Chapter 1980

No.1

"Ah!" Madeline staggered backward.

Evelyn turned to flee but collided with a familiar chest. She instinctively raised her hand again, only for her wrist to be caught in an iron grip.

"Had enough?" Alexander Kingsley's voice was hoarse and low.

"Let go!" Evelyn struggled violently. "Don't touch my baby!"

She trembled like a cornered animal, every muscle taut with desperation.

Madeline clutched her reddened cheek, shrill voice piercing the air. "Alexander! Look at her! She even struck me!"

Alexander ignored her, sweeping Evelyn into his arms.

No.2

"Put me down!" Evelyn's protest died abruptly.

He pinned her against the hallway wall, crushing his lips against hers.

The metallic tang of blood spread between them. Evelyn bit down hard, drawing blood from his tongue.

"Are you calm now?" Alexander released her, thumb swiping at the crimson streak on his lip.

Evelyn shattered. Tears flooded her cheeks as she slid down the wall, her slight frame wracked with sobs.

Alexander stood frozen.

"Alexander..." She lifted tear-drenched eyes. "If anything happens to this baby... I'll never forgive—"

No.3

Each word stabbed through him like a blade.

"Understood." His response was gravel-rough. Turning on his heel, he strode back into the examination room.

Madeline was still wailing. "Everything I did was for the Kingsleys—"

"Who gave you permission to touch her?" Alexander's voice could have frozen hell.

Madeline gaped. "I'm her grandmother!"

"You're not." Each syllable was a hammer strike. "The Sinclairs saved our family. Is this how you repay their kindness?"

Slap!

No.4

Madeline's palm cracked across Alexander's face.

"You ungrateful wretch!" She shook with rage. "How dare you speak to me this way!"

Madeline Kingsley's slap landed with barely more force than a passing breeze.

Alexander Kingsley's hair didn't even stir.

Yet that single gesture flipped an invisible switch, plunging the examination room into dead silence.

Eleanor Kingsley clamped a hand over her mouth, her breath freezing in her throat.

Madeline's outstretched arm remained suspended midair as her face drained of color.

No.5

Alexander's expression smoothed into eerie calm.

The smoldering fury vanished, replaced by glacial detachment.

"Perfect." His voice could have flash-frozen the room. "Now I won't have to call you grandmother anymore."

He turned on his heel.

Madeline stumbled after him in sudden panic, grasping at his sleeve. "Alexander! You can't abandon your own grandmother!"

He shook her off without breaking stride.

The anger that had propelled him here had evaporated.

No.6

That slap shattered his last pretense of familial obligation.

He'd never been the devoted grandson—now he wouldn't even pretend.

The hallway stretched empty.

Evelyn Sinclair was gone.

Alexander's stomach dropped.

He quickened his pace, his mind laser-focused: Find her.

She'd promised to stay with him today...

No.7

"Alexander!" Madeline's wail echoed behind him. "Don't leave me—"

Eleanor's shriek followed: "Mother! Stay calm!"

Alexander hesitated for half a step before continuing forward.

He threw open the hospital room door to find Evelyn walking toward him, bag in hand.

"Evelyn." He shut the door behind him, blocking the exit.

"Give me my phone." Her eyes remained red-rimmed, but her voice steadied.