Chapter 55
No.1
Ethan froze.
That tone...it sounded exactly like Eleanor Kingsley.
Seizing his hesitation, Evelyn slammed the door.
"Miss Sinclair!" Ethan pounded on the wood. "There's a bounty for your photos online! Lord Alex is the only reason—"
She dialed building security.
"There's a disturbance outside my unit. Please handle it."
......
No.2
Kingsley Group Headquarters.
Alexander massaged his temples.
"Lord Alex, the chairman advised you to rest." Nathan spoke cautiously.
"The evaluation reports?"
Alexander didn't look up.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes after back-to-back international meetings. Since Evelyn left, he'd practically moved into the office.
"Miss Winslow sent supper..."
No.3
"Distribute it to the night shift."
His icy tone made Nathan swallow further words.
Today's mood had been lethal—one executive misquoted a figure during the meeting and left in tears.
......
In the waiting lounge,
Isabella's red-rimmed eyes lifted hopefully.
"He..."
No.4
"Miss Winslow, please go home."
Nathan's face remained impassive.
......
Midnight silence swallowed the office whole.
Alexander stared at his monitor, finger hovering over the mouse.
One last task.
Complete it, and there'd be nothing left to do.
No.5
Return to Royal Gardens?
That empty bedroom suffocated him.
Go to the Kingsley estate?
At this hour, he'd only wake his grandparents.
His phone screen lit up.
Alexander's pupils contracted.
That familiar number froze his hand mid-air.
No.6
Hadn't Evelyn blocked him?
Why...?
The phone's ringtone pierced the silence of the room.
Evelyn Sinclair stared at the flashing name on her screen, only answering at the last possible moment.
"Yes?"
Alexander Kingsley's voice came through the receiver like an ice-cold blade.
Evelyn was accustomed to this frostiness. She could practically see his expression—brows slightly furrowed, lips pressed thin, as if answering this call was beneath him.
No.7
"Mr. Kingsley." Her voice remained soft yet distant. "Please refrain from interfering with my work in the future. The Sinclairs may have fallen from grace, but we can handle our own affairs."
The sound of a pen tapping against a desk echoed through the line.
"And your assistant, Ethan Miller." Evelyn's light laugh tinkled like wind chimes—pleasant yet sharp. "He keeps insisting how much you've done for me. Let's not repeat that joke."
Her tone turned bitter. "An orphan like me could never deserve Lord Alex's concern."
The call disconnected abruptly.
Alexander stared at the darkened screen, his knuckles whitening.
Three seconds later, he redialed.