Chapter 706

Alexander feigned seriousness. "Liquidate one of the subsidiaries."

His mind churned with bitterness. "After all I've sacrificed for the Whitmore family - putting my life on the line repeatedly - they can't even spare a million dors for me."

The injustice burned deeper when he thought about his brothers. "Living like kings, spending without restraint while I scrape by. This can't continue."

A cold determination settled in his eyes. "Perhaps it's time to reconsider my allegiance to the Whitmores. How can I provide for Evelyn and our child if this continues? We deserve better."

Evelyn and Alexander's relationship had reached an impasse. She spent the entire day in the hospital room, pointedly ignoring his presence.

When they did exchange words, her tone remained frosty, her responses clipped. The emotional distance between them grew with each passing hour, leaving Alexander increasingly frustrated.

That evening, after Evelyn finally fell asleep, Alexander slipped into the hallway for a smoke. The glowing tip of his second cigarette had just flared to life when Lucas called, inviting him for drinks.

Before leaving, Alexander stationed two security guards outside Evelyn's door. He needed this escape, needed to clear his head.

At Eclipse Lounge, Alexander sank into the plush leather booth and began downing drinks like a man possessed. Ten glasses disappeared in rapid succession.

Lucas watched in alarm. "Are you trying to drown yourself?"

As Alexander reached for another, Lucas grabbed his wrist. "Talk to me. What's going on?"

The words came out bitter. "Evelyn wants a divorce."

Lucas froze. He'd been too wrapped up in his own drama with Claire to notice the cracks in Alexander's marriage.

Claire had dropped a bombshell earlier - she planned to move with their daughter Bella to Silvercrest, halfway across the country from Cresthaven. When Lucas confronted her, their fragile truce shattered.

"Who's in Silvercrest?" Lucas had demanded, blocking the doorway. "Why take Bella so far from home?"

Claire's response cut deep. "She's my daughter. I'm getting her travel documents today, so don't think you can stop me."

"This is about Max, isn't it?" Lucas accused, refusing to budge.

Their recent cooperation as co-parents evaporated in that moment. "How could you take our child to some strange place? Are you thinking of Bella at all, or just yourself?"

Claire's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she turned away without another word, leaving Lucas to puzzle over what he'd said wrong.

Now at the bar, Lucas shared the story with Alexander, who despite his drunken state, offered razor-sharp insight. "You disrespected her."

"How?" Lucas frowned.

Alexander sighed. "She endured pregnancy and childbirth alone. Sacrificed everything for Bella. Anyone else can tell her to prioritize the child - but not you. You didn't share that burden, yet you presume to dictate her life now?"

The truth hit Lucas like a physical blow. He'd been so focused on his rights as a father that he'd forgotten Claire's sacrifices.

"Claire's a model," Alexander continued. "Maybe Silvercrest offers career opportunities. Instead of considering that, you accused her of chasing some man. No wonder she's disappointed."

Lucas's eyes widened with realization. Alexander gave a bitter smirk and drained another glass.

"Your turn," Lucas countered. "You're so perceptive about my problems - how did you end up on the verge of divorce?"

Alexander's dark chuckle spoke volumes. The irony wasn't lost on either of them - how easily they could diagnose others' relationships while remaining blind to their own.

Across the dimly lit bar, Ethan Caldwell's eyes gleamed with opportunity. "Uncle Alexander and Evelyn are splitting up?"

He'd been stuck playing nursemaid to Vanessa all week, her constant complaints about her broken leg driving him to seek refuge at the bar. Now, he'd stumbled upon golden information.

Ethan left Eclipse Lounge with renewed purpose. "This is my chance to win Evelyn back."

At the hospital, he marched straight to Evelyn's room, only to be blocked by Alexander's security detail. "Mrs. Whitmore is resting. No visitors."

"I need to see her," Ethan insisted, but the guards remained unmoved.

The commotion stirred Evelyn from sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, instinctively searching for Alexander. Finding his side of the bed empty, a pang of disappointment struck. "Is he with Isabella again?"

Straightening her gown, she called out, "Let Ethan in."