Chapter 544

Julian collapsed onto the floor, clutching his head as waves of pain contorted his handsome features.

Evelyn felt her heart clench at the sight.

"Come sit down. You just had a blood transfusion - you shouldn't be exerting yourself," she murmured, guiding him to a nearby chair.

The elevator dinged open, revealing Simon and Isabella.

Isabella's eyes immediately darted around the waiting area. "Alexander?" she called out. The sight of her triggered Evelyn's pent-up rage from earlier that morning. Before anyone could react, Evelyn strode forward and delivered a stinging slap across Isabella's face. "If anything happens to Claire, I swear I'll make you regret ever being born!" she hissed, her entire body trembling with barely contained fury.

The impact made Isabella's head snap sideways.

A bright red handprint bloomed across her cheek as tears spilled from her eyes.

"Alexander, I never meant for this to happen," she whimpered. "I was terrified too! That car cost over a million dors and now the dealership expects me to pay for everything!"

Julian's glare could have melted steel. "What kind of excuse is that? Because you panicked, we should just let you walk away?"

It was unusual for the normally composed Julian to speak with such venom, showing just how deeply Claire's condition affected him.

Isabella grabbed at Alexander's sleeve desperately. "Alexander, please help me. I swear it was an accident."

As she tried to throw herself into his arms, Alexander smoothly stepped aside.

He positioned himself protectively near Evelyn, maintaining clear distance from Isabella.

His gaze held complex emotions as he regarded the woman he'd once considered family. "You're an adult now, Isabella. If you've made a mistake, you need to take responsibility. I can't help you with this. What you should be focusing on is how to make amends."

Isabella's tears fell faster. "What are you saying? Alexander, don't you care about me anymore?"

Evelyn saw red. She grabbed a fistful of Isabella's hair.

All Isabella cared about was manipulating Alexander into saving her.

She'd caused Claire to go into premature labor, yet showed no remorse - only concern for escaping consequences.

If this were personal, Evelyn might have controlled her temper.

But this involved Claire - her dearest friend who now lay fighting for her life.

With Claire's parents overseas and her divorce from Lucas finalized, Claire had no one but Evelyn and Julian by her side.

As her best friend, Evelyn would move heaven and earth to protect her.

"Let me make this crystal clear - there will be no leniency. You will answer for what you've done!" Evelyn tightened her grip on Isabella's hair. "First, you will apologize to Claire and beg for her forgiveness. Second, the man you're pleading with is my husband. Who do you think you are, coming here to beg him for help?"

Through her tears, Isabella protested, "Alexander and I grew up together! My brother died saving his life-"

Evelyn cut her off sharply. "Don't you dare bring that up! Your brother sacrificed himself for Alexander. Alexander owes your brother, not you."

"You're just exploiting your brother's memory to manipulate Alexander. Isabella, you're using his kindness for your own selfish ends!"

"I'm sure your brother meant the world to you, didn't he? If he could see you now - harassing his best friend and trying to destroy his marriage-"