Chapter 121

Alexander Kingsley took a step forward.

Patriarch Kingsley suddenly sat up in his hospital bed.

"Shh—" He raised a finger to his lips, whispering urgently. "Get out. Evelyn stayed with me all night. Let her sleep."

Alexander froze.

All night?

His gaze shifted to Evelyn Sinclair curled up on the cot. Only half her face peeked out from the blanket, long lashes casting shadows under her eyes.

His heart clenched like an invisible fist had seized it.

That woman last night... couldn't have been her?

"Alexander?" Madeline Kingsley approached him in the hallway. "Perfect timing. Your grandmother needs to speak with you."

She pulled him to the far end of the corridor.

"It's time to end things with Evelyn." The old woman cut straight to the point.

Alexander's expression remained impassive.

"I've always adored Evelyn. Wanted her as my granddaughter-in-law since she was little." Madeline sighed. "But you're the Kingsley heir now. The family line—"

"If you truly care for her," Alexander interrupted coldly, "why did you allow Mrs. Wilson to humiliate her in public?"

"I—"

"Would you tolerate that treatment if she were your blood granddaughter?"

Madeline paled.

"I know you still have feelings for her." Her eyes reddened. "But this relationship is impossible... Over my dead body will you two be together!"

"Fine." Alexander turned on his heel and left.

Thirty minutes later, Ethan Miller nearly had a heart attack finding him on the rooftop.

"Lord Alex! Don't do anything reckless!" He lunged forward in panic.

Alexander sat beyond the railing, silhouette bleak against the skyline.

"Schedule a procedure," he said abruptly.

"What procedure?"

"A vasectomy."

——

After catching up on sleep, Evelyn arranged to meet Julian Ashford at a nearby café.

She pushed open the door—only to find Mrs. Ashford waiting instead.

"Evelyn, dear." The woman grasped her hand with false sweetness. "About what happened years ago... I owe you an apology."

Evelyn silently withdrew her hand.

"Name your price for compensation." Contempt flickered in Mrs. Ashford's eyes.

"Mother!" Julian appeared suddenly.

He pulled Evelyn away. "We're leaving."

"Stop right there!" Mrs. Ashford snapped. "How dare you associate with this shameless—"

"Shameless what?" Julian's laugh was icy. "Not good enough for the Ashford fortune?"

He marched out with Evelyn, never looking back.

Around the corner, Evelyn produced the diamond ring.

"Thanks for last night."

Julian didn't take it.

He gazed at her, voice trembling.

"It wasn't an act."

"Evelyn... I'm truly in love with you."

Sunlight filtered through the trees, fracturing into starlight in his eyes.