Chapter 26

Evelyn was taken aback by Alexander's cold demeanor. Yet she resisted the urge to fawn over him like before.

"What would you like to discuss, Mr. Blackwood?" she asked calmly.

Alexander's jaw tightened at her formal address. "Is that how you address your husband now?"

"Does it matter? You've never paid me any attention anyway, Mr. Blackwood."

His dark eyes narrowed. After a tense silence, he finally spoke. "Victoria's pregnancy is progressing. I intend to legitimize her position."

Though Evelyn had known this day would come, the words still struck like lightning.

She studied the icy man before her, letting out a bitter laugh. "And what about me?" The question hung heavy between them, making her unborn child feel like some cruel cosmic joke.

Alexander's piercing gaze locked onto her face. "If you behave, we can maintain our current arrangement."

Evelyn's laughter turned hysterical. "Are you suggesting your lawful wife become your mistress? While that scheming woman takes my place as Mrs. Blackwood?"

Alexander's expression darkened dangerously.

Pain lanced through Evelyn's chest. She bit her lip until she tasted blood. "Alexander, I swear on my life - Victoria will never have what's rightfully mine!"

With that, she fled upstairs, slamming the bedroom door behind her.

Her heart pounded violently. If she'd stayed a second longer, she might have begged him to stay.

Despite everything, part of her still longed to remain by his side. Even after all his betrayals.

Even after he'd shattered every promise he'd ever made.

Evelyn moved out immediately. She couldn't face Alexander again - not when he might shove divorce papers in her face. Not when he might demand she terminate her pregnancy for Victoria's sake.

Days passed without word from him. Clearly, he hadn't even noticed her absence.

He was probably with Victoria, building their perfect life together.

The thought made Evelyn's vision blur as she stared at the ring designs before her.

These were meant to be their wedding bands - a commission she'd secretly adapted for herself when she first fell for Alexander.

She'd imagined him slipping this very ring onto her finger. Now those dreams lay in ashes.

Wiping her tears, she tried to focus when the phone rang. The psychiatric hospital - her grandfather's home.

She arrived to devastating news: stage two lung cancer.

Treatable, but at a staggering cost.

"Henry, have some fruit," Evelyn offered gently, handing him sliced apples.

Though mentally ill, Henry remained kindhearted. "My sweet Eveline," he murmured, using her birth name - the only family heirloom she possessed.

Evelyn forced a smile. She'd always assumed she'd outlive her grandfather. Now fate seemed determined to take them both.

The treatment estimate made her blood run cold: $300,000.

The number squeezed her heart like a vice, each zero tightening the grip until she could barely breathe.

Where could she possibly get that kind of money?

The thought of losing Henry over something as trivial as money brought fresh tears. Yet the astronomical sum left her drowning in despair.

Until she remembered.

Alexander was her last hope.