Chapter 396

"Don't you dare mention my mother."

Vanessa's stalling tactics were obvious—she was clearly trying to buy time, possibly to call for help. Sensing this, Ethan tightened his grip on her wrist, forcing the pen toward the divorce papers.

Her face drained of color, but she was no match for his strength.

She twisted in his hold, screaming for someone to intervene. Just as the tip of the pen hovered over the document, a sharp knock echoed through the room.

Alexander leaned casually against the doorframe, his lips curling into a mocking smirk. "What's all the shouting about?"

Vanessa's head snapped up as if she'd been thrown a lifeline.

Tears streaked down her cheeks as she sobbed, "Alexander! Ethan is forcing me to sign the divorce papers!"

She was certain that since Ethan wanted to leave her for Evelyn, Alexander wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

After all, he was the head of the Whitmore family—Ethan’s uncle.

If he stepped in, at least for now, Ethan wouldn’t be able to push her any further.

"Divorce?" Alexander's voice dropped dangerously low, his icy glare making the air in the room turn frigid.

His piercing gaze locked onto Ethan. "And what, exactly, is your reason for this?"

"Ethan, have you found someone else?"

The words slipped from my lips before I could stop them. My fingers trembled around the phone, the silence on the other end stretching unbearably.

Ethan Caldwell—my ex-fiancé, the man who had once promised me forever—had been nothing but a ghost since my release from prison.

And now, here he was, calling me out of the blue.

I could hear his sharp inhale, the hesitation in his voice. "Evelyn, it's not what you think."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Then what is it, Ethan? Because last I checked, you vanished the moment I needed you the most."

The line crackled with tension.

Then, a woman's voice cut through—light, melodic, and painfully familiar.

Vanessa.

My stepsister.

The one who had stolen everything from me.

"Evelyn," Ethan finally spoke, his tone laced with something I couldn't place. "I need your help."

My grip on the phone tightened.

Help?

After everything?

A cold smirk curled my lips. "Funny. I seem to recall you weren't big on helping me when I was rotting in a cell."

His silence was answer enough.

But then he said the one thing I never expected.

"It's about Alexander."

My breath hitched.

Alexander Whitmore—my husband, the man who had pulled me from the wreckage of my past.

The man who had given me a second chance.

"What about him?" My voice was steel.

Ethan exhaled sharply. "He's in trouble, Evelyn. And if you don't act fast, he won't make it out alive."

The world tilted.

My pulse roared in my ears.

Alexander.

In danger.

Because of Ethan.

I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. "Where is he?"

Ethan hesitated. "Meet me at Eclipse Lounge. Midnight. Come alone."

The line went dead.

I stared at the phone, my mind racing.

This was a trap.

It had to be.

But if there was even a sliver of truth to his words…

I couldn't risk it.

Not when it came to Alexander.

I grabbed my coat, my fingers dialing another number.

"Nathan," I said the moment the call connected. "I need backup."

Because if Ethan thought I was walking into this blind, he had another thing coming.

And this time, I wouldn't be the one left broken.