Chapter 358

Alexander's response stunned Evelyn. Yet the intensity in his gaze confirmed this was no jest.

"I'd move heaven and earth to see you smile."

"Alexander! Alexander!"

Victoria's frantic voice shattered the moment as she came running toward them, her face streaked with tears.

Evelyn instinctively glanced behind Victoria, but saw no sign of Ethan.

"Alexander, Ethan's gone missing again!" Victoria clutched at Alexander's sleeve, her eyes swollen from crying.

"It's all my fault! I took my eyes off him for just a second. Yell at me, Alexander! I was so distracted watching you that I—"

Evelyn cut through Victoria's theatrics. "Miss Lancaster, tears won't find him. If you truly cared, this wouldn't keep happening."

"Vivian, you'd never understand! He's my son—mine and Alexander's! You'll never know this agony!"

"Enough." Alexander's voice turned glacial. "Finding him comes first."

Victoria's lips trembled into silence.

"I'll help search." Evelyn met Alexander's gaze before hurrying to Amelia.

After briefing Amelia's teacher, Evelyn joined the desperate hunt for Ethan.

Hours passed with no success.

The crisp autumn morning had darkened into a brooding afternoon, the sky threatening rain.

Soon, only Ethan's teacher remained as other parents evacuated their children.

Then the downpour began.

With each passing minute, Evelyn's dread intensified.

Her stomach churned at the thought of Ethan alone in the wilderness.

The memory of his frightened eyes that night made her blood run cold.

"Ethan? It's Vivian!" Her voice echoed through the empty woods as rain soaked through her clothes.

She pressed deeper into the forest bordering Willow Lane.

"Ethan, can you hear me?"

Victoria's hysterical sobs suddenly cut through the rain.

"Ethan, baby, please answer me!"

Evelyn froze before sprinting toward the cliffside where Victoria crouched.

Victoria clutched a small pendant, wailing at the precipice's edge.

"Victoria! What happened?"

"He fell!" Victoria pointed downward with a trembling hand.

Evelyn's breath hitched as primal terror gripped her.

She whirled to summon help.

Victoria seized her arm. "Vivian, I know you despise me, but I'm begging—save my boy! Take your hatred out on me, not an innocent child!"

"We need professionals! Neither of us can—"

"No!" Victoria's grip turned vice-like.

"Why not?"

"Because—" Victoria's eyes gleamed with sudden malice. "Because that wretched child has been waiting for you down there all along!"

As Victoria shoved her, Evelyn grabbed the woman's wrist.

But the rain-slicked ground betrayed her.

With a sickening lurch, Evelyn felt herself plummeting into the abyss.