Chapter 1565

No.1

"What about the male victim?" Lance's voice rose in panic.

"His condition is more severe." The doctor scanned the crowd. "Where are the pregnant patient's relatives?"

"Here!" Madeline elbowed forward. "My daughter-in-law's baby—"

"Where's the husband?" the doctor interrupted.

"That would be me." Alexander stepped forward.

The physician led him to a side office.

Madeline stamped her foot. "Why can't this be discussed openly?"

No.2

"Mother, patience." Eleanor Kingsley restrained the older woman.

Moments later, Alexander emerged, expression unreadable.

"Everyone should leave," he stated flatly.

Eleanor understood immediately, guiding her husband to usher the elders away.

...

Evelyn Sinclair lay in the ICU, tubes snaking across her body.

Alexander stood before the glass partition, gaze heavy.

No.3

"My lord, we've found something." Nathan Carter approached quietly.

"Which matter?"

"The car accident."

Alexander finally turned. "Speak."

Nathan handed over a tablet. "Watch this surveillance footage first."

The screen showed an airport terminal.

Crowds flowed normally—until a white figure entered the frame.

No.4

Alexander's breath caught.

Evelyn.

The Evelyn from before.

He remembered that white dress.

Remembered her timidly asking if it looked pretty.

What had he replied?

The memory escaped him.

No.5

Perhaps just a glance. Perhaps a dismissive nod.

His fingers brushed the screen unconsciously.

Reaching for someone once within grasp, now impossibly distant.

Then—a car lunged forward.

Spearing straight toward Evelyn.

Alexander's heart stopped.

Evelyn scrambled aside.

No.6

The vehicle grazed her, sending her crashing onto the pavement.

Alexander immediately rewound the footage.

"That was intentional." His voice tightened. "How badly was she hurt? When did this happen?"

Nathan pointed to the timestamp.

The date struck Alexander like lightning.

He remembered now.

This was dawn on the day she left him.

No.7

"There's no hospital record." Nathan murmured. "She got up and ran into the terminal."

Agony lanced through Alexander's chest.

He'd seen those injuries later.

After she'd gone. In Sophie's hospital room.

What had he thought then?

Attributed them to her with the cruelest assumptions.