Chapter 169
The air between us was electric.
Alexander's gaze was heavy with unspoken hunger, his sculpted features darkened by desire. That lazy smirk of his sent shivers down my spine.
Evelyn froze. Her pulse raced wildly, threatening to escape the confines of her chest.
She knew exactly what that look meant.
With trembling fingers, Evelyn caught Alexander's wandering hand. "We can't," she whispered, voice unsteady. "This is your office."
A low chuckle rumbled from his chest. "My office, my rules."
The space between them grew hotter, charged with something dangerous. Their breaths tangled, heavy and uneven. Need burned in both their eyes, undeniable.
Then—
The door swung open without warning.
"Alex, I heard Evelyn was back at work today. What about Claire—"
Lucas Bennett stopped mid-sentence, freezing under Alexander's glacial stare.
The moment Lucas Bennett pushed open the door, Alexander Whitmore's murderous glare made him freeze mid-step.
Alexander had a woman pressed against him.
Though both were fully clothed, Alexander's chest rose and fell rapidly. The woman in his arms—Evelyn Carter—had flushed cheeks, her lips slightly swollen.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what had been interrupted.
Lucas stiffened, suddenly realizing his terrible timing. The door had already clicked shut behind him. Now he was trapped in an awkward limbo—stay or leave?
He decided to barrel forward.
"Evelyn," he blurted, "where's Claire? I haven't been able to find her for days! Her phone goes straight to voicemail!"
The warmth in Evelyn's chest evaporated.
Her expression darkened as she shoved Alexander away.
"Lucas," she hissed, "how dare you come looking for Claire after what you did? She never wants to see you again."
"Just tell me where she is," Lucas demanded, desperation creeping into his voice. "I need to talk to her!"
Lucas Bennett looked like a ghost of his former self. His skin had taken on an unhealthy pallor, and the deep shadows beneath his bloodshot eyes betrayed days without proper rest. Stubble darkened his jawline, and the expensive suit he wore was wrinkled—clearly the same one he’d had on for the past three days. The sharp scent of whiskey clung to him, noticeable even from several feet away.
Evelyn Carter crossed her arms, her expression unyielding. "If you have even an ounce of remorse for what you did to Claire, then sign the damn papers and stop prolonging this."
Lucas’s jaw tightened. "No. I won’t divorce her."
"Do you really think refusing makes a difference now?" Evelyn scoffed. "Claire has made up her mind. If you don’t sign willingly, she’ll take you to court. You’re a public figure—do you really want this dragged through the media?"
A hollow laugh escaped him.
"Didn’t she already expose everything at that dinner?" His voice was rough, laced with bitterness. "The whole world knows I’m the villain in her story. What’s left to ruin?"
Evelyn’s frown deepened.
"I don’t care about my reputation anymore," Lucas rasped, desperation creeping into his tone. "I’d give up everything—anything—just to have her back."
He took a step forward, his movements unsteady. "Please… help me. Just tell me where she is. Every second without her feels like torture."
As he drew closer, Evelyn caught sight of the spiderweb of red veins in his eyes, the wild, haunted look in them. It sent a chill down her spine.
He looked like a man on the edge of breaking.
In Evelyn's memory, Lucas had always been obsessed with his appearance. Every single piece of clothing he owned was sent to the finest dry cleaners in Cresthaven.
Whether it was a tailored suit for business meetings or casual weekend wear, he never stepped out looking anything less than impeccable.
Evelyn felt a pang of guilt, but she didn’t let it weaken her resolve.
Claire was still recovering from childbirth. The last thing Evelyn needed was Lucas barging in and disrupting her peace.
"I won’t tell you a thing," Evelyn said coolly, striding out of the office.
Lucas moved to follow her, but Alexander was already blocking his path with a warning glare.