Chapter 363
No.1
Water roared in her ears.
The icy cascade shocked her feverish skin into shivers.
Alexander gripped her chin underwater. "Where did he touch you?" His rough thumb ground against her lips. "Here? Or—"
"You're insane!" Evelyn shoved him away.
"Alexander! Let her go!" Julian Ashford's voice cut through the chaos.
Alexander finally released her and stepped out of the fountain.
Evelyn staggered onto the pavement—then the world spun violently.
No.2
"Evelyn!"
Julian's shout was the last thing she heard.
......
Cold.
Hot.
The alternating extremes tortured her nerves.
Her throat felt stuffed with cotton, mute.
No.3
In the darkness, someone kept calling her name: "Evelyn... Evelyn..."
Like that summer when Alexander broke his leg hiking and burned with fever.
She stayed by his bed, her wrist trapped in his grip.
Half-asleep, she'd heard him murmur her name repeatedly.
When she shook him awake and asked if he'd had a nightmare—
He stared at her for a long moment before saying, "Julian pushed me. Stay away from him."
......
No.4
Her eyes opened to a sterile white ceiling.
No warm embrace. No familiar voice.
"Won't you eat more?" A woman's voice, sweet as honey. "I simmered this porridge for three hours."
Evelyn forced herself upright.
"Miss Sinclair, you're awake!" A nurse exclaimed.
Then froze mid-step.
The scene before her was unmistakable—
No.5
Evelyn Sinclair blinked awake as harsh sunlight streamed through the curtains.
She squinted to see Isabella Winslow leaning over Alexander Kingsley's hospital bed, her delicate fingers holding a spoon. "Just one more bite, Alex?" Her saccharine voice dripped with false sweetness.
The spoon touched Alexander's lips as Isabella turned to shoot Evelyn a triumphant look.
Evelyn's throat constricted. Her fingernails dug into her palms.
"Awake?" Alexander's voice cut through the tension.
He pushed Isabella away, sending the porcelain spoon clattering against the bowl.
Evelyn realized she lay on a cot beside his bed, an IV needle taped to her hand.
No.6
Ethan Miller approached quietly. "Miss Sinclair, you collapsed outside. Lord Alex carried you here himself—"
Evelyn turned her face away.
If Alexander hadn't intervened, she could have endured the drug's effects. Now her skin burned, her throat raw as if scorched by fire.
"The doctor said it was an allergic reaction," Ethan added, glancing nervously at Alexander.
Alexander's brow furrowed, his gaze locked onto Evelyn.
Ethan didn't dare mention how Lord Alex had cradled her for hours before Isabella arrived.
"Since everyone's here," Alexander said abruptly, "let's settle this."
No.7
The room fell silent.
"Isabella and I don't have the relationship you fabricated." His eyes bore into Evelyn. "You'll issue a public apology. I might overlook this, but her career could suffer."
Evelyn almost laughed.
She only needed to look at them—Isabella practically draped over Alexander, their hands nearly touching on the sheets.
No relationship?
When she remained silent, Alexander continued, "As for your job, your probation period is terminated."
Evelyn's head snapped up, shock flashing in her eyes.