Chapter 321

The agony tore through Ethan, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His teeth ground together, but not a single sound escaped his lips.

Alexander's patience had worn thin. He knew Ethan was stubborn, defiant to the core. "I've been too soft with you," he murmured, voice like ice.

A sharp crack echoed as Ethan's finger was wrenched out of joint. White-hot pain seared through him, his body jerking violently. Sweat dripped from his jaw, his breaths ragged, each exhale a blade dragging across his lungs. Yet, even as the torment pulsed through him, Ethan remained silent.

His jaw clenched so tightly that blood welled between his teeth, but his eyes blazed with defiance. After a long, shuddering moment, he finally forced the words past his lips, voice raw. "Alexander... you're nothing but a vulture."

Evelyn's breath caught. No one dared speak to Alexander like that. She glanced at him, watching as his expression darkened further.

"You only swooped in when Evelyn and I were at our weakest," Ethan spat. "If Vanessa hadn't poisoned my mind, you wouldn't even be standing here. You married her in a hurry because you're afraid."

His voice dripped with venom. "Terrified that our history—our bond—is something you could never erase. So you took advantage when she was broken, manipulated her when she needed someone the most. You're a coward, Alexander. A snake in the shadows."

Ethan Caldwell stumbled, his body swaying as waves of pain threatened to consume him. His jaw clenched, his expression twisted in silent suffering, but he refused to crumble before Alexander Whitmore. His icy glare burned with pure, unfiltered hatred.

For the first time in his life, Ethan openly defied Alexander. The entire Caldwell family trembled before Alexander’s merciless nature, and Ethan had always tread carefully around him. But now, years of suppressed fury erupted like a volcano. He couldn’t hold back anymore.

He knew the consequences. He might end up like his father, Vincent Black—exiled, disgraced, erased from the family legacy. But fear didn’t paralyze him.

The air in the room grew heavy, charged with tension.

Alexander merely smirked, his lips curling in amusement as he watched Ethan’s outburst. Mockery danced in his piercing gaze.

"Yes, I took advantage of the situation," Alexander taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "But what can you do about it? You were the one who threw away what you had. And now you dare blame Evelyn? Have you no shame, Ethan? Can you honestly say you did nothing wrong?"

His grip tightened around Evelyn Carter’s waist, pulling her closer. Then, with deliberate slowness, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Beneath his tousled dark hair, his eyes gleamed—bright, intense, alive.

"The woman you discarded like trash is the love of my life," Alexander murmured, his voice low but carrying the weight of absolute conviction. "I’ve loved Evelyn for years. We were meant to be. So if you can’t handle that… too bad."

His fingers traced Evelyn’s jaw, possessive yet tender.

And in that moment, his eyes held galaxies.

The warmth lingered on Evelyn's forehead as she lifted her gaze, meeting Alexander's tender yet intense expression. It was a startling contrast to the icy detachment he'd shown Ethan moments before.

For a heartbeat, Evelyn couldn't look away. His presence was magnetic, pulling her in like a spell she had no desire to break.

Oliver, standing nearby, nearly choked on the thick air of affection. Seriously? Must they do this in front of me? He rolled his eyes, fighting the irrational sting of envy. If he felt this way, he could only imagine the storm raging inside Ethan.

And then there was that kiss. Alexander hadn’t just claimed Evelyn—he’d done it with deliberate, undeniable triumph, right in front of the man who’d once thought he owned her.

Ethan’s face paled, his hands trembling at his sides. Every instinct screamed at him to tear them apart, but the searing pain in his broken finger kept him rooted in place.

Alexander’s words had struck deeper than any physical wound. Each syllable was a blade, slicing through Ethan’s pride, leaving him raw and exposed. There was no defense, no clever retort—just the crushing weight of truth.

Then came the shattering.

The floor-to-ceiling window exploded inward, shards of glass scattering like diamonds across the floor. The winter wind howled through the gaping hole, its frigid fingers clawing at Ethan’s skin, sinking into his bones.

An invisible vise tightened around his throat. The air turned thick, suffocating. He couldn’t breathe.

Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison (Evelyn Carter) – 1/3