The Almighty Tycoon Reclaims His Queen

Evelyn gripped the steering wheel of the Aston Martin until her knuckles turned completely white.

The rain in Midtown Manhattan was not just falling. It was violently attacking the windshield. The wipers slashed back and forth frantically, but they could not clear the sheets of water fast enough. The gray afternoon sky felt like a heavy concrete ceiling pressing down on her chest.

On the passenger seat, her phone screen lit up.

She glanced away from the road for a fraction of a second. The text message from her father glared at her in harsh black letters.

Final notice on the liquidation. We are out of time, Eve.

A sharp, physical pain seized her chest. Her lungs stopped working. The air in the expensive leather interior of the car suddenly felt too thick to breathe. Her stomach twisted into a tight, painful knot. She closed her eyes for one desperate second, trying to force oxygen back into her body.

When her eyes snapped open, the traffic light ahead had turned solid red.

A massive, custom black Rolls Royce Phantom was already stopped dead at the crosswalk. It looked like a solid wall of black steel.

Evelyn's pupils dilated. Her right foot slammed down on the brake pedal with all her body weight.

The tires screamed against the flooded asphalt. The sound was high-pitched and sickening.

Momentum threw her violently forward. The seatbelt locked instantly, biting hard into her collarbone and cutting off her air supply.

A heavy, deafening crunch filled the cabin.

The front of the Aston Martin smashed into the rear bumper of the Rolls Royce. The impact sent a violent shockwave up Evelyn's spine. Her teeth clicked together hard.

Then, dead silence.

The only sound left was the relentless drumming of the rain against the metal roof. Evelyn rested her forehead against the steering wheel. Her brain was completely blank. Her hands shook so hard she could not unbuckle her seatbelt for a long moment.

She slowly lifted her head. Through the sweeping wiper blades, she saw the crushed rear bumper of the ten-million-dollar vehicle ahead of her.

A cold wave of absolute despair washed over her skin.

The driver's side door of the Rolls Royce opened. A large man in a sharp black suit stepped out. He opened a large black umbrella and walked toward her car. His face showed zero emotion.

Evelyn took a shaky breath. She pushed her door open and stepped out into the storm.

The freezing rain instantly soaked through her thin silk blouse. The wet fabric clung to her skin, making her shiver violently. She wrapped her arms around herself and walked toward the driver.

"I am so sorry," Evelyn said, her voice shaking from the cold. "The rain was blinding. I will contact my insurance company right away."

The driver stopped in front of her. His cold eyes scanned her soaked clothes.

"Ma'am," he said, his voice completely flat. "You just rear-ended Mr. Hawthorne's personal vehicle. Your insurance will not cover