Chapter 472

The whispers about Alexander's financial ruin and disgrace grew louder by the hour.

Half of Willowbrook seemed glued to their screens, waiting for Alexander's response. Yet his Twitter remained eerily silent.

Sebastian kept checking his phone too, anticipating his nephew's next move. But twenty-four hours passed without a single sign of Alexander.

It was as if the man had vanished off the face of the earth. His phone went straight to voicemail every time.

Evelyn knew better. She'd left Alexander unconscious in her penthouse. Had he not woken up yet?

Today's explosive press conference should have provoked some reaction. Unless... his condition had worsened.

Evelyn pondered this silently as Sebastian led her into Willowbrook's most exclusive restaurant. To celebrate, he uncorked a vintage Bordeaux worth more than most people's monthly rent.

"To your victory. Blackwood Enterprises is finally yours." Evelyn raised her crystal flute, the bubbles catching the chandelier light.

Sebastian's smile reached his whiskey-colored eyes. "Before meeting you, revenge consumed me. Now?" He produced a velvet box, revealing a solitaire that could blind someone across the room. "You're the only dream I care about fulfilling."

The diamond's brilliance suddenly transported Evelyn back to her wedding day with Alexander.

Even through his usual icy demeanor, she remembered how his fingers had trembled slightly sliding that ring onto her finger.

"Vivian," Sebastian murmured, pulling her back to the present. "Let me cherish you forever. Marry me?"

Logically, Evelyn knew she shouldn't refuse. Sebastian was everything a woman could want - devoted, powerful, tender.

But she'd poured every ounce of passion into loving Alexander. Could her heart even recognize love anymore?

Then again, perhaps a marriage built on mutual care rather than burning passion would be... peaceful.

Evelyn extended her left hand just as a high-pitched voice shattered the moment.

"Mommy!"

Her head snapped up to see Ethan barreling toward them. She stood so abruptly her chair nearly toppled over. "Ethan?"

Sebastian's grip tightened around the ring box, his jaw clenching almost imperceptibly.

"Jack, how did you find me?" Evelyn knelt, gathering the boy into her arms. He smelled like sunshine and the faintest trace of Alexander's cologne.

Ethan nuzzled her neck with a giggle. "I followed the sparkles from Uncle Sebastian's ring!"

Her phone chose that moment to ring. Eleanor Kingsley's name flashed on the screen.

Evelyn answered tersely. "He's with me."

"Evelyn, wait—" Eleanor's voice cracked. "I... I miss you too."

The dial tone cut off Eleanor's sobs as Evelyn ended the call without another word.

Their romantic dinner ruined, Sebastian had no choice but to watch Evelyn leave with Ethan clinging to her hand.

"Mommy, guess what tomorrow is?" Ethan chirped as they approached her penthouse door.

Evelyn froze, her key hovering near the lock.

Tomorrow. The anniversary of the day everything burned to ashes.