Chapter 23

A cold chuckle escaped Alexander's lips.

His dark eyes bore into Evelyn with icy contempt. "Evelyn, I underestimated your cunning." His voice dripped with venom. "Bribing doctors to lie about your pregnancy? Did you truly think I'd fall for such an obvious scheme?"

Tears streamed down Evelyn's face as she shook her head violently. "No! I would never lie about this, Alexander! Feel for yourself - our child is growing inside me!"

With desperate strength, she grabbed his hand, pressing it against her abdomen. "Please, just believe me this once!"

Alexander recoiled as if burned. "Don't soil me with your deceitful touch!" He glared at her with murderous intensity. "Even if that bastard were mine, I'd have it ripped from you. You're unworthy to carry a Blackwood heir."

"Alexander, wait!" Evelyn stumbled after him, clutching his arm. "You promised to protect me forever! I'm still your Lillian - doesn't that mean anything?"

At the mention of that name, Alexander's expression darkened dangerously. Before Evelyn could react, he shoved her violently to the floor. Pain radiated through her body as she curled protectively around her stomach.

Through her tears, she saw only cold hatred in his eyes. "You should have died years ago," he spat before turning away without a backward glance.

The hospital room door slammed shut with finality.

Evelyn lay trembling on the cold tiles, bitter laughter bubbling through her tears. 'The boy I loved is gone,' she realized. 'This cruel stranger wears his face.'

Days passed without word from Alexander. Evelyn's condition worsened despite bed rest. When Olivia finally insisted on specialist tests, the results were devastating.

"Miss Sinclair," Dr. Hayes said bluntly, "without terminating the pregnancy immediately, you won't survive the tumor's progression."

The world tilted violently. Only Olivia's steadying grip kept Evelyn upright. She'd known her illness was serious, but this...

"You can try again when you're healthy," Olivia urged, already arranging the procedure. But when she returned with the consent forms, Evelyn tore them to shreds.

"Evelyn!" Olivia gasped.

"I'd rather die than lose this child," Evelyn declared, her tear-filled eyes blazing with determination. The tumor would kill her regardless - this way, she'd leave part of herself behind.

A piece of Alexander that he could never erase.

Olivia pleaded with her to at least inform Alexander of her condition. But Evelyn merely turned toward the window, watching autumn leaves fall like her fading hopes.

Some promises, once broken, could never be remade.