Chapter 304
The following morning, Alexander arranged to meet Evelyn at an exclusive private dining suite in Cresthaven's most luxurious hotel.
He insisted on driving to pick her up personally.
When Evelyn caught sight of her younger brother after all these years, her breath hitched.
Has Oliver really grown this much? He stood well over six feet now, his boyish features replaced by the sharp angles of adulthood.
Five years. It had been five long years since they'd last seen each other.
"Evelyn."
The moment she stepped out, Alexander's gaze locked onto her, scanning for any sign of injury. Only when he confirmed she was unharmed did the tension leave his shoulders.
Rumors of Evelyn's harsh treatment in prison had haunted him. The guilt twisted like a knife in his chest.
"I should've—"
Evelyn silenced him with a gentle squeeze to his arm. Some wounds didn't need reopening.
None of this was Oliver's fault. The Hayes family had made sure he remained oblivious.
He was completely in the dark.
“This is my husband, Alexander Whitmore,” Evelyn announced.
Oliver’s gaze immediately locked onto the man standing beside her.
In the days leading up to this meeting, Oliver had discreetly reached out to old contacts to gather information about Alexander.
The consensus was clear—Alexander was a man of integrity, untarnished by scandal.
Yet, despite the glowing reports, Oliver couldn’t resist sizing him up with a critical stare.
He needed to judge for himself.
Oliver offered a curt nod, his youthful pride barely concealed.
Noticing his attitude, Evelyn flicked his forehead lightly. “This is my husband. Stop acting like you’re inspecting merchandise! Show some manners and greet him properly.”
Caught off guard by her scolding, Oliver bristled with irritation.
I’m not a child anymore! Why does she still treat me like one?
His eyes flicked to Alexander, who seemed to be suppressing an amused smile, and his embarrassment flared hotter.
“Alexander,” Oliver muttered grudgingly.
Nathan patted him on the shoulder. "Good job."
Oliver thought, What the hell? Is he treating me like a child? I'm Evelyn's brother!
Biting back his irritation, Oliver forced himself to stay composed in front of Evelyn.
I even opened the front passenger door for him, and Evelyn pulled Alexander into the back seat. Do they see me as nothing more than a chauffeur now?
Gritting his teeth, Oliver drove with a scowl, his grip tight on the steering wheel.
When they arrived, Alexander deliberately lingered behind.
"What do you think of the limited-edition Ferrari that launched last week?" Alexander asked casually.
Oliver blinked. "Huh?"
Alexander tossed him a set of keys.
Oliver caught them instinctively. The moment he saw the prancing horse emblem, his mind short-circuited for a solid three seconds.
Alexander smirked. "Consider it a welcome gift."
"The keys are in the ignition. It's parked in the underground garage of Maple Leaf Mall."
With those clipped words, Alexander strode into Cresthaven Hotel without a backward glance.
Oliver stood frozen on the sidewalk, the valet ticket dangling from his fingers.
His mind reeled.
Alexander Whitmore was gifting him a car?
Not just any car—but that obsidian black Lamborghini Aventador SVJ they'd seen at last month's auto show?
"Alexander! Hold on!"
Oliver's shout echoed across the marble plaza as he sprinted after the retreating figure. His dress shoes slipped on the polished stone, but he barely noticed.
The valet's startled expression mirrored his own disbelief.
This couldn't be real.
Yet the weight of the key fob in his palm felt dangerously tangible.
Oliver's pulse hammered against his ribs.
What game was Alexander playing now?
The revolving doors swallowed Alexander's broad shoulders before Oliver could catch up.
Through the glass, Oliver saw the concierge bowing deeply to his brother-in-law.
Typical.
He clenched the keys until the ridges bit into his skin.
The Lamborghini's alarm chirped in response from three levels below.
Oliver exhaled sharply.
First time indeed.