Chapter 172

Evelyn Sinclair hailed a cab at the curb, her fingers trembling as she gave the driver directions. The moment the car pulled away, her gaze caught on a street sign that read "Pinecrest Heights."

The name burned through her retinas like acid.

She clutched her chest, feeling something pure inside her shatter into irreparable pieces.

Filth. That's all this place represented now.

Alexander Blackwood arrived moments later, his polished shoes scuffing against the pavement as he scanned the area. All he saw was a taxi disappearing around the bend of Pinecrest Heights' winding roads.

His heart plummeted like an anchor into the nearby bay.

'She's gone.'

'Just like three years ago.'

The reminder did nothing to ease the hollow ache in his chest. He'd never truly accepted her disappearance.

"Alexander, what's wrong?" Victoria Lancaster's heels clicked urgently behind him, her perfectly manicured brows knitting in confusion at his abrupt departure from their lunch.

Alexander's glacial eyes swept over her. "Get in the car."

Victoria scrambled into the passenger seat, smoothing her designer skirt. The performance was over—now came the payoff.

"Alexander, my birthday is in two days." She dabbed nonexistent tears. "I don't need extravagant gifts, but Ethan...he's starting to ask why we don't live together like other parents. The other children call him—"

Alexander slammed the brakes mid-sentence, turning a scrutinizing gaze on her trembling lip.

"Answer one question truthfully."

Victoria's pulse spiked, but she maintained her doe-eyed expression. "Anything, darling."

"Did you know about Evelyn's pregnancy before I did?"

The blood drained from Victoria's face. Her nails bit into her palms as she shook her head. "Evelyn never shared that with me."

"Are you certain?" Alexander's voice held dangerous calm before he accelerated again, his profile unreadable.

Victoria seethed silently, cursing Vivian Prescott. That meddling woman had ruined everything! Without her interference, Alexander would've never doubted her or remembered Evelyn at all!

After dropping Victoria at the Montgomery estate, Alexander drove alone to the cemetery.

Golden hour light gilded the marble headstones as summer wind rustled through the oaks.

He knelt before a particular grave, arranging eighty-eight blood-red roses with meticulous care.

Eighty-eight for regret.

Regret was worthless.

What good were belated feelings when the person they belonged to was gone?

Exhaling a plume of cigarette smoke into the gathering twilight, Alexander studied the engraved name until shadows swallowed it whole.

The next morning, Evelyn walked into her boutique after dropping Amelia at school. Her assistant gestured discreetly to the occupied VIP room.

Since her rebirth with restored vision, she'd spent eighteen months building Lady Belle from scratch.

Every jewelry piece bore her signature craftsmanship—unconventional designs that catapulted her brand to international acclaim.

Naturally, elite clientele followed.

She moved to greet today's high-profile patron when a familiar laugh froze her mid-step.

Her limbs turned to lead.

"This set is perfect! But surely you have more? One collection isn't enough for my daughter's birthday!" Eleanor Kingsley's doting voice carried clearly through the door.

Evelyn had thought abandoning Alexander meant burying her longing for maternal love too.

The stabbing pain in her chest proved otherwise.