Chapter 57

The office door closed behind Victoria Henn. Evelyn Sinclair glanced at her watch—forty minutes behind schedule.

Her phone vibrated. A message from Eleanor Kingsley flashed:

"Evelyn, delete after watching. Tell no one."

Inside the elevator, her finger hovered over the video. She hesitated.

Only after exiting the hospital did she finally put on her earbuds.

"Evelyn..."

Alexander Kingsley's hoarse voice shattered her composure. Her grip faltered, nearly dropping the phone.

"Come here..." His words scraped like sandpaper, weak with illness. "I'm not angry anymore... Stop hiding from me."

She flipped the phone face-down against her palm.

"After I die, the Kingsleys will be yours..." His voice cracked. "If you want to be with Julian... then be with him."

A ragged inhale hissed through the earbuds. "Just promise me... Visit my grave once a year. Don't tell me about your life together. Never say you've broken up."

Her teeth sank into her lower lip.

She couldn't look. Couldn't bear seeing his pallor or tear tracks.

Couldn't risk relenting.

Had Eleanor sent this because his condition worsened?

The elevator's chime startled her. She'd missed her floor.

When she finally reached the ward, she froze at the corridor's turn.

"Miss Sinclair?"

Ethan Miller's surprised voice came from behind. Before she could respond, his footsteps hurried away.

Her fingers tightened around her bag strap.

Should she call after him? Or leave?

"Well, if it isn't Miss Sinclair."

Isabella Winslow's voice sliced through the air. She wore a new Chanel ensemble, carrying a thermal flask branded with a Michelin-starred restaurant's logo.

"Here to see Alex?" Her red lips curled. "Didn't I make myself clear last time?"

Evelyn's gaze flicked to Isabella's meticulously styled curls. "Trouble sleeping, Ms. Winslow? Your concealer isn't hiding those dark circles."

Isabella's smile stiffened. "You—"

"Heard Summer Sky has to cover Ryan Holt's breach penalty?" Evelyn's laugh was light. "Will your bonus still cover this month's handbag, Director Winslow?"

Crimson nails dug into Isabella's palm. "Evelyn Sinclair! How dare—"

"Miss Sinclair." Ethan reappeared, wringing his hands. "Lord Alex said... he's too tired for visitors today."

Isabella's laugh rang out. "Hear that? He doesn't want to see you."

Evelyn kept her eyes on Ethan. "I'm here for Mrs. Kingsley."

"She's at the ICU," he admitted awkwardly.

"I see." As Evelyn turned to leave, Isabella blocked her path.

"Know who's been tending to Alex these days?" She hissed. "We're closer than ever. Take the hint."

Evelyn walked away without looking back.

At the corner, her peripheral vision caught Ethan holding the ward door open for Isabella.

An invisible fist squeezed her heart.

[Too exhausted to see anyone.]

Not a courtesy. A dismissal.

And she'd actually hesitated...

The video vanished from her phone with a tap.

Perhaps this was for the best.

Some strings needed severing to move forward.

Inside the ward, Alexander's eyes opened. "Who let her in?"

Isabella froze, thermal flask extended. "Alex, I brought your favorite—"

"Get out."