Chapter 119

"Evelyn, I understand everything." Patriarch Kingsley's clouded eyes held rare clarity. "You and Julian are innocent in this. That worthless Alexander doesn't deserve you..."

The entire Kingsley family had witnessed Evelyn Sinclair's devotion to Alexander Kingsley.

Her gaze toward Julian Ashford remained as pure as freshly fallen snow, devoid of any improper affection.

Only Alexander remained willfully blind.

"Grandfather..." Evelyn bit her lower lip hard.

Her eyes burned, but she forced back the tears.

"Most of Mrs. Wilson's accusations tonight were baseless." She drew a shaky breath. "But it's true... I can't conceive."

The words sliced through the silence like a blade.

"This secret has weighed on me for years." Her voice trembled. "I couldn't face it..."

Alexander chose to ignore the evidence.

Hadn't she also been running from this truth?

She'd clung to those fleeting moments of warmth, deluding herself: He'll never marry me anyway.

Let me steal just a little more time...

Until the Butterfly Brooch incident became the final straw.

"Grandfather, I'm sorry." Evelyn lifted tear-filled eyes. "Alexander and I are over."

She'd intended to play her role until the birthday banquet ended.

But fate demanded the truth tonight.

"Evelyn, modern medicine—" Madeline Kingsley interjected urgently.

"Enough!" The patriarch cut her off sharply. "Whether she can bear children or not, Alexander will marry Evelyn! The Kingsleys don't betray those who've shown us kindness!"

Evelyn smiled.

The dam broke at last.

"Grandfather, this isn't about gratitude." Her voice softened. "The warmth your family gave me will stay with me forever."

When the old man tried to protest, she gently stopped him.

"You should rest now." She tucked his blanket securely. "I'll keep watch tonight."

At 2 a.m., Eleanor Kingsley forcibly sent her to a hotel.

In the car, Evelyn texted Julian:

[Returning your ring tomorrow.]

No reply came.

As she stood before her hotel room door, her phone suddenly rang.

"Evelyn, where are you?" Julian's voice held uncharacteristic urgency.

"The hospital." The lie came easily as she swiped her keycard.

"I'm coming now."

"It's too late—" The door resisted when she pushed.

"This can't wait until tomorrow!" Julian insisted with rare firmness.

Exhaustion crashed over her. "Tomorrow..."

The words died as she realized someone held the door shut.

She turned—and met a pair of stormy eyes.

Alexander braced the door with one hand, snatching her phone with the other before smashing it against the wall.

The stench of alcohol assaulted her senses.

"Let go!" Evelyn struggled violently. "Have you lost your mind?"

The scene mirrored their confrontation five years ago.

This time, he slammed her against the wall, her spine protesting painfully.

"You knew I'd go mad, yet you schemed with him behind my back?" His voice rasped with drunken fury.

She'd never seen him intoxicated before.

"You should've told me sooner." His fingers dug into her chin. "That you love Julian. That you want to be with him!"

Evelyn closed her eyes.

"Did you only remember me when Julian rejected you?" A bitter laugh escaped him. "Now that he wants you back, you're leaving me?"

Each word carried the sour tang of liquor against her face.

"Evelyn, are you really this cheap?"

Silence.

Then his voice dropped to a whisper: "Why... am I the cheap one?"

Her eyes flew open.

A flash of vulnerability vanished from his gaze.

"Perhaps..." She spoke softly. "We're truly incompatible."

Rage darkened Alexander's expression.

"Too late for that." He dragged her toward the bed. "Far too late."