Chapter 51

Ethan Caldwell stood in the dimly lit hospital corridor, the weight of the day pressing heavily on his shoulders.

He took a slow drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around him like a shroud.

The chaos from Evelyn’s hospital room had drawn far too much attention. Now, every passing nurse, patient, and visitor seemed to recognize him, their whispers sharp as knives.

Their judgmental stares made his skin crawl.

With a frustrated sigh, he flicked the cigarette butt to the ground, grinding it beneath his polished shoe.

This place suffocated him.

Needing space, he descended the stairs, seeking refuge in the quieter, less crowded lobby below.

As he settled into a shadowed corner, the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.

Evelyn stepped out, her phone pressed to her ear, her expression tense.

Ethan’s lips curled into a cold smirk.

Just hours ago, Richard Hayes had assured him she would come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.

Yet here she was, still defiant.

His fingers twitched, itching to remind her of her place.

But he forced himself to stay still, watching as she strode past, oblivious to his presence.

The game wasn’t over yet.

And he had no intention of losing.

Ethan Caldwell smirked to himself. "After yesterday's showdown, I was sure she'd never speak to me again."

His fingers tapped impatiently against his thigh as he watched the elevator doors.

"But here she comes crawling back to apologize?"

The thought made his jaw tighten. "She's trying too damn hard. Pathetic."

Vanessa Hart's heels clicked across the marble floor as she approached. Ethan immediately straightened his tie and schooled his features into icy indifference.

He crossed his arms, ready to deliver a scathing remark.

Then she stopped dead.

Her phone buzzed insistently in her manicured hand.

Ethan's eyebrow twitched as she answered with a breathy, "Yes, I'm on my way now."

Without so much as a glance in his direction, Vanessa pivoted on her stilettos and strode toward the exit.

His mouth fell open slightly.

"Did she just—"

The glass doors swung shut behind her.

Ethan's grip on his briefcase turned white-knuckled. A dark chuckle escaped him.

"Unbelievable."

The elevator dinged behind him. His smirk returned, sharper now.

"This isn't over, sweetheart."

Alexander's lips curled slightly as he observed from the shadows. "Interesting. She's grown sharper."

His piercing gaze tracked every movement across the ballroom.

Ethan Caldwell stiffened when the familiar chill of Alexander's presence crept up his spine. Turning abruptly, he found himself face-to-face with his formidable uncle.

"Uncle Alexander."

Alexander's eyes narrowed, his voice deceptively light. "Find something captivating?"

Ethan shrugged with practiced nonchalance. "Just passing time."

"Is that so?" Alexander's tone turned glacial. "Your fiancée is growing impatient upstairs."

Silence stretched between them.

"Congratulations are in order," Alexander continued flatly. "A perfect match."

"Thank you, Uncle."

As Ethan moved to leave, a glint of silver caught his eye—a unfamiliar signet ring adorning Alexander's finger.

The unfamiliar jewelry made Ethan pause. He'd never seen his uncle wear anything so personal before.

The ring's intricate design seemed to whisper secrets.

Ethan's fingers twitched with the urge to ask.

But Alexander's warning glare stopped him cold.

Some questions were better left unanswered.

Alexander paused mid-sentence, his curiosity instantly ignited.

That's peculiar, he thought.

Since when does Uncle Nathan wear something like that?

The dining table was lavishly set with five exquisite dishes and a steaming soup. Alexander arrived home precisely at six o'clock.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, the rich aroma of the meal enveloped him, and a flicker of surprise lit up his eyes.

Evelyn stepped out of the kitchen, balancing the final dish in her hands. "Go wash up—dinner's ready!"

Alexander arched a brow, amusement dancing in his gaze. "This looks rather extravagant."

Evelyn beamed, nodding eagerly. "I made it especially for you."

His eyes lingered on her face, her words stirring something unexpected within him.

After dinner, Evelyn curled up on the sofa, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. "Alexander, we need to talk."

He frowned slightly as he hung his suit jacket on the coat rack. "What's on your mind?"

Tucking her legs beneath her, Evelyn looked up, her eyes shimmering with emotion. "Why are you marrying me?"

Alexander's throat tightened, his composure slipping for the first time.

"I spent seven years chasing after your nephew, Ethan. How could I possibly be the right woman for you?"

His piercing gaze locked onto mine, unreadable yet intense.

"You already know?"

The air between us grew heavy with unspoken words.

My fingers trembled slightly as I clutched the edge of my dress. The weight of my past with Ethan pressed down on me like an invisible chain.

Alexander remained motionless, his expression carefully guarded. Yet the tension in his jaw betrayed him.

I had never seen him like this—so still, so controlled, yet radiating quiet turmoil.

The silence stretched between us, thick with questions neither of us dared to voice.

Then, his voice came low, barely above a whisper.

"Tell me everything."

My breath hitched.

This was it—the moment I had been avoiding. The truth I had buried for so long was about to surface.

And once it did, nothing would ever be the same.