"Evangeline! What in the world did you say to Dad?" Giselle shrieked as she approached.


    Evangeline noticed the red veins in her eyes; she had clearly been crying. Confused, Evangeline replied, "I have no idea what you''re talking about."


    "Don''t you y innocent with me!" Giselle snapped. "If it wasn''t for you, why would Dad suddenly decide to marry me off right after talking to you the other day?"


    Her words finally clicked. Evangeline remembered their conversation at the Whitmore estate. She had told Winston she would not be sacrificed for the family and that if he was still entertaining such ideas, he should consider his younger daughter.


    She had assumed Winston would be too protective of Giselle to do it. Had he really decided to use Giselle in a marriage alliance? The Whitmore family must be in serious trouble this time. It seemed Soren wasn''t bluffing.


    When Evangeline didn''t answer, Giselle took her silence as a sign of guilt. She was now convinced that Evangeline had told Winston to marry her off. In the past, Giselle wouldn''t have worried about anything Evangeline said. Winston had always doted on her and her mother, Hazel, and would never have been swayed.


    But this time, Winston''s mind was made up. Nothing Hazel said could change it.


    Evangeline had Finn in her corner now. She must have said something to him. The Whitmores were no match for the Lockridges, which was why Winston was being so obedient.


    The more Giselle thought about it, the angrier she became. She couldn''t believe how petty Evangeline was being now that she had power.


    Her eyes welling up with tears, Giselle strode forward. Evangeline tensed, expecting a fight and preparing to dodge. But instead, Giselle reached her and dropped to her knees with a thud.


    Evangeline was stunned by the action. Giselle had always been arrogant and domineering, too proud to even apologize when she was in the wrong. Kneeling was unthinkable.


    Themotion had already drawn the attention of passersby, who were now staring at them.


    "Get up," Evangeline said, reaching for her.


    But Giselle refused to move.


    "Evangeline, I''m sorry. It was wrong of me to always be against you," she sobbed. "I''m admitting I was wrong. Can you please just let this go? I don''t want to marry that fat old pig, Mr. Wellington. I''ve heard he likes to abuse women. I''m still young! Marrying him would ruin my entire life."


    "Please, just let me go. I''ll do whatever you say from now on, I promise."


    "Get up first, and then we can talk," Evangeline said, gripping her arm. The onlookers were now openly staring, their gazes filled with strange curiosity.


    Evangeline wasn''t worried about her own reputation-after being vilified in Serenity City for so long, she knew how fast rumors could spread and how much damage they could do. But this was UME. She was the head of technology here, and Giselle was not only her stepsister but also her subordinate. If someone filmed this and posted it online, people would inevitably assume she was bullying an employee.


    It would tarnish UME''s reputation, and at such a critical time for thepany''s market expansion, she couldn''t afford any negative press.


    Giselle seemed to know this and pressed her advantage, refusing to budge.


    "You have to promise me first," she insisted, her eyes red and her lips pressed


    into a stubborn line. "Promise me, and I''ll get up."


    Evangeline sighed, unable to pull her to her feet. "Fine. Stay here and kneel, then. I''m leaving."


    She started to walk around her.


    Panicked, Giselle threw her pride to the wind and wrapped her arms tightly


    around Evangeline''s leg, her cries growing more desperate.