Chapter 194

Vanessa bit her lips until they lost all color, her fingers clutching Ethan's sleeve as she hid behind him with visible unease.

Alexander's lips curved into a deceptively gentle smile. "Of course, I'm insisting you apologize to Evelyn."

Though his tone was light, the weight behind his words sent a ripple of tension through the room. Everyone around them stiffened, sensing the unspoken threat.

Vanessa shuddered. When Ethan remained silent, she had no choice but to step forward, her legs unsteady.

Under Alexander's unrelenting gaze, she had to comply. If she refused, he might not direct his wrath at her—but he would undoubtedly take it out on Ethan.

She couldn’t afford to let resentment fester in him.

"Aunt Evelyn… I'm sorry!" Vanessa bent at the waist, her head dipping low in a stiff ninety-degree bow. The moment she straightened, her eyes burned with unshed tears.

Humiliation scorched through her.

Her jaw clenched so tightly her teeth ached.

Her fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms until they turned bone-white. A flicker of fury twisted her expression, but with her head still lowered, no one noticed.

Inside, she seethed.

This wasn’t over.

The rain fell in heavy sheets, soaking Vanessa to the bone. Her shoulders shook, though whether from the cold or suppressed emotion was unclear.

Inside the car, Evelyn watched silently. Her expression remained unreadable, her gaze distant.

She knew Vanessa’s apology was hollow. But it didn’t matter anymore.

Evelyn had long since stopped caring about the Harts and their twisted version of family.

Alexander studied the quiet sorrow in Evelyn’s eyes.

From the moment he arrived, she hadn’t reacted—not to Vanessa’s accusations, not even to the cruel ultimatum of being disowned.

There was no anger. No pleading. Just resignation.

It told him everything.

The Harts had broken her. Tonight was merely the final blow.

She had endured their cruelty alone for too long.

How much pain must she have suffered to reach this point? To walk away without looking back?

His grip tightened on the steering wheel.

She deserved so much better.

The evening had been packed with business commitments, delaying his arrival. Had he come just a fraction earlier, perhaps she wouldn’t have endured everything alone.

Alexander’s fingers brushed against Evelyn’s cheek, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear before drawing her into his embrace. His voice was low, laced with concern. "Did they hurt you?"

Evelyn gave a small shake of her head.

"Anywhere else? Does your ankle still ache?" His gaze flickered downward, assessing.

"It’s fine," she murmured. "It always flares up when it rains. I’m used to it by now."

She exhaled, forcing a casual shrug. "Did coming to get me interfere with your meeting?"

"Not at all." His grip loosened gently. "Wait here for me. I won’t be long."

With that, Alexander pushed open the car door again. A sleek black umbrella snapped open in his hand as he strode toward the entrance of Hawthorne Estate.

Evelyn’s mind was sluggish, weighed down by exhaustion. By the time she registered his departure, he was already gone.

Ethan and Vanessa still lingered outside the car.

When Alexander had passed them moments ago, the air around him had turned glacial. His jaw was set, his expression unreadable—yet the storm beneath the surface was unmistakable.

The moment he stormed into the Hawthorne Estate, it was clear—Alexander was about to face Richard and Margaret head-on.

His grip on the black umbrella tightened, knuckles turning white. The calm in his eyes was terrifying, a storm barely restrained.

As the grand doors of the estate swung open, harsh light spilled out, illuminating his sharp features.

The eerie stillness of his expression only made him look more ruthless.