Chapter 686

"The baby is in distress. We need to perform an emergency C-section now." After assessing Evelyn's condition, the doctor wasted no time rushing her into surgery. "Get anesthesia here—stat!"

The command barely left his lips before the OR doors slammed shut.

At that exact moment, Alexander burst from the elevator, chest heaving.

His frantic gaze locked onto Simon standing vigil outside. "How is she?"

"The baby's struggling. Mrs. Whitmore lost significant blood." Simon's voice turned grave. "Sir, if you'd arrived sixty seconds sooner, you could've seen her before they took her in."

The words were a knife to Alexander's ribs.

His wife was fighting for her life, and he hadn't been there. The guilt was suffocating.

He never imagined Evelyn would visit Willow Mall alone. Had he known, he'd have glued himself to her side.

Childbirth was a dance with death even under normal circumstances—let alone after today's trauma. As Simon recounted the events, Alexander's expression darkened to storm clouds.

Sending Damian to prison was supposed to reform him. Instead, the man had emerged more vicious than ever. Alexander's fist collided with the wall, the impact echoing his fury.

Just hearing the account made his blood run cold. How terrified must Evelyn have been?

Guilt gnawed at him, but this wasn't the time for self-flagellation. There were things only he could handle.

"What about Dominic? His condition?"

He owed the man a debt. Without Dominic shielding Evelyn, the consequences didn't bear thinking about.

Yet the thought twisted something primal in Alexander's gut.

He hadn't realized the depth of Dominic's feelings for his wife.

Alexander's fingers curled into fists, an unfamiliar tension coiling in his chest.

Simon shook his head. "No update. I've been focused here."

A beat of silence. The Powells likely remained oblivious to Dominic's injuries—not that they'd care, given how they treated him. Right now, the man was probably alone on some OR table, fighting for survival.

"When they brought him in, Mr. Powell couldn't speak. Pale as death." Simon lowered his voice. "The ER team said he'd lost too much blood. They weren't optimistic."

The internal medicine and maternity wings were in separate buildings. Dominic was currently under the knife across campus.

Alexander hesitated only a moment before dialing.

"Killian, I need a favor. A friend's critically injured—your expertise could save his life."

Killian Rhodes, the legendary ex-military surgeon whose hands were said to work miracles. Since retiring to civilian practice, he rarely operated anymore. Most couldn't even secure a consultation.

But for Alexander? He agreed instantly. "Consider it done."

As the call ended, Alexander leaned against the wall, pressing fingers to his temples.

Simon emerged from the elevator bank. "Sir, Damian's been processed. Given his recent release and immediate reoffense, sentencing will be severe."

Alexander's expression turned arctic. "Severe? That animal deserves a bullet. Why waste resources keeping him alive?"

The lethal intent in his voice made Simon stiffen.

"There's more... Vanessa Hart was at the mall during the incident."

Alexander's eyes flashed like drawn steel.

Vanessa. He'd warned her to stay in her lane.

"Bring her to me."

"Impossible. She took a fall—fractured bones, potential miscarriage. Charlotte and Vincent are camped at her bedside." Simon hesitated. "They're banking on this pregnancy."

Vanessa's frequent hospital visits weren't unusual, but her coincidental appearance wherever Damian surfaced? And now Evelyn was hurt?

Alexander didn't believe in coincidences.

"Then fetch me Ethan!" he snarled.

Ethan Caldwell arrived promptly, anxiety etching his features. "Uncle Alex, is Aunt Evelyn—"

Alexander's fist connected with Ethan's jaw before he could finish.

Ethan staggered, clutching his face. "What was that for?"

"Ask your wife!" Alexander's voice could've frozen hell. "You think Vanessa's innocent just because Damian did the dirty work?"

Ethan's silence was damning.

Truthfully, he suspected Vanessa's involvement too. But... she carried his child.

After her fall, Eleanor and Vincent had descended on the hospital. Doctors said Vanessa's fractures were complex—the baby's position prevented proper treatment. All she could do was endure the agony.

If the pain became unbearable? Termination before pain management.

At seven and a half months, survival odds were slim.

With Eleanor and Vincent obsessed with their heir, Vanessa had no choice but to white-knuckle through the torment. Though Ethan cared nothing for Vanessa, seeing any woman suffer so for his bloodline stirred something uncomfortably close to pity.

After a loaded pause, Ethan vowed, "If Vanessa's involved, I'll make it right. But not today."