Chapter 710

Evelyn's heart sank when she saw Alexander's expression.

She hadn't truly wished for Isabella to die. She only wanted to test him—to see who mattered more in his heart, her or Isabella. But his hesitation spoke volumes.

Disappointment flickered across Evelyn's face. Just then, Claire returned.

Without a word, Evelyn pulled away from Alexander's embrace, brushed past Claire, and strode out of the ward.

Alexander watched her go, stunned by her abrupt departure. Helplessness settled over him like a weight.

Minutes later, Simon entered. "Sir, Vanessa has just been taken to the operating room. She might be going into labor."

Alexander's expression darkened. His mood was already foul, and this news did nothing to improve it.

Simon continued, "Richard is waiting outside the operating room. Even her birth mother, Evelyn Sinclair, has arrived."

A bitter realization struck Alexander. When Evelyn had been wheeled into surgery, only he and the driver had stood vigil.

But for Vanessa, Richard had changed. He was personally overseeing everything, standing guard outside her ward.

Vanessa was far luckier than Evelyn.

The thought twisted something inside him.

Evelyn had always been deprived of love, yet she never demanded more.

When they married, he had sworn to give her everything.

Simon studied Alexander's ashen face with concern.

Alexander had spent the entire night in the drafty corridor and had woken with a fever that morning.

Simon urged, "You should see a doctor. You don’t look well."

Alexander remained silent.

Simon sighed, recognizing the distraction in his eyes. It was Evelyn.

There was nothing he could do.

Vanessa trembled as she was wheeled into the operating room.

Her dislocated bone sent searing pain through her pelvis, leaving her immobilized. Humiliation burned hotter than the agony.

Worse, Eleanor had forbidden the doctors from giving her painkillers.

Vanessa cursed Eleanor silently, resenting her callousness.

But she didn’t dare lash out.

Instead, she turned to Richard, who had always doted on her.

The moment she burst into tears, Richard had argued with Eleanor right there in the ward.

Now, at 32 weeks, with the lung-promoting injections administered, the doctors suggested inducing labor. Eleanor had reluctantly agreed.

Vanessa was terrified.

The doctors had warned her—the baby had congenital heart disease. Survival was unlikely.

Even as she entered the operating room, dread coiled in her stomach.

And then, Evelyn Sinclair appeared.

Vanessa’s birth mother had slipped into the hospital, desperate to see her.

The sight of her suffering had haunted Evelyn Sinclair for days.

She had only meant to glimpse Vanessa before the surgery and leave.

But she ran into Vincent and Eleanor instead.

Chaos erupted.

Eleanor, usually composed, lost all control.

"You dare show your face?" she shrieked, slapping Evelyn Sinclair. "You shameless mistress!"

Vanessa’s blood ran cold.

Why would Eleanor call her mother that?

Before she could process it, the nurses wheeled her away.

The unanswered question gnawed at her.

Had Evelyn Sinclair been involved with Vincent before Richard?

If Eleanor ever discovered Vanessa was her daughter...

She didn’t dare finish the thought.

Ethan didn’t love her. Eleanor was her only lifeline.

But now, even that seemed fragile.

Vanessa prayed her son would survive—just long enough for her to use him to secure her place.

The child was a Whitmore.

Eleanor couldn’t ignore that.

And with all of Cresthaven watching, they had to maintain appearances.

Evelyn had already given birth—a boy, Vanessa had heard.

Her plan crystallized.

She would switch Evelyn’s healthy son with her own dying one.

The doctors had hinted at the fetus’s abnormalities.

For her future, she had no other choice.