Chapter 1878

No.1

"The doctor cleared me for discharge," she said abruptly.

He nodded. "You're coming home."

"I want my apartment."

"No." His refusal was absolute. "Security's inadequate."

Evelyn pressed her lips together. "Then you—"

"I'm staying with you." As if stating the obvious.

Her eyes widened. "It's tiny."

No.2

Alexander caged her against the bed, his breath warm on her cheek. "Tiny?" His low chuckle vibrated against her. "And I'm... not?"

Scarlet bloomed across Evelyn's ears.

Evelyn froze for a second, her cheeks burning crimson.

Had she misunderstood him?

Alexander's words were perfectly innocent, yet they made her ears turn red.

"You..." She stumbled over her words.

"Hmm?" He leaned in closer, his breath brushing her ear. "Did I say something wrong? When did you become so stingy... refusing even me."

No.3

"Stop it!" She pushed against his chest, but he caught her wrist.

His lips grazed her fingertips, his gaze dark with possessive hunger—as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Evelyn squirmed, feeling branded by his touch.

"Alexander, remember our agreement," she protested, trying to pull free.

"The agreement never said I couldn't kiss you," he countered, unmoving. "Or that we couldn't live together."

She averted her eyes from his scorching stare.

"What about Isabella Winslow? The whole city saw your engagement."

No.4

His expression turned icy. "Must you do this, Evelyn?"

He knew her too well.

Bringing up Isabella was just her way of reminding him of Julian Ashford.

She didn’t want reconciliation.

This marriage was only for the baby.

The realization tightened his chest.

The only comfort was that she valued this child more than Julian.

No.5

But the thought of her carrying another man's baby made it hard to breathe.

"Evelyn," he pulled her flush against him, "I'm the legal father now. Do you want our child raised in a broken home?"

She pressed a hand to his chest. "We'll discuss that after the birth. If you still want to be a father by then."

"I'm starting now." His arms locked around her, leaving no room for refusal.

"Alexander—"

"You expect me to watch you live across from Julian?" he cut in. "To let another man covet my wife?"

"He wouldn’t—"

No.6

"Did you change the locks?" he challenged.

Evelyn hesitated.

Julian had returned the key...

"I saw you leaving together," Alexander said coldly. "I won’t tolerate it again."

Suddenly, he asked, "How did this happen?"

Her breath hitched.

That was a question she couldn’t answer.

No.7

He took her silence as confirmation.

"You're my wife now," he gritted out. "The agreement states you can't see Julian again."

But the apartment she lived in belonged to Julian.

If not for his grandmother's interference, she wouldn’t have moved out.

"Grandmother wants you back at the estate," he warned. "Don’t force me to side with her."

Evelyn laughed bitterly. "Isn’t this coercion?"