Chapter 56

Alexander Kingsley's fingers tapped lightly against the hospital bed railing.

Something felt off.

Eleanor Kingsley's smile today was too bright, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Knowing his mother, this couldn't mean anything good.

"Send me the videos," he demanded.

"Oh dear, they're too large to transfer." Eleanor fiddled with her phone. "Each of your episodes lasts hours. My storage is almost full. Just watch them here."

......

Ten minutes later.

Alexander's face turned ashen.

"Finished already?" Eleanor's smile turned knowing. "Hey! What are you—don't delete them! Do you know how hard I worked filming these? You ungrateful—"

Alexander had already wiped every video clean, not even sparing the recycle bin.

Did his mother have some bizarre fetish?

Most mothers would nurse their son after a car accident. Not her—she'd spent two days filming instead.

"Who else has seen these?" Alexander tossed the phone back, eyes sharp. "Who knows?"

"Oh, plenty." Eleanor smoothed her hair. "Doctors, nurses, the staff, your assistant... Oh heavens! What's wrong?"

Alexander suddenly doubled over, breath ragged. Darkness clouded his vision as blood spilled from his lips.

Eleanor's scream pierced the ward. "Doctor! Get a doctor!"

Despite stable post-accident recovery, Alexander ended up in emergency care after regaining consciousness.

The chief physician admonished gravely: "Mr. Kingsley needs complete rest. Emotional distress severely hinders recovery. Combined with his irregular meals and preexisting gastric condition, this hematemesis was life-threatening..."

Eleanor finally panicked.

When Alexander was wheeled out, red-eyed Eleanor dialed Evelyn Sinclair's number.

"Evelyn, please come see him... He's my only son. I may complain about him, but if anything happens..."

Evelyn paused mid-sentence while editing an interview draft.

"Don't worry, Aunt Eleanor. I'm on my way."

She rushed to ask Martha Nash for leave, only to be intercepted by Victoria Henn.

"Evelyn Sinclair! My office. Now."

"I have an emergency—"

"What emergency outweighs work?" Victoria frowned. "Inside. Now."

......

Eleanor hung up, torn between hope and guilt.

At the Sinclairs' graves years ago, she'd vowed never to pressure Evelyn.

Yet now...

She was just a selfish mother after all.

"Mother," Alexander rasped upon waking. "You called her?"

Eleanor wiped her eyes. "Be civil when Evelyn arrives—"

"Unnecessary." Alexander turned away. "We're over. I feel nothing for her."

Eleanor sighed inwardly.

Why must he lie?

Anyone could see he was barely functioning without Evelyn.

"I need air." Eleanor stood. "Mind your manners when she comes."

Once alone, Alexander summoned Ethan Miller.

"These past two days..." He hesitated. "Did she visit?"

Ethan's dark-circled eyes blinked. "Miss Sinclair came right after the accident."

Then vanished.

Alexander shut his eyes. "Did she... see me?"

Ethan shook his head. "She left quickly to meet a deadline."

"And you?" Alexander's eyes snapped open, sharp as blades.

Ethan's back chilled. "M-me?"

"Did you enter?"

Ethan gulped. "Madam Eleanor mostly—"

Alexander nodded.

"Nothing leaves this room about what happened here."

Ethan nodded fervently, relieved Evelyn hadn't witnessed Lord Alex's state that day.

His life wouldn't be worth living if she had!

......

Silence reclaimed the ward.

Alexander stared out the window, fingers absently tracing his phone.

An hour passed.

Evelyn never came.

From Horizon Media to the hospital—just thirty minutes by subway.

Alexander tilted his head back, eyes closed.

Memories flooded unbidden.

That summer he broke his leg, Evelyn kept vigil day and night.

Waking in pain, he'd always find her curled at his bedside, tiny fingers clutching his, fast asleep.

From this angle, he'd watch her fluttering lashes, petite nose, rosebud lips.

The slightest movement would rouse her. Half-asleep, she'd murmur: "Doesn't hurt anymore, Alex..."

He'd grit through agony to say: "No. It doesn't."

Just to see her eyes sparkle, hear her soft voice:

"You're so brave, Alex. I'll be brave too..."

"Lord Alex," Ethan whispered through the door. "Miss Sinclair is here. Shall I let her in?"