Chapter 382
Alexander's hands balled into fists at his sides. The mere thought of Evelyn reuniting with Ethan sent waves of agony crashing through him.
He had called Titan Capital Group only to discover she hadn’t shown up for work.
Even the security at Hawthorne Estate confirmed she never returned home last night.
Where had she been? With him?
Her sudden coldness—was it because he hadn’t answered her calls?
Or had she reignited something with Ethan, deciding she no longer wanted Alexander?
Ethan hadn’t slept a wink.
The previous night, a raging fever had wracked his body, sending him into violent convulsions. An ambulance rushed him to the hospital, where he spent the day drifting in and out of consciousness between IV drips.
By evening, the sterile air of the ward suffocated him. He wandered out—only to find Evelyn sitting alone in the hospital lobby.
Kidnapping her wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision.
The idea had festered in his mind for weeks.
Ethan Caldwell had saved Evelyn Carter from Damian Cross, just as he had done ten years ago.
He expected her to look at him with the same adoration she once had.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she coldly distanced herself from him—right in front of Alexander Whitmore.
The rejection cut deeper than any blade.
Ethan told himself it was fear that made her act this way. Fear of Alexander.
Then Valentine’s night happened.
Under the soft glow of moonlight, he watched from his window as Evelyn and Alexander kissed.
The sight burned into his mind.
He could almost imagine them tangled in passion, lost in each other.
It drove him mad.
How could they be so happy while he suffered?
How could the woman who had once loved him now belong to someone else?
Lying in his hospital bed, the IV drip feeding into his veins, Ethan plotted.
He would get her back.
When he spotted Evelyn sitting alone in the hospital lobby, he knew—this was his moment.
She might hate him afterward.
But he was certain.
One way or another, she would remember who she truly belonged to.
Restless, Ethan Caldwell idly scrolled through Evelyn's phone.
Her contact name for Alexander read "My Beloved," making his jaw tighten.
He discovered Evelyn had attempted to call Alexander over a dozen times yesterday. Not a single call had been answered.
Ethan smirked.
Had they fought?
Fortune truly favored him.
What woman could endure her husband vanishing mid-business trip without explanation?
At dawn, the phone buzzed.
Alexander.
Ethan declined without a second thought.
When the third call came, he finally responded—with a carefully crafted message.
Then, he blocked the number.
On the other side of the world, Alexander Whitmore had just landed.
The notification flashed—Evelyn’s name. His thumb tapped instantly.
[Let’s end this. I’m in love with Ethan.]
[Don't try to find me. I need time alone. Let's take a break from each other.]
Alexander's hands shook uncontrollably as he read the message.
His expression darkened, the air around him turning icy.
He gripped his phone tighter, dialing her number again and again—only to be met with the sharp tone of rejection.
Evelyn had blocked him.
"Mr. Whitmore."
Simon finally caught up to him, breathless. "Mrs. Whitmore returned to Hawthorne Estate for dinner last night, then went to the hospital. She met with..."
He hesitated before finishing, "She met with Ethan Caldwell there. After that, she vanished."
Secret Longing: A Second Chance at Love (Evelyn Carter) novel