Chapter 341

Evelyn froze at Margaret's question, a cold wave of dread washing over her. "Margaret, are you still holding this against me for caring about Vanessa?"

Her voice trembled slightly. "You've never been a mother, so you can't possibly understand. I raised her from infancy, loved her as if she were my own flesh and blood."

"It's like losing a beloved pet—only worse, because she wasn't just an animal. She was a person I cherished with my whole heart."

A bitter realization settled in. "Now I see it clearly. Everything that should have been yours was stolen by her and that woman."

"And Vanessa? She played us all, pretending to be sweet and innocent while living off my affection and resources."

Margaret fell silent, the truth of Evelyn's words cutting deep.

The revelation that Vanessa's love had been nothing but an act left Evelyn feeling hollow, as if the ground had been pulled from beneath her.

After dinner, they prepared to escort Margaret home.

As they reached the doorway, Alexander stepped out to bring the car around.

Night had fully descended, the wind sharp and relentless, carrying both a chill and an unsettling energy.

It felt surreal that only two weeks ago, life had been perfectly ordinary.

The Caldwell family reunion was in full swing at Whitmore Manor, and with so many relatives gathered under one roof, tension was inevitable.

A freezing droplet splashed onto Evelyn's forehead, making her flinch.

"That's odd," Evelyn murmured, brushing her fingers across her skin. "It's not raining."

Before she could react, another icy trickle slid down her neck, sending a violent shiver through her.

She wiped her collar, frowning as she tilted her head back to search for the source.

"Evelyn, move!"

Margaret's scream cut through the air as she lunged forward, shoving Evelyn out of the way.

Evelyn staggered, barely catching herself before a massive block of ice shattered against the pavement where she had just stood.

The frozen chunk had fallen from at least six stories up, exploding into deadly shards on impact.

Had Margaret been even a second slower—

Evelyn's blood turned to ice. A cold sweat slicked her spine.

Margaret trembled beside her, her pulse hammering visibly at her throat.

The warning signs flashed in Evelyn's mind mere seconds before disaster struck.

Alexander moved like lightning, his face tight with concern. "What happened?"

His grip on Evelyn's shoulder was firm, his voice laced with urgency.

The shattered ice scattered across the pavement told the story before words could.

"Both of you—get in the car. Now," Alexander commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Evelyn didn't hesitate, ushering Margaret into the backseat.

Alexander lingered, his sharp gaze locked onto the broken shards. Suspicion darkened his expression.

Winter made ice inevitable—but not here. Not in the heart of the city, outside an elite restaurant. Places like this had protocols. Staff to prevent accidents.

This wasn’t an accident.

And the ice itself…

Alexander crouched, examining the fragments. Natural icicles tapered to a point. These didn’t. Even shattered, the edges bore marks of deliberate shaping.

He clenched an unlit cigarette between his teeth, biting down hard as he flicked his lighter open. The flame sparked, casting shadows across his hardened features.

The night air was thick with tension as Alexander stepped outside. His sharp gaze traveled upward, scanning the towering structure before him.

The mixed-use building loomed over twenty stories high, its darkened windows reflecting the dim city lights. Then he saw them—a pair of piercing eyes watching him from above.

On the fifth floor, a man leaned against the corridor wall, the glow of his cigarette casting eerie shadows. Unlike Alexander's refined presence, this man radiated raw, unpolished aggression.

The dim lighting masked his features, but his arrogance was unmistakable. Even from a distance, the challenge in his stance was clear.

Alexander crushed his cigarette beneath his polished shoe, exhaling a slow stream of smoke. Without hesitation, he loosened his tie and sprinted up the stairs, his movements swift and precise.

The man above barely had time to react.

No matter how fast Alexander was, scaling five flights in seconds defied logic.

But the stranger was already gone, slipping through another exit. When Alexander reached the spot, all that remained were scattered cigarette butts and a message scrawled in the damp concrete:

[Blood for blood.]

The words dripped with defiance, a promise of vengeance yet to come.

Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison (Evelyn)