Chapter 1334

Chapter 1334:

The evening unfolded like any other, yet something in the air felt different.

Waylon attended the banquet on behalf of the Johns Group, standing on the second floor, surrounded by influential business figures. On the first floor, Evie stood beside a well-known singer, casually sipping her wine.

“See him up there?” the singer whispered, nodding toward Waylon.

“That’s Waylon Johns, the third son of the Johns Group’s chairman. Word is he has finally come home to take over the family business. Everyone’s scrambling to get on his good side.”

Evie twirled the stem of her glass between her fingers, her expression unreadable.

The singer smirked.

“He’s rich, powerful, and not bad to look at. And from what I hear, he’s generous too. Tempted?”

Evie glanced at her, her voice cool and steady.

“He has a girlfriend. So don’t get your hopes up.”

The singer sighed, her enthusiasm deflating.

“I knew it. Men like him are out of reach for people like us.”

Evie had no interest in continuing the conversation. Setting her glass down, she excused herself.

“I’ll be back. I need to freshen up.”

In the restroom, she stood at the sink, mindlessly rubbing hand sanitizer between her palms. The scent of alcohol and lavender filled the air as she repeated the motion over and over. Eventually, she washed away the foam, dried her hands, applied a light layer of hand cream, and walked out.

As she stepped into the hallway, she heard the faint shuffle of footsteps. A man was approaching—tall, well-dressed, but slightly unsteady on his feet. Even in the dim lighting, she recognized him instantly. Carleigh Salazar. He was talented and ambitious, but with a playboy reputation that preceded him.

Evie instinctively stepped aside, intending to walk past him unnoticed. Carleigh, however, was in high spirits. Earlier that day, he had secured a major deal with the Johns Group—a partnership that would elevate his family’s status significantly. He had celebrated with a few too many drinks.

The Johns Group was growing rapidly, cementing its place among the top five business giants in Ansport alongside the Klein, Riggs, and Lambert Groups, as well as Homelight Enterprise.

Lаtєѕt chɑptєrs іn g𝑎lnοvєls.𝑐ο𝗺

With their new partnership in place, Carleigh was certain of one thing—his time had come. If everything went as planned, his family’s status would only climb higher, and soon, his siblings would no longer stand in his way.

Carleigh’s eyes gleamed with triumph, a mix of confidence and alcohol-induced giddiness fueling his mood. Thanks to his partnership with the Johns Group, he had been the center of attention all evening. Now, as he watched Evie approach, her complexion glowing under the soft lights, her quiet grace undeniable—his mind began to wander. A slow smirk spread across his face.

“Evie?” he called, his voice smooth as he stepped forward to block her path with an air of confidence.

“I’ve been a fan of your music for quite some time,” he said, his tone casual but loaded with meaning.

“Now that we’ve finally met, how about sharing a drink—just the two of us?”

His raised eyebrow made his intentions clear. Carleigh was certain she wouldn’t refuse. Given his current status, how could she? She was just a singer with no powerful family to back her. No matter how famous she was, she couldn’t possibly defy the influence of wealth.

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