This time, her mind was blank. What could she have done?
The thought of the dream she had made her cheeks turn red. Could it be that she acted out the dream, trying to get his affection for real?
“Even if that were true, I was too drunk to know what I was doing!” she quickly defended herself.
Dave chuckled. “What? Are you denying it again, like last time?”
Bianca looked up at him, flooded with memories of their past. Each one cut through her heart deeply.
She had never imagined a future with him or the complications their relationship would bring.
“Then my answer stays the same. Nothing happened,” Dave said as he stood up. His usual cold detachment returned. He looked down at her and added, “Get some rest. If you’re hungry, let me know. I’ll be outside. When you’re ready, we’ll leave.”
With that, he turned and left the bedroom.
Bianca wanted to call him back, but the words got stuck in her throat.
Her heart felt heavy.
Even though she was awake, her head was still spinning. How strong had that wine been last night? She felt like something was wrong.
Once Dave stepped outside the bedroom, he went to the balcony and called his top secret guard, Wyatt Cooper.
The call connected right away.
“Hello,” Wyatt answered.
“Zane has jumped into the sea and is missing. Find him, no matter what it takes. I don’t care if you have to drain the whole sea,” Dave ordered.
He knew that surviving in such a vast sea was unlikely, but he wouldn’t accept it until he had clear answers.
Wyatt, surprised by the urgency, replied softly, “Understood. I’ll find him.”
“Wyatt,” Dave said in a firm voice, “I’m leaving the Evans Group.”
Wyatt, slightly stunned, responded, “You mean…”
“Yes,” Dave confirmed. “Phoenix Alliance Group was my creation and is fully under my control. I will cut ties with the Evans Group and use my resources to take them down, freeing myself from my grandpa’s control.”
Dave knew that staying in the Evans Group would never allow him to escape his grandfather’s manipulation.
He had endured many challenges to secure his inheritance, pretending to obey. What had all his sacrifices given him?
His grandfather had constantly targeted those he cared about and had even taken things further to keep full control!
Dave had reached his breaking point.
Knowing his grandfather was behind Zane’s disappearance and Bianca’s recent troubles, Dave couldn’t forgive him, even if he was family.
He couldn’t forgive his grandfather for letting Rupert desecrate his mother’s ashes, either.
If claiming the heirship meant marrying a woman his grandfather chose, Dave was ready to give up the title.
From now on, he would go his own way.
Wyatt chuckled softly. “I knew I made the right choice… You escaped the asylum, cleared my name, and built Phoenix Alliance Group from the ground up. You’re meant for great things.”
Wyatt was the one who helped Dave escape the asylum.
After seeing Dave’s actions and loyalty, he stayed by his side. He was certain he had made the right choice.
At first, Wyatt admired Dave. Now, he respected him deeply.
Few companies, whether in the country or worldwide, could compare to the Evans Group. While Dave might not fully grasp the challenges of going solo, Wyatt believed his decision was carefully thought out.
Dave was the kind of person who would take even the smallest chance and turn it into a sure thing.
“Whatever path you choose, I’m with you. I am your blade, ready to strike wherever you point,” Wyatt said, showing the same loyalty Zane once had.
That was exactly what Dave needed to hear. With Wyatt’s support, he felt lighter and more confident.
After the call ended, Dave stood on the balcony, looking at the calm sea. He knew there were dangerous currents hiding beneath the surface.
The road ahead would be full of risks, but he was determined to move forward, not afraid of what lay ahead.
He was ready to seek justice for the wrongs done to his parents, Zane and Bianca.
Dave took a deep breath and felt a sense of freedom he had never known. His life had always been controlled by the Evans family’s demands and expectations, especially his grandfather.
Now, he was ready to live for himself and the people he cared about.
As he turned, the sunlight hit him, creating a strong shadow. He stepped into the darkness, but his willpower shone through.
Back in his room, Lucas shouted at Franklin.
“Is this what you call success? Is this how you handle things? Seriously?”
Franklin’s face stayed serious. “I didn’t expect Zane to jump into the sea. But that doesn’t mean something didn’t happen between him and Bianca.”
“Why bring that up now?” Lucas snapped and gave him a hard look. “With Zane gone, we can’t know for sure! Unless… he’s still alive somewhere.”
Franklin moved closer, speaking in a quiet, urgent tone. “I’ve sent people to look for him. We need to find him, whether he’s dead or alive.”
Lucas nodded, remembering the fierce look in Dave’s eyes earlier. With a harsh tone, he said, “We can’t let Dave find out that Zane’s incident is connected to me!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve covered our tracks perfectly. He won’t find out,” Franklin replied confidently.
Lucas relaxed slightly but still gripped his cane tightly before striking it against the floor. “We need to get rid of Bianca Scott. She owned a talent agency, right? Dave wants to protect her, so we can’t immediately go after her. But we can target her company and her artists.”
Franklin answered, “I’ve already reached out to her partners to have them break their contracts with her. But I heard she hired Reece Barton as her lawyer and plans to sue those partners. Because it’s Reece, some partners backed off from canceling their contracts.”
“Reece Barton?” Lucas’s eyes narrowed, a crafty look on his face. “The firstborn of the Barton couple?”
“That’s right.”
Lucas grinned. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen his father. I do miss him!”
****
Skylar woke up to find Dave gone. The events of the night before ran through her mind, making her anger grow, but she could not release it.
She had never hated anyone as much as she hated Bianca now.
If it weren’t for Bianca taking Dave away, she wouldn’t be in this mess!
Suddenly, Skylar remembered something important.
She pulled out the agreement Dave had signed the night before, and a smirk appeared on her face.
She couldn’t help but imagine how Bianca would react when she saw this pledge from Dave.