Chapter 398

Alexander's piercing gaze cut through Vanessa's words the instant they left her lips.

His voice was ice. "Vanessa, is this your pathetic attempt to cause drama? What makes you think you have any right?"

Vanessa's face drained of color. "Alexander, I'm being honest. Evelyn is clearly—"

"Do you honestly believe my marriage is as toxic as yours with Ethan? Built on lies and suspicion?"

The disgust in his eyes was palpable.

"When I married Evelyn, I promised to trust her completely. Perfume isn't exclusive. What's your endgame?"

"Alexander—"

"Focus on keeping your own man from straying. I intervened this time, but next time? Don't count on luck."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Vanessa stood rooted, teeth sinking into her lower lip until she tasted copper.

It infuriated her. No matter what she did, Evelyn always won.

A storm of jealousy and fury raged inside Vanessa, her lips pressing into a bloodless line as she clawed for a way to turn the tables.

Across town, Ethan Caldwell lounged in his car, the window cracked just enough to let the smoke from his cigarette curl into the night air.

Evelyn had made her terms clear—she would only entertain reconciliation if he ended things with Vanessa for good.

This was his one shot.

But thanks to Alexander, his carefully laid plans had crumbled once again.

He could force Vanessa to sign the divorce papers, but pushing too hard might make Alexander suspicious.

And Alexander had no idea Evelyn was still tangled in Ethan’s web.

Frustration gnawed at him, driving him straight to the dimly lit Eclipse Lounge to drown his irritation in whiskey.

What he didn’t know?

Alexander was watching from the shadows.

Ethan drank until dawn.

Alexander waited, silent and unseen, the entire time.

The neon lights of Eclipse Lounge flickered against the wet pavement.

Alexander narrowed his eyes, spotting his opportunity. With a turn of the key, his engine purred to life as he began tailing the other vehicle.

Ethan Caldwell slumped in the backseat, fingers pressing against his throbbing temples.

The city lights blurred past the tinted windows as he wrestled with his thoughts. How would he explain himself to Evelyn when he returned to Hawthorne Estate?

Ending things with Vanessa had proven far messier than anticipated.

A familiar glow caught his attention—Maple Leaf Café, its retro sign still hanging crookedly just as it had during his university years.

Evelyn used to love their pastries.

"Pull over," he ordered abruptly.

The sedan swerved to the curb. Ethan emerged, returning minutes later with two paper-wrapped sandwiches. He handed one to the driver.

"Keep the heat on," he instructed, cradling his own parcel like contraband.

Three miles later, they turned into a service alley where the streetlights had long burned out. No cameras. No witnesses.

Ethan stepped onto the cracked asphalt, scanning the shadows before slipping into a waiting SUV.

Tires screeched as both vehicles vanished into opposite ends of the night.

Alexander Whitmore observed the unfolding scene from a distance, the corner of his lips curling into a smirk as he lit a cigarette.

The dim lighting made it difficult for most to discern which vehicle Ethan Caldwell occupied. But for a man like Alexander, who had spent years tracking down elusive targets, it was child’s play.

Without hesitation, he followed the first car that began moving again.

Two miles later, the lead vehicle came to a halt.

This time, four other cars lurked in the shadows, waiting.

Alexander had an uncanny ability to identify Ethan’s exact location.

Yet, just as Ethan attempted to switch cars for the fourth time, something unexpected occurred.