Chapter 5

Tears fell silently, soaking the pillowcase.

Alexander Kingsley had completely forgotten the story behind that butterfly brooch.

Or perhaps, he never cared to remember.

At thirteen, Evelyn Sinclair had clutched three years' worth of saved allowance and gone alone to the auction.

She stood in the last row, watching helplessly as bidding paddles rose again and again for the multicolored diamond butterfly brooch.

The final price was ten times her entire savings.

She cried under her blankets for seven straight days after returning home.

On the eighth midnight, Alexander kicked open her bedroom door.

"Take it."

The butterfly brooch landed in her lap, its diamonds glittering in the moonlight.

"When a Kingsley wants something, they take it." He looked down at her coldly. "If you can't take it yourself, come find me."

Evelyn cradled the brooch, tears welling as she gazed up.

Suddenly, Alexander flicked her forehead.

"Keep crying and I'll take it back."

That was the first—and only—time he showed her tenderness.

Orphaned too young, it was Alexander who taught her how to survive among the elite.

"Fight for what you want," he'd told her. "If you can't win, I'll fight for you."

Now she'd finally learned to fight.

And he called her spoiled, demanding to break off their engagement.

How ironic.

The phone's shrill ring shattered her memories.

Martha Nash's roar exploded through the receiver: "Alexander sent a cease and desist letter!"

Evelyn rushed to check out.

The front desk clerk smiled sweetly. "Your room is prepaid for a month."

She insisted on leaving, transferring the remaining balance to Julian Ashford.

[Senior, consider this an IOU.]

Horizon Media was in an uproar.

"He took her ring shopping! Put his coat around her shoulders! Seven years of secret dating confirmed!" Martha waved the legal letter. "Now he's suing us for defamation? Bullshit!"

Evelyn accepted her copy.

"Why am I the primary defendant?"

"Picking the easy target." Martha rolled her eyes. "The whole company got sued, but you got special attention."

Simon York whistled. "Junior's article broke click records. Alexander's panicking."

Others chimed in: "He wouldn't lash out unless every word was true."

Evelyn looked pointedly at Martha. "The editor-in-chief said there wouldn't be major repercussions."

Martha crunched her lollipop. "I'll piss on the Kingsley family graves!"

Legal department staff came for her ID.

Alexander was specifically suing over Horizon Entertainment's exposé about his seven-year secret affair with Isabella Winslow—Evelyn's all-nighter masterpiece.

As she reached for her wallet, a slender hand intercepted.

Rip.

The letter became confetti in Julian Ashford's grip.

"Let him sue." The crown prince's expression turned glacial. "Can't handle the truth?"

No one had more right to condemn Alexander than Evelyn.

The legal team hesitated.

Julian's gaze sharpened. "Can't Horizon protect one employee?"

He'd never let Evelyn stand in a defendant's box.

Alexander didn't deserve that privilege.

...

"Still nothing?"

The Kingsley Group CEO's office radiated lethal tension.

Ethan Miller's back was drenched in sweat.

Alexander's expression hadn't softened since last night.

Miss Sinclair had vanished.

"Check spending records." Alexander massaged his temples.

A shattered phone and snapped credit card lay on the desk.

Ethan's legs still trembled remembering last night's scene.

"Already did... no transactions."

"Hotels?"

"N-none either."

Dead silence spread.

Ethan held his breath.

"Horizon's side?" Alexander's eyes were bloodshot.

Ethan nearly wept. "They refused to retract... said bring it on..."

Crash!

The coffee table exploded under Alexander's kick.

Ethan almost dropped to his knees.

Forty-eight hours without sleep.

"Lord Alex, the jet's ready." Nathan Carter appeared timely.

Alexander fastened his cufflinks, storming out with stormcloud eyes.

Ethan moved to speak, but Nathan's look stopped him.

Work always came first for Alexander.

Especially over some woman he despised...

"Call the police. Pull surveillance." Alexander threw over his shoulder.

Ethan scrambled for the phone fragments and card.

The SIM card might still work.

The broken card needed immediate replacement.

"Madam asked about Miss Winslow..." Ethan forced out before takeoff.

Alexander's glacial stare froze him.

Ethan hastily offered the new phone and replacement card: "Police are already notified."

As the runway blurred past the window, Alexander's jaw tightened.

That scheming Evelyn—always wanting more than her due.