Chapter 239
A sudden realization struck Evelyn. She spun on her heels and sprinted toward a secluded corner of the abandoned amusement park.
The evening had swallowed the last remnants of daylight. Street lamps flickered to life, casting long shadows across the deserted pathways. The once-vibrant park now stood silent, save for the whispering leaves dancing in the chilly breeze.
"Alexander, what are we going to do? Ethan must have been kidnapped!" Victoria clung to Alexander's arm, her voice trembling with panic.
Her nails dug into his sleeve. "Alexander, we can't lose him! He's our only child!"
The emphasis on 'only child' made Alexander's expression darken. Before he could respond, movement caught his eye.
"Go home first. I'll handle this," Alexander dismissed Victoria abruptly, striding away without another glance.
"Alexander! Wait!" Victoria's cries fell on deaf ears as he disappeared into the gathering shadows.
Meanwhile, Evelyn followed her instincts through the park's hidden corners. Behind a crumbling faux mountain, she found him.
The dim glow from a nearby lamp barely penetrated the artificial cave. There, curled into a tight ball, sat little Ethan. His slender arms wrapped around his knees, his entire body shaking.
The sight pierced Evelyn's heart like a dagger.
"Ethan?" she called softly. The boy's trembling stilled momentarily.
"It's me, Vivian." Evelyn knelt before him, reaching out to stroke his hair.
Slowly, the child lifted his tear-streaked face. His wide, frightened eyes locked onto Evelyn's before flooding with fresh tears.
"V-Vivian..."
"I'm here." Evelyn's voice broke as she gathered the freezing child into her arms. The autumn wind had stolen all warmth from his tiny frame.
Ethan clung to her like a lifeline, burying his face in her chest.
"Sweetheart, why are you hiding here all alone?" Evelyn murmured against his hair.
"Too many people... I hate it." His voice quivered like a leaf in the wind. "And... and it's so dark..."
Evelyn's breath caught. This child feared crowds and darkness so intensely he'd rather freeze alone than face them.
Her arms tightened around him. This was Victoria's doing, she was certain of it.
The depth of Ethan's loneliness and terror shook Evelyn to her core. She cradled him closer, wishing she could absorb all his pain.
As she turned to leave, a silhouette materialized under the flickering streetlight. Alexander had been watching them the entire time.
The amber glow obscured his expression as he approached. His dark eyes searched Evelyn's face, words hanging unspoken between them.
Evelyn tried to pass Ethan to his father, but the boy refused to let go, his small fingers clutching her jacket desperately.
After texting Sebastian, Evelyn reluctantly followed Alexander back to Blackwood Estate.
Only upon arriving did Alexander realize he'd abandoned Victoria at the park. A brief phone call sufficed as fort before he hung up.
He found himself lingering outside Ethan's bedroom door, watching through the crack as Evelyn tenderly tucked the boy in. The gentle care in her movements stirred something long buried in Alexander's chest.
When Evelyn emerged, she found Alexander waiting.
"Mr. Blackwood," she said coolly, "however this child came to be, he's still yours and the woman you claim to love. How could you be so careless with him?"