Chapter 423

Her finger jabbed arrogantly toward Evelyn before she moved to embrace him.

But just as her arms extended, Alexander sidestepped her with icy indifference, striding past to reach Evelyn instead.

"Cousin Alexander?" Yvonne Yalemen gaped at his retreating back, utterly ignored.

Alexander's gaze flickered to the spilled coffee pooling on the marble floor before settling on Evelyn with concern. "Are you hurt? Did it scald you?"

Evelyn's lips curved slightly. "Not hot enough for burns, but..." She paused meaningfully, eyes locking onto the woman whose expression had soured. "This lady deliberately collided with me twice. My shoulder's throbbing."

Yvonne's face flushed crimson. "Cousin Alexander, that's absurd! She's the one who—" Her protest died as Alexander cut her off with a glacial stare.

"I should teach you manners if you can't control that venomous tongue."

Yvonne's mouth snapped shut. Her eyes bulged when Alexander took Evelyn's hand possessively.

"Cousin! Why are you—since when do you hold hands with staff?" she spluttered.

"Must I seek your permission to touch my wife?" Alexander countered coldly.

"Wife?" Yvonne recoiled. "But that wretched Evelyn Sinclair died years ago! When did you remarry? Why wasn't I informed?"

Evelyn's fingers twitched at the venom in Yvonne's tone. So this was how Margaret Blackwood had painted her—a villainess even in death.

The injustice burned. Condemned without trial, slandered by those who knew nothing of the truth.

Alexander's warning glare silenced Yvonne mid-tirade. Steering Evelyn toward his office, he shut the door firmly in his cousin's face.

"Vile seductress!" Yvonne hissed, rubbing her forehead where the glass door had smacked her. "Cousin Alexander! Let me in!" Her pounding went unanswered.

Evelyn arched a brow. "Your cousin seems... invested. Downstairs, she claimed to be the most significant woman in your life."

Alexander cradled her face. "The only woman who matters stands before me now."

"Truly?" Evelyn's smile didn't reach her eyes.

"My maternal uncle's daughter," he explained tersely.

Evelyn nodded. The possessive glint in Yvonne's eyes spoke volumes—this was no simple cousinly affection.

She wouldn't let this complication derail her plans. "Alexander, I'd like to shadow you these coming weeks. Learn corporate strategy firsthand. Lady Belle thrives, but my management skills need polishing."

"Anything you desire," he agreed instantly.

Evelyn rested her head against his shoulder, the picture of devotion. "You're too good to me." The sweetness in her voice was saccharine, masking the acid beneath.

As his personal secretary that afternoon, Evelyn studied not business ledgers, but the man who held 70% of Blackwood Enterprises' shares—her true objective.