Chapter 52
Evelyn didn't want to listen.
But Ethan's booming voice penetrated the door.
"Miss Sinclair, do you really think you could've handled Ryan Holt alone? Without Lord Alex pulling strings behind the scenes, those vultures would've devoured you alive!"
Her fingers twitched.
"Explain."
Ethan spilled everything in one breath.
"Lord Alex's team dug up all of Ryan's dirty secrets! The studios wanted to protect him until Lord Alex personally intervened! Every endorsement deal? Canceled after his calls!"
"Even Isabella Winslow—Lord Alex had no proof she was involved, yet he forced her to apologize to you!"
His voice grew louder with each word.
"After everything he's done for you, you parade around with Julian Ashford like—"
Evelyn's grip on the doorknob turned white-knuckled.
"Enough!"
The Kingsleys' so-called kindness was her deepest wound.
No matter how well they'd treated her, whispers of "repaying debts with favors" had followed her for years.
She didn't understand.
Why did everyone act like she'd won some grand prize?
They called her lucky.
Blessed.
As if losing her parents had been some clever trade for becoming the future Mrs. Kingsley.
But the ones who paid the ultimate price were her family.
The dead carried no weight.
Even the most tragic tales faded with time.
Her parents had been her entire world—to others, just gossip over afternoon tea.
Now even their memory had become a weapon against her.
Isabella did it.
Melissa did it.
Even the Kingsley servants whispered:
[...only got where she is because of that old favor...]
[...orphan girls never amount to anything...]
[...as if she deserves Lord Alex...]
Now that she'd finally left the Kingsley mansion, even Ethan—usually so decent—had come to twist the knife.
"I had more than enough evidence against Ryan," Evelyn said coldly. "If Alexander hadn't interfered, I would've—"
"Been torn apart by online mobs!" Ethan cut in. "Lord Alex stationed security around your apartment! If not for—"
"Tell him to save his efforts."
Her voice held terrifying calm.
"This is a lawful society. The young master needn't trouble himself."
Ethan froze.
That tone...it sounded exactly like Eleanor Kingsley.
Seizing his hesitation, Evelyn slammed the door.
"Miss Sinclair!" Ethan pounded on the wood. "There's a bounty for your photos online! Lord Alex is the only reason—"
She dialed building security.
"There's a disturbance outside my unit. Please handle it."
......
Kingsley Group Headquarters.
Alexander massaged his temples.
"Lord Alex, the chairman advised you to rest." Nathan spoke cautiously.
"The evaluation reports?"
Alexander didn't look up.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes after back-to-back international meetings. Since Evelyn left, he'd practically moved into the office.
"Miss Winslow sent supper..."
"Distribute it to the night shift."
His icy tone made Nathan swallow further words.
Today's mood had been lethal—one executive misquoted a figure during the meeting and left in tears.
......
In the waiting lounge,
Isabella's red-rimmed eyes lifted hopefully.
"He..."
"Miss Winslow, please go home."
Nathan's face remained impassive.
......
Midnight silence swallowed the office whole.
Alexander stared at his monitor, finger hovering over the mouse.
One last task.
Complete it, and there'd be nothing left to do.
Return to Royal Gardens?
That empty bedroom suffocated him.
Go to the Kingsley estate?
At this hour, he'd only wake his grandparents.
His phone screen lit up.
Alexander's pupils contracted.
That familiar number froze his hand mid-air.
Hadn't Evelyn blocked him?
Why...?