Chapter 319
No.1
"I—I didn't..." Madeline's initial panic gave way to defiance. "The whole family knew she was pregnant except me! How dare you accuse me of leaking it!"
Alexander nearly laughed at the sheer stupidity.
He didn't bother explaining—Eleanor had already turned away in disgust.
"Because everyone else understood the gravity. You just found out yesterday, and today Evelyn was attacked. Madeline Kingsley, did you deserve to know this at all?"
"You...ungrateful wretch..." Madeline trembled with rage.
Alexander said nothing more, addressing Eleanor instead. "Get the details from her. I'm leaving."
He turned on his heel. Behind him, Madeline's hysterical sobs mingled with Eleanor's weary sigh.
No.2
Evelyn Sinclair stepped out of the company building to find Alexander's car parked in its usual spot.
As she hesitated, the window rolled down. His cold voice carried through. "Get in unless you want to make headlines."
With a resigned sigh, Evelyn opened the door.
Alexander's domineering nature hadn't changed in ten years.
Only after the car started moving did she notice the unfamiliar young man in the passenger seat.
Catching her gaze, he turned with a bright smile. "Good evening, Mrs. Kingsley. I'm Lord Alex's new assistant. You can call me Zheng."
Evelyn didn't ask about Nathan Carter's whereabouts.
No.3
Personnel changes at Kingsley Group weren't her concern.
What troubled her more was Alexander's stormy expression, which had darkened the moment she entered the car.
Evelyn didn't press for answers.
She knew Alexander Kingsley's temperament all too well.
The man had always been this way—he'd speak when ready, and any probing would only invite humiliation.
These days, his disdain no longer affected her.
But she saw no reason to invite unnecessary unpleasantness.
No.4
Silence stretched between them in the car.
"How many more like Wendy West remain in your company?" Alexander suddenly asked.
Evelyn arched a brow. "Meaning?"
"Meaning?" He echoed her words, irritation simmering beneath his tone.
Even after confronting the Kingsley matriarch, his agitation refused to dissipate.
With Evelyn, he always felt this powerlessness.
He could easily cage her away from all danger, yet she stubbornly resisted.
No.5
And he couldn't bring himself to clip her wings.
Watching her skirt peril night after night left him sleepless.
Alexander didn't understand what he feared most.
During the hours waiting for her shift to end, he'd realized one truth—he still craved the warmth she'd once given him.
Back then, whether genuine or not, she'd stayed within his boundaries, gazing at him with fiery devotion.
He'd been consumed by suspicion then. Now, those days felt like rare treasures.
"Are you certain you can protect yourself?" His voice was ice.
No.6
"Absolutely." Evelyn turned to the window, her profile cool and detached. After a beat, she laughed softly and met his eyes. "Though I wonder who put me in this position to begin with?"
Alexander's breath caught.
Right.
Wendy had acted on Isabella Winslow's orders. And why Isabella saw Evelyn as a threat needed no explanation.
His lips twisted in self-mockery.
So he was the root cause after all?
"Rest assured, I'll honor our agreement." His promise dripped with sarcasm, though it was unclear who it mocked. "The terms are clearly spelled out in black and white."
No.7
He would protect her and their unborn child.
In return, she'd remain his wife for one year...
One year?
Far too short!
Alexander's knuckles whitened.
He knew exactly what she planned.
Did she truly think she could walk away after a year? Never.