The Queen Returns—And She's Unforgiving

Evelyn found the entire exchange baffling. Without another word, she turned to leave.

But Lucas seemed to sense her intent. Unbothered by her distant and chilly demeanor, he casually slipped off the coat draped over his arm and placed it over her shoulders. "Keep it on. The temperature's probably going to drop later."

Evelyn hadn't expected such a thoughtful gesture. She didn't even have time to refuse.

By the time she reacted, the coat, still warm from his body, was already resting on her.

Along with the familiar hint of his usual cologne, she also caught a faint, lingering trace of a woman's perfume. It was subtle but undeniably there. Someone else had worn or touched this coat before he gave it to her.

Her expression instantly turned colder. Without a second thought, she grabbed the coat and tossed it back into the crook of his arm. "Thanks, but I don't need it."noveldrama

Her movement was swift and direct. The rejection was unmistakable, her distance crystal clear.

Lucas didn't flinch. He didn't seem surprised at all as if he had already predicted exactly how she'd react. Calmly, he draped the coat over his arm again. Unfazed, he said casually, "I heard Flying Seal Group is submitting a bid for the military contract?"

Evelyn paused slightly. So, he knew about that too.

When she didn't respond, he continued, "I'm sure Flying Seal Group knows just how fierce the competition is this time. If you're not sure you can win, it'll just be a waste of resources."

"What exactly are you trying to say, Mr. Grant?" Evelyn asked coolly, cutting off whatever else he planned to say.

Lucas looked at her frosty, indifferent expression. Then, his lips curved faintly. "Let's do a joint bid."

"Flying Seal Group could consider teaming up with Arrowpoint Solutions. You have the edge in innovative R&D, and we, backed by TechNova Group, can ensure technical stability. We'll both get what we want. It's the optimal solution."

Evelyn suddenly understood everything. No wonder he had approached her out of nowhere. No wonder he had feigned concern and even draped a coat over her shoulders.

Of course, no one would show up at your door empty-handed.

Lucas wanted something. "Joint bid" sounded nice on paper. But in reality, it was about using Flying Seal Group's credibility to launch Arrowpoint Solutions' first major government project.

Evelyn didn't respond. Instead, she walked straight past Lucas and headed toward the 3D sample lab. Her mind, though, was turning.

A joint bid really would be a more secure and strategic approach. Time was short, and realistically, Flying Seal Group wouldn't be able to vet a new partner and draw up agreements with someone else in time.

Lucas had played his cards well.

But Evelyn wasn't one to make major decisions unilaterally. Flying Seal Group didn't belong to her alone. This would have to be a collective discussion.

After reviewing the lab, Evelyn went to rejoin Sebastian. When she arrived, she saw Lucas and Tiffany already there. They were talking with Sebastian as if nothing had ever happened, like the recent poaching incident had never taken place.

Tiffany noticed Evelyn approaching and probably assumed Evelyn had been off running errands.

Without sparing her a glance, Tiffany turned back to Sebastian and said earnestly, "I talked with Professor Hill recently about doing a postgraduate program, and it really solidified my desire to study under him.

"I'm preparing my thesis now, and I was wondering if you could help me get some feedback from him. Of course, if that's too much, I completely understand."

She had a warm, earnest demeanor. She was clearly curious, eager to learn, and genuinely sincere.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by Tiffany's persistence. She was still chasing that paper.

"Where are you planning to submit it, Ms. Moore?"

Tiffany gave a small smile, not sounding particularly boastful. "SCI Aerospace Journal, Tier 2."

She knew Sebastian had published in Tier 1 of the same journal during his postgraduate studies. In aerospace academia, there were four tiers. Tier 1 was elite-reserved for top experts and groundbreaking research. Tier 2 was just one level down but still highly respected and extremely selective.

In her mind, it made perfect sense. Sebastian was Graham's son, after all. With direct guidance like that, getting published in Tier 1 was expected.

But if she had Graham backing her too and put in the work, who was to say she couldn't get there herself?

Sebastian couldn't help but laugh when he heard what Tiffany had said. He then glanced over at Evelyn, who had walked over silently.

He had published one Tier 1 paper, but Evelyn had published two. That was a whole different class.

A flicker of interest sparked in his eyes. Then, he smiled and said, "Tier 2 SCI Aerospace Journal, huh... Maybe you should ask Evie for help on that."