Chapter 1727

No.1

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.

No.2

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.

No.3

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

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

"Get out."

Ethan Miller froze.

Had Alexander Kingsley's words just now been meant for someone other than Evelyn Sinclair?

He'd been lying in a hospital bed all day, not even working. How could he possibly be tired?

Isabella Winslow immediately put on her most tender expression. "Alex, I won't disturb your rest—"

No.4

"Get out."

Alexander's expression darkened instantly. "Who invited you here?"

Isabella stood rooted to the spot.

Seven years. In all that time, he'd never spoken harshly to her, never looked at her with such undisguised irritation...

"Alex..." Her eyes welled up instantly, voice trembling. "How could you speak to me like this..."

Alexander's face grew stormier, like gathering thunderclouds.

What shattered Isabella most was how he refused to even glance at her, instead snapping at Ethan:

No.5

"Ethan, are you brain-dead?"

Ethan jolted into action, practically shoving Isabella toward the door. "Miss Winslow, Lord Alex needs rest. Please come back another time."

Isabella tried to resist.

BANG!

The hospital door slammed shut.

The sound of curtains being drawn followed, blocking even the observation window completely.

Ethan leaned against the door, watching Alexander's fury with a stutter. "M-my lord... they're... they're all gone now..."

No.6

Alexander ground his teeth. "All?"

Ethan nodded frantically. "Y-yes, Miss Sinclair and Miss Winslow both left... You... you can rest properly now..."

"Ethan. Miller."

Alexander spat out the name through clenched teeth.

How had he tolerated such an idiot for over twenty years?

......

Evelyn hadn't even reached Sophie's ward when her phone rang.

No.7

Julian Ashford.

"I heard you're transferring departments?"

Evelyn answered absently. "Mhm."

"Why didn't you tell me first?" His voice held unusual reproach.

"The paperwork's already signed. It makes no difference which department I'm in." Exhaustion weighed on Evelyn's words.

At the office, she'd been in a hurry to visit Mrs. Kingsley at the hospital.