Chapter 547

Since this was a matter between Lucas and Claire, Evelyn felt like an outsider who couldn't interfere too much. Most importantly, she couldn't betray Claire's trust.

"I don't know," Evelyn answered truthfully.

"How can you not know? You're Claire's closest friend!" Lucas's eyes burned with desperation. "It's my child, isn't it? Evelyn, just give me a sign!" His intensity nearly swayed her.

Alexander swiftly pulled Lucas back, positioning himself protectively before Evelyn.

"Stop pressuring her, Lucas. If we weren't friends, I'd have knocked you out already," Alexander warned, taking Evelyn's hand and drawing her close.

He continued firmly, "Evelyn is pregnant and emotionally vulnerable because of your situation. Who are you to interrogate her? If you want answers, ask Claire yourself!"

Alexander looked down at Evelyn with concern. "Are you alright?"

She gave a slight shake of her head.

"Maybe you should sit down and rest?" Alexander suggested gently.

Meanwhile, Isabella, who had been observing nearby, grew increasingly uncomfortable.

Suddenly, she gasped dramatically, clutching her forehead while her knees buckled.

Alexander frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I...I skipped breakfast," Isabella whispered weakly. "I think I'm feeling faint."

As she spoke, she attempted to collapse into Alexander's arms.

But Alexander stepped aside, his gaze turning icy as he pulled Simon forward instead.

Isabella tumbled into Simon's embrace.

Alexander remained composed. "Then let Simon take you to get something to eat."

Simon caught her reluctantly, annoyance lacing his voice. "Mr. Whitmore, Ms. Morgan had breakfast. On our way from the police station, she ate the toast I'd bought for my girlfriend after finishing my errands." The implication was clear - Simon resented Isabella for taking what wasn't hers.

Isabella shot Simon a venomous glare.

Alexander's expression darkened instantly.

The lie had been exposed.

He looked at Isabella with profound disappointment. "Isabella, what's this act about?"

It was the first time she'd seen that look from him, and she scrambled to explain. "Alexander, don't listen to him! I never touched his food!"

Simon scoffed in disbelief at her audacity.

"If you didn't eat it, Ms. Morgan, then did my toast get devoured by a stray dog?" he retorted.

Isabella's nose flushed red. "How dare you!"

"Then why so defensive if you're innocent?" Simon pressed.

"I—" she stammered helplessly.

In that moment, Alexander felt nothing but disappointment.

Connecting the dots, he realized Isabella had been manipulating situations.

Ever since her arrival, misunderstandings between him and Evelyn had multiplied.

Alexander could see this pattern would only drive Evelyn further away.

He refused to become another Ethan Caldwell, easily deceived by a woman's schemes.

Alexander recognized Isabella's twisted attachment to him - a dependency formed from childhood loss that had warped into unhealthy possessiveness.

This possessiveness made her instinctively hostile toward any woman near him, though it wasn't genuine affection.

Within minutes, Alexander reached a decision.

Taking Evelyn's hand firmly, he told Isabella, "No more games. Your tricks won't work on me anymore."