grip on the phone, leaning back in the deck chair on the villa's balcony, looking somewhat dazed.

If Haley were here to see him, she would notice that the once refined and well-maintained man had become gaunt, with numerous gray hairs streaking through his once jet-black hair.