Chapter 23

Alexander kicked Evelyn away.

She crumpled to the floor like a fallen leaf.

With a violent shove, Alexander sent the wardrobe screeching across the floor.

"Alexander!" Ignoring the searing pain in her knees, Evelyn lunged forward and clung to his leg. "Alex... It's all my fault..."

She couldn't take the risk.

Julian's life was the heaviest debt she'd ever carry.

"I'll do anything..." Her voice shattered. "I'll die if you want... Just spare Julian."

"Evelyn!" Julian barked. "Don't beg him!"

When she'd applied to Horizon Media, he'd given her the offer.

It was all he could give.

A job. A fragile door left ajar.

He'd watched her emerge from her walking corpse state, slowly regaining color.

He'd rather die than see her enslaved again.

Alexander suddenly stilled.

He crouched, tracing the tears on her cheeks with icy fingers.

"First time I've seen you cry," his voice dripped frost. "For another man."

He yanked her hair back.

"You kneel for him. You plead for him..." Scarlet rage burned in Alexander's eyes. "Now you weep for him?"

Evelyn trembled violently.

She'd never seen this feral version of Alexander.

"I'll push him over," he whispered against her ear. "Watch him splatter on the pavement... Evelyn, tonight we become murderers together."

He hurled her to the ground.

"No!" Scrambling up, Evelyn threw herself before the window.

Her arms spread wide, hair wild.

"Kill me first," she rasped. "Step over my corpse to commit your crime... Alexander, the blood will be yours alone."

Alexander sent the wardrobe crashing.

Amid the deafening impact, he seized her throat, shoving her toward the yawning darkness.

"You think I won't die with you?" His words howled with the night wind. "The Sinclairs dare death—are the Kingsleys cowards?"

Black spots danced in Evelyn's vision.

Something warm splattered her face.

"If you die, it'll be with me!"

......

Somehow, Evelyn found herself back inside.

She collapsed, coughing until her ribs ached.

The wardrobe gaped with a jagged hole.

Blood streaked the broken wood.

Two factions stood locked in stalemate.

Julian's knuckles dripped crimson.

Alexander, restrained by his men, smeared blood across his lips.

Ethan knelt beside her, pleading. "Miss Sinclair, please... Lord Alex hasn't slept in two days..."

Evelyn laughed between coughs.

He'd nearly murdered her and Julian.

Yet she was the tormentor?

"Lord Alex remembered your dress shopping..." Ethan's eyes reddened. "Just apologize..."

Evelyn swayed to her feet.

She moved toward Julian.

Gazing at his mangled hand, she whispered, "Julian... Does it hurt?"