Chapter 258

Her carefully crafted revenge plan was finally in motion. Nothing could be allowed to interfere now.

Alexander took the call but kept his grip on Evelyn. Escape was impossible even if she wanted to.

She watched as his expression darkened. His voice turned icy. "What do you mean Ethan is missing?"

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat at the news.

'Ethan disappeared again?'

Anxiety twisted in her chest.

Before she could process it, Alexander was before her, his face stormy. "My son is gone again, but I think you can locate him."

"Me?" Shock rippled through her. Yet arguing was pointless - her pounding heart demanded she find Ethan. "I'll help you search."

"Then let's move." He released her, draping his coat over her thin dress in an unexpected gesture that left her stunned. Before she could react, he was pulling her downstairs.

En route, Evelyn texted Sebastian to explain the situation.

True to form, he supported her decision without hesitation.

The car pulled into Blackwood Estate. Normally returning to this place would flood her with memories, but now only one thought consumed her: finding Ethan.

She followed Alexander inside where a frantic maid rushed over. "Young Master Ethan was in his room! When I checked after cleaning, he'd vanished! I've searched everywhere!"

Alexander listened stone-faced before turning to Evelyn's worried expression. "He couldn't have gone far. We'll check the grounds."

"I believe he's still in the house," Evelyn said calmly, though her heart ached remembering previous times she'd found the boy - trembling violently while hugging himself.

"No, impossible! I called everywhere!" the maid protested.

Evelyn shook her head, moving purposefully upstairs despite her restrictive dress and heels - nothing would stop her from reaching Ethan.

She entered his room swiftly, her gaze landing on the attached bathroom.

Alexander followed, hearing her soft voice at the door: "Ethan, it's Vivian."

Could the boy really be there?

Alexander found the notion absurd until he entered to see Evelyn crouched on the tiles, cradling a tearful Ethan with closed eyes.

The sight shocked him. Suddenly Evelyn's suggestion about psychological help made sense.

Was his son mentally unwell?

The question hung unanswered, but relief washed over him seeing the boy safe.

Evelyn tried to leave after locating Ethan, but the child clung desperately to her. Her own heartbreak made her equally reluctant to let go.

That unfamiliar emotion decided it - she'd stay. Carrying Ethan to bed, she soothed, "Sleep now, Ethan. I'll be right here."

His wide, vulnerable eyes searched hers. "Promise, Vivian?"

"I promise." Her nod finally coaxed his eyelids shut.

Alexander returned with nightclothes. "These belonged to my ex-wife. Use them if you don't mind."

Evelyn stared at the familiar pajamas, unsettled he'd kept them.

What did that mean?

After Alexander left, she watched Ethan sleep while calling Sebastian to explain her absence.

Hanging up, she headed to shower.

Emerging later, she realized she'd forgotten the pajamas. Wrapped only in a towel, she hurried back - just as the door opened.

Instinctively clutching the towel to her chest, she met Alexander's intense gaze. What unsettled her most was how his eyes lingered on the left side of her chest...