Chapter 297

Evelyn Sinclair turned and met a pair of obsidian-dark eyes.

"Who were you calling?" Alexander Kingsley's voice was hoarse.

"Your mother." She emphasized the word "your."

Alexander's gaze locked onto her. Only after several seconds did the suspicion in his eyes gradually fade.

He believed her.

"Why tell her?" He frowned, lying back with a pale face. "...Water."

Evelyn started to rise, but her wrist was suddenly seized.

"Where are you going?"

"To get you water." She sounded surprised.

Only then did Alexander release her, his arm dropping limply. "One minute... I'll give you one minute..."

Evelyn bent to pick up her phone, pressing it back to her ear as she walked toward the kitchen.

Eleanor Kingsley was still on the line.

"I'm calling an ambulance right now," Eleanor said, her voice thick with worry. "Evelyn, Madeline, she—"

She wanted to defend the matriarch but found she had nothing to say.

This time, Madeline had gone too far.

Her past outbursts could be excused as ignorance or manipulation.

But this?

She knew Alexander was waiting for Evelyn.

Yet she still threw her out over a petty grudge.

If Evelyn had been allowed in yesterday, Alexander's condition wouldn't have deteriorated this badly.

The doctor had warned that even the strongest body would eventually break under such strain.

Cases of young people dying suddenly were becoming more common.

Some seemingly healthy individuals collapsed after just a few sleepless nights.

Considering Alexander's workload and the doctor's psychological evaluation...

Eleanor hadn't slept all night.

The ambulance arrived quickly.

Alexander's expression darkened when he saw the medics carrying a stretcher.

"I can walk."

Did they really think he was dying?

At the hospital, IV fluid dripped steadily.

Exhaustion washed over Alexander, but he clung to the last shreds of consciousness.

"Give me your phone." He held out his hand to Evelyn.

"Hmm?"

"Now." His eyes turned icy when she hesitated.

"What do you need it for?" Reluctantly, Evelyn handed it over.

Alexander tucked the phone beneath him. "You'll get it back when I wake up."

He was asleep before the words fully left his mouth.

......

A shrill ringtone jolted Alexander awake.

Trapped in nightmares, he heard the phone ringing but couldn't open his eyes.

Dreams came one after another.

First, Nathan Carter video-called from Africa in tears, showing him the blisters from mining and begging to be transferred back.

Then Eleanor called, pleading with him not to exile Madeline from the Kingsley estate to spare Evelyn from public blame.

He remembered saying, "Anyone who dares criticize her goes to Africa."

Finally, Evelyn called to say the baby was actually his—she'd only claimed it was Julian Ashford's to spite him...

Alexander found it strange. Hadn't he confiscated her phone? How could she still call?

Squinting, he saw Julian's name flashing on the screen.

That dream... succeeded in pissing him off enough to wake him.

As consciousness returned, he realized the phone beneath him was vibrating.

Those chaotic dreams had all been because of this damn ringing...

Alexander pulled out the phone and blinked at the screen, instantly alert.

Two words glared back at him:

Senior Brother.

There was only one person Evelyn would call by that title.