Chapter 271
"Sorry." Evelyn Sinclair pulled her hand free and took a step back. "I'm not in the mood right now."
Alexander Kingsley yanked her forward, gripping her chin. "Then what are you in the mood for?"
She saw the storm brewing in his eyes.
"Julian Ashford didn't get involved in your mess, so you're upset? If they hadn't forged that cease and desist letter, you wouldn't have even bothered explaining things to me, would you?"
"Alexander," Evelyn met his gaze, her expression as distant as an ocean between them. "You promised not to doubt me again, not to use the past to hurt me..."
A faint, bitter smile touched her lips. "I should've known your promises mean nothing."
His pupils contracted, fingers tightening. "Because I broke one promise, you refuse to trust me at all? You pushed me to break it. Evelyn, are you gaslighting me?"
She flinched.
Gaslighting?
He was turning the tables.
After distorting facts and accusing her relentlessly, now he claimed she was manipulating him?
"What do you want?" she demanded bluntly.
Alexander was accustomed to control. Frustration brought out his worst side.
She knew a little compromise would placate him.
But she refused.
She'd had enough. Leaving him once should've meant freedom, yet he haunted her like a ghost.
Taking her for granted when he had her, clinging desperately when he lost her...
Unless she could erase the past entirely, an uncrossable chasm would always divide them.
Her gaze turned glacial.
That look stabbed through Alexander.
He scooped her up violently, kicking open the bedroom door.
Darkness swallowed them.
He couldn't bear that expression—not for a single second...
He saw right through her indifference.
Yet he indulged her every time.
His concessions meant nothing to her. Even this half-hearted pretense tormented him.
Did she despise him so completely?
Countless times he'd wanted to shred her careful facade and claim her utterly.
But he always restrained himself.
Turning away, he pressed a palm over his eyes, unable to savor even that meager pleasure.
He felt himself dying inside.
After all his efforts, this woman still intended to leave...
"Enough!" He shoved her away abruptly. "I don't need this."
Evelyn froze.
His sudden disinterest confused her.
Sitting silently on the bed, she finally said, "I'll find the person in that photo."
"Why bother?" Alexander stood irritably.
"Gossip that means nothing to you could destroy me." She watched his impatient movements as he dressed.
Who could ever truly hurt Alexander Kingsley?
His anger stemmed from unmet desire.
While she fought just to preserve basic dignity.
"Do what you want." He couldn't spare another word.
Evelyn actually relaxed.
This was the Alexander she knew.
No suffocating attention. No unreasonable demands.
Before she could process it, the front door slammed violently.
Just like old times—he left without a word...
Only the trembling doorframe lingered.
......
"Lord Alex?" Ethan Miller waited downstairs.
After cycling through assistants recently, Alexander had recalled Ethan.
He realized he was hopelessly nostalgic.
New things never satisfied him.
"Back to Kingsley Group." Alexander's voice was steel.
Ethan and the driver snapped to attention.
Lord Alex always left Evelyn's place in a foul mood.
But returning to headquarters was good.
Ethan preferred Alexander burying himself in work over being tortured by Evelyn.
He still resented her.
But he'd learned to hide it.
Nathan Carter's fate served as a stark warning.
At Kingsley Group, Alexander dove straight into work.
He summoned Nathan for overtime too.
Soon Ethan reappeared: "Lord Alex, Isabella Winslow called my line. She wants to speak with you."
Alexander kept typing, the desk lamp casting sharp shadows across his face in the dark office.
He finished a paragraph before looking up. "Anything else?"
Ethan wiped sweat. "Isabella—"
"Get out." Alexander cut him off.
Only then did Ethan notice his murderous expression and hastily retreated.