Chapter 24

Tears streaked down Isabella's face as she stormed out.

Behind her back, the household staff whispered that Ms. Sinclair was nothing but trouble. Every time she appeared, chaos followed, ending with her dramatic exit in tears. It was as if she treated the Kingsley estate like her personal stage for tragedy.

Alexander sat slumped on the sofa, his tailored suit torn and disheveled, lost in thought.

"Mr. Kingsley, it's late. You should drink some warm milk and rest."

Olivia entered with a steaming cup, sighing at the ruined suit. "What a waste."

Her meaning couldn't have been clearer.

"Next time Isabella comes, don't let her near my room, the study, or Evelyn's," Alexander muttered, exhaustion lacing his voice.

"Don't worry, sir. I'll handle her!"

Olivia nodded firmly. "I even locked Ms. Evelyn's room today. Who knows what Ms. Sinclair might have done if she got inside."

"Olivia, don't be harsh. Isabella isn't that terrible. I wronged her for three years, after all."

"And what about Ms. Evelyn? What did she do to deserve this? You divorced her—doesn't that count as wronging her too?" Olivia's voice rose in defense.

"I was forced into that marriage. She could have refused."

"So you're saying Ms. Evelyn brought this on herself?"

Alexander's lips pressed into a thin line.

"Fine. Get some rest. I'll leave you be."

Olivia turned on her heel, her expression icy as she carried the untouched milk away.

Alexander blinked, slightly stunned.

Was she... angry at him? He had actually wanted that milk.

Since when had Evelyn won over everyone close to him? She really was cunning.

Humiliated, Isabella returned home with disastrous news.

Without the Kingsley Group's support, the Sterling family was in shambles. Recovery seemed impossible now.

"Damn it! What the hell is Alexander thinking? He claims to love you, yet he won't lift a finger to help! Does he think he can just trample over the Sterlings?!" Nathaniel roared, hurling an ashtray across the room, his eyes blazing.

"Alexander does love me! He divorced Evelyn for me!" Isabella sobbed.

"He's just weighing his options! You're a Sterling—she's nothing but a country girl. Any idiot would choose you!"

Though meant as support, Nathaniel's words stung like an insult.

"Isabella, what changed? Why did Mr. Kingsley suddenly back out?" Mr. Sterling demanded urgently.

"I don't know! He met with President Lockwood today, and afterward, he refused to help us. Dad, brother—did you do something to anger him? He seems to despise us now."

"Could it be because of Evelyn?" Nathaniel feigned sudden realization.

"What are you talking about?" Isabella tensed at the name.

"I ran into that lunatic at the Montgomery family's new bar. Out of nowhere, Alexander showed up, defended her, and forced me to apologize to his ex-wife! What's that about?" Nathaniel seethed, humiliation still raw.

Isabella paled, dread coiling in her stomach.

Did Alexander actually have feelings for that woman? Was her worst nightmare coming true?

She couldn't let Evelyn make a comeback.

"Don't worry. Once you marry Alexander, everything will be resolved," Mrs. Sterling soothed, her gaze icy. "Evelyn is discarded trash—she's powerless. Right now, we need to salvage the Sterling Group's reputation and find a scapegoat. That's the priority."

"A scapegoat?" Nathaniel's eyes gleamed. "I know just the person."

The Sterling Group's reputation was in tatters, their once-thriving Vintage Elegance stores now nearly deserted.

Worse, Alexander had withdrawn his support. Without a solution, they'd collapse the moment Kingsley funds dried up.

Meanwhile, the Lockwood Group had gained public favor by exposing the Sterlings' substandard products, and attention toward the K World Hotel surged once more.

"I followed your orders and had Keith tailed after he left. Just as you predicted, he'd been in contact with Nathaniel multiple times!" Jason carefully applied oil to Evelyn's burgundy nails. "Your foresight is impeccable—you saw right through him."

"He embezzled from the hotel and conspired with Nathaniel. That proves their connection."

Evelyn smiled, pleased with Jason's meticulous care.

"This weekend, the Sterlings are holding a press conference. I'll make sure you have front-row seats to the show."

Evelyn was in high spirits today, inspecting the new mattresses that had arrived. She even personally checked the shipment at the back entrance with Jason.

"Ms. Lockwood, you really don't need to trouble yourself with this. The manager and I can handle it," Jason said gently.

"I'm no delicate flower. I've carried wounded soldiers under gunfire, saved hundreds on the battlefield. A few mattresses are nothing."

A shadow flickered in Evelyn's eyes as she spoke.

She had once saved Alexander on a foreign battlefield.

Amidst bullets and explosions, he had lain bleeding, his leg and shoulder torn open. He'd roared at her to leave him behind, but she had sworn to stay.

"Leave me! Go! I'm ordering you—get out of here!"

"Never! Even if I die here with you, I won't abandon you! We leave together!"

Back then, Evelyn had been prepared to die. For a woman her size, rescuing a man as tall and broad as Alexander from a warzone had seemed impossible.

At that moment, she had wondered—were they together?

In life, they shared hardship. In death, they'd rest in peace. No regrets.

Evelyn's lips twisted into a bitter smile, her heart pounding painfully.

Alexander. Even now, her scarred heart still beat for him.

It seemed meeting someone so extraordinary in one's youth was a curse.

Evelyn and Jason reached the back entrance just as workers began unloading.

The guest manager admired her even more for overseeing the process personally.

With Jason's help, Evelyn climbed onto the truck, inspected a mattress, then sat down, satisfied.

"Perfect. Proceed with unloading."

Just then, a blue Lamborghini roared toward them.

Luxury cars often passed by the back entrance near the garage—nothing unusual.

But this time was different.

Because the man behind the wheel was Lucas.

Lucas drove one-handed, his other arm draped around a sultry woman. After a night of partying, they were out for brunch. Bored, Lucas glanced out the window—

And spotted Evelyn helping unload mattresses.

Even in work clothes, her beauty was undeniable.

In the bar, she had been a delicate night rose. Now, she radiated effortless grace, her efficiency setting her apart from the pampered socialites he knew.

Lucas smirked, intrigued.

"Country girls really can do it all."