Chapter 187

Never.

As Evelyn turned to leave, Alexander's lips curled into a smirk.

"Miss Prescott, are you trying to distance yourself from me?"

Evelyn glanced over her shoulder with a light laugh. "Mr. Blackwood, we've always been strangers passing in the night. There's no distance to create."

She quickly ushered Amelia into the car and returned to their apartment.

Fresh from her shower, Evelyn was tucking Amelia in when her phone rang again.

Victoria's name flashed on the screen.

Stepping onto the balcony, Evelyn answered. The shrill accusation came through immediately. "Vivian Prescott! Where's Alexander? Are you with him?"

A quiet chuckle escaped Evelyn's lips. "Miss Lancaster, why are you asking me about your missing fiancé? How amusing."

"Don't play innocent!" Victoria spat. "That plastic surgery wasn't just for fun, was it? You wanted to catch Alexander's attention by looking like his dead wife!"

Her voice turned venomous. "Listen carefully - no matter what tricks you use, you'll never measure up to me. I'm a socialite with millions of followers online. What are you? Just some nouveau riche with questionable money sources. Know your place, or you'll regret it!"

Click.

The line went dead before Evelyn could respond. Victoria clearly considered this conversation her victory.

But Evelyn recognized the desperation beneath those words. The frantic call only revealed Victoria's growing insecurity.

Smirking at the mental image of Victoria's furious face, Evelyn turned back inside.

Her phone rang again immediately.

Alexander's name appeared this time.

How ironic.

Remembering Victoria's call, Evelyn answered without hesitation.

An unfamiliar male voice came through, background noise pulsing with music and chatter.

"Miss Prescott? Your friend Mr. Blackwood is here. He's had too much to drink. Could you come get him?" The man rattled off an address that triggered old memories.

After ensuring Amelia slept soundly and arranging for Olivia to watch over her, Evelyn stepped into the summer night.

The warm breeze carried ghosts of the past as she approached the upscale nightclub - Midnight Lounge. The blinding neon lights still made her skin crawl.

This was where Victoria's lies had trapped her years ago. The false story about her grandfather's illness had driven her here to sell drinks, only to leave humiliated and half a million dollars in debt.

On their divorce day, Alexander probably thought she'd demanded that money for freedom. He never knew she'd intended to repay Nathaniel before ending her life. She couldn't bear owing anyone, especially those who'd shown her kindness.

Evelyn shook off the memories as she reached the VIP section.

The very room where she'd been publicly shamed by Alexander and Victoria.

Her pink lips pressed together as vengeful sparks lit her eyes. Just as her hand touched the door, someone grabbed her arm.

"You...you're...E-Evelyn?!"