Chapter 712

The tension in the sterile hospital corridor was suffocating.

Ethan Caldwell had heard every word exchanged between them. The realization hit him like a physical blow. His gaze flickered between Evelyn Sinclair and Vincent Black, confusion and disbelief warring in his eyes. Whatever had provoked Evelyn Carter’s fury—

Vincent met Ethan’s stare, his face burning with humiliation.

The silence was unbearable.

Vincent seethed internally. This is Evelyn Sinclair’s fault! She took the money and swore she’d vanish. How is she not only still in Cresthaven but has entangled Ethan in her mess?

"Evelyn, what nonsense are you spouting?" Vincent denied immediately. "Vanessa couldn’t possibly be my daughter. You know I haven’t had any contact with Evelyn Sinclair in years!"

Evelyn Carter’s expression remained icy, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Ethan, piecing together the ugly truth, felt sick.

He turned to Evelyn Sinclair, his voice sharp with accusation. "You were involved with him?"

Evelyn Sinclair recoiled. "Ethan, it’s not what you think—"

He cut her off with a sharp gesture.

Vincent had all but confessed, yet she still dared to lie.

Disgust twisted Ethan’s features. "You’re shameless! How are our families supposed to coexist now? What about Vanessa?"

Vanessa’s position in the Hayes family had always been precarious. This scandal would only make things worse.

Ethan had no idea how she would face the Hayes family after this.

Evelyn Carter would despise her even more. Shame burned through him.

"Get out!" Ethan roared at Evelyn Sinclair. "Don’t ever show your face near us again! This is all your doing!"

Evelyn Sinclair stood frozen, regret choking her.

Tears spilled down her cheeks as she looked toward the operating room. "But Vanessa is still in there, giving birth. I can’t leave—"

Her plea snapped everyone back to reality.

She was Vanessa’s mother. Of course she wanted to stay.

But her presence only darkened the mood.

The sight of her enraged Evelyn Carter. Without waiting for Vanessa to be wheeled out, she stood abruptly.

When Vincent didn’t move, she shot him a venomous glare. "Why are you still here?"

Afraid of provoking her further, Vincent hastily followed her out.

It struck him then—he’d been played for years. He’d actually believed Evelyn Sinclair was pure before him.

She was nothing but a gold-digging schemer, using men to climb her way up.

She’d been with countless others.

No man could stomach that.

Ethan certainly couldn’t.

The thought that Vanessa was her daughter made his skin crawl. He couldn’t even look at her without nausea rising in his throat.

His expression darkened. With one last scathing look at Evelyn Sinclair, he turned to leave.

She lunged forward, grabbing his arm. "Ethan, Vanessa is your daughter too! She’s in labor—how can you just—"

His voice was glacial. "Daughter? Vanessa isn’t my only child."

"Ethan!"

He didn’t look back.

Within moments, the hallway was nearly empty. Only Evelyn Sinclair and Alexander Whitmore remained.

Alexander had spent the previous night sleepless, grappling with the fact that Evelyn Carter was truly lost to him. The pain had been unbearable.

He’d just begun accepting that he was about to become a father. He didn’t love Vanessa, but the child was his.

Then this disaster struck.

Seeing Alexander still there, Evelyn Sinclair pleaded, "Mr. Whitmore, this is my fault. Please don’t take it out on Vanessa. She’s innocent."

Alexander’s gaze was frigid. "Innocent? How?"

Evelyn Sinclair pressed on. "Vanessa has loved only you all these years. That kind of devotion is rare. Shouldn’t you cherish her?"

Alexander scoffed. "So?"

His privileged upbringing had made him arrogant. He looked at Evelyn Sinclair with nothing but contempt.

"You’re overstepping," he said coldly. "Do you really think birthing Vanessa makes you family?"

His lip curled. "You’ll never be."

Alexander had never loved Vanessa. Her past actions had only deepened his disgust.

If not for Eleanor’s objections, he would’ve divorced her long ago. This child wouldn’t exist.

Evelyn Sinclair lunged as he turned to leave.

The others could go, but Alexander was Vanessa’s husband!

She couldn’t let him abandon her now.

But two bodyguards blocked her path.

Helpless, she watched Alexander walk away.

Soon, the hallway was deserted except for her.

She stared at the operating room doors, her heart breaking.

Two hours later, the doors finally swung open.

Vanessa emerged, her eyes widening at the emptiness.

"Where is everyone? Where’s Alexander?"

Evelyn Sinclair bowed her head. "They left."

Vanessa’s voice trembled. "They left? I was giving birth! Weren’t they all waiting for this baby?"

The injustice of it shattered her. Tears spilled over.

The silence was deafening.