Chapter 15

Evelyn's fingertips trembled slightly, but she maintained her composure. "Lord Alex has always been generous. These items are priceless. Perhaps... Miss Winslow would appreciate them more..."

It would be such a waste to destroy them.

"Do you think Isabella would want your trash?" Alexander's lips curled in disdain. "She's not like you, dazzled by shiny baubles."

In his eyes, Isabella was an untouchable goddess, while Evelyn was nothing but a gold-digging social climber.

Hypocritical. Opportunistic. A status-seeker hiding behind false purity.

"The Kingsleys treated you well all these years." He loosened his tie, gaze sharp as a blade. "Yet we somehow raised someone with such vulgar tastes."

His eyes swept over the scattered gifts, his smirk deepening. "You hoarded every trinket I tossed your way like treasures. Now you return them with this pathetic display. Disgusting."

His tall frame was silhouetted against the frosted bathroom glass. "If you don't want them, throw them away properly. Don't litter my home."

Evelyn stared at the discarded presents, her eyes hollow.

He'd given her extravagant jewelry, military training medals, even rare collector's edition game cartridges...

Some were indeed worthless.

But his accusation of greed...

If longing for someone's warmth was greed, then yes—she had been greedy.

Ravenously so.

Now his cruel words fell like hail on frozen ground, leaving no trace.

As she turned to leave, a maid entered.

The middle-aged woman's eyes gleamed with avarice at the glittering mess. Pretending to clean, she slipped a necklace into her pocket.

"Miss Sinclair, don't take it so hard," the maid simpered. "All that fiancée talk was just for show. Everyone knows you were just a bed warmer. Let's be honest—a pheasant can't become a swan by dressing up..."

The bathroom door flew open.

Alexander emerged in a robe, water dripping from his hair, his expression glacial.

The maid immediately hunched like a frightened quail.

"Wait." His voice cut through the air.

Evelyn turned to see the maid's stiffened back.

"Hand it over." Alexander's tone could freeze hell.

Trembling, the maid held up a trash bin. "My lord, Miss Sinclair told me to throw these away—"

"Shall I search you myself?"

The maid collapsed to her knees, shaking violently. After a long pause, she produced the necklace. "M-Miss Sinclair gave this to me..."

She suddenly turned pleading eyes to Evelyn. "Miss Sinclair is so kind! I was ungrateful! Please tell Lord Alex the truth—"

The necklace landed at Evelyn's feet like something contaminated.

"You gave this to her?" Alexander narrowed his eyes.

Evelyn's expression remained impassive. "Mrs. Wilson's talent for framing others is wasted in service. She should be in theater."

The maid grew frantic. "Miss Sinclair told me to take whatever I wanted! Her silence proves she's setting me up!" She glanced at Alexander. "Even when beating a dog, one considers its master. She's insulting you, my lord!"

In the past, she'd never have dared such insolence.

But everyone at Royal Gardens knew—Miss Sinclair had fallen from grace.

A discarded woman held less status than a senior maid.

Beneath her fearful act, the maid preened with triumph.

Evelyn didn't even grant her a glance. She gave Alexander a slight nod. "Everything's accounted for. Dispose of them as you wish."

As she walked away, her skirt brushed past the necklace—like sweeping away a painful memory.