Chapter 68

Frederick Lockwood stood with his hands clasped behind his back as he entered the living room.

Eleanor Lockwood held her reading glasses in one hand and a watering can in the other, carefully tending to the blooming orchids on the windowsill.

The antique cabinet in the living room was crafted from dark mahogany with intricate peony carvings. Each delicate petal appeared almost lifelike under the morning light.

He opened the cabinet door.

A collection of yellowed newspapers occupied the left shelf - Frederick's lifelong habit of preserving historical editions.

Resting atop the pile lay a leather-bound photo album.

Frederick retrieved the album and flipped through the pages until he found the photograph that had been troubling him.

The faded image showed four young people - a younger version of himself and three women in their twenties.

In the center stood Beatrice Lockwood wearing fashionable red bell-bottoms of that era, though her smile seemed forced compared to the others.

To Beatrice's left stood Eleanor in her youth.

On the right was Beatrice's childhood friend Genevieve Prescott, her white sundress and elaborate braids perfectly preserved by the photograph.

Though twenty-eight years had passed since that moment was captured, Frederick's memory remained sharp.

After prolonged examination, Frederick wondered if he was imagining things.

A secretary couldn't possibly be connected to someone of importance.

So absorbed was he in thought that he didn't notice Eleanor had finished watering the plants.

Eleanor's expression darkened when she saw the open album. She pointed accusingly at Genevieve's image. "Still pining after her after all these years?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Frederick snapped the album shut and shoved it back into the cabinet.

"If you're going to stare at another woman's picture, at least have the decency to admit it!" Eleanor's voice rose. "Genevieve Prescott is the Provincial Committee Secretary's wife now! You should be ashamed - a man in his thirties mooning over a girl twenty years his junior!"

Frederick turned away without responding. At his age, petty arguments weren't worth his time.

Genevieve had been Beatrice's closest friend. Though she'd never returned his youthful affections, Frederick bore no resentment.

She'd married well to a decorated soldier and lived happily. Her husband's current prestigious position was well-deserved.

Frederick's heart ached for his sister Beatrice. Compared to her childhood friends, her life had been far more complicated and difficult.

Paramount Hospital.

Dominic Blackwood drove Evelyn Sinclair to her appointment.

"Drive safely," Evelyn said as she closed the car door.

Dominic watched her slender figure disappear through the hospital doors before making a call. "Contact Dr. Whitmore immediately. There's a lung cancer patient named Sinclair requiring special attention."

Entering the hospital, Evelyn felt uneasy.

When her father had liver cancer years ago, she'd only learned of it after he was hospitalized.

This unfamiliar process left her unsettled.

The sprawling hospital complex, built during wartime with thick concrete walls, felt labyrinthine.

"Miss Sinclair?" The receptionist greeted her unexpectedly. "For Mr. Robert Sinclair?"

Evelyn nodded in surprise.

"Right this way." The receptionist led her courteously to a specialist's waiting area.

Evelyn knew Dominic had arranged this.

Olivia Kensington arrived moments later. "Has Uncle Robert come yet?"

Evelyn shook her head.

Her father had insisted on coming alone, clearly wanting to avoid potential conflicts with Victoria and Sophia.

"Don't look so worried," Olivia said helplessly. "Some things in life we can't change."

Five years ago, Evelyn had watched her father suffer through liver cancer. Now lung cancer threatened him anew.

But Evelyn had learned resilience through hardship.

At ten-thirty, Robert called.

"Evelyn, I won't arrive until one. You should return to work first."

"I'll wait," Evelyn insisted.

Olivia, overhearing, suggested, "Let's get coffee outside. Better than sitting in this depressing place."

They took the stairs to avoid crowded elevators.

On the third-floor landing, they encountered Sophia Montgomery looking distressed, with Patricia Kensington speaking urgently to her.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" Olivia asked sharply.

Sophia glared at Evelyn before storming toward the OB-GYN department.

Patricia grabbed her arm. "Marie, you can't be angry at an innocent child! It's Langdon family blood!"

Olivia's expression darkened. "Go ahead, I'll catch up."

Evelyn continued downstairs, wanting no part of Langdon family drama.

Sophia's tearful voice carried clearly. "Aunt Patricia, it's not that I don't want this baby, but Nathan refuses to acknowledge it! He says it's caused too much harm already!"

The unspoken accusation toward Evelyn hung heavily in the air.

Patricia's voice rose indignantly. "My foolish son was deceived by that scheming woman! You're both victims here!"

"If it were your decision, what would you do? How can my son reject his own flesh and blood? That shameless woman should be the one suffering, not you!"

The public confrontation drew curious onlookers.

Olivia took one look at her delusional mother and distressed sister-in-law before slapping Sophia hard across the face.