Chapter 103

The words escaped Alexander Kingsley's lips before he realized what he was saying.

"I never meant to hurt you."

Evelyn Sinclair's mouth curved into a mocking smile.

Never meant to?

Then why did every memory of him after their breakup feel like retaliation?

As if she'd committed some unforgivable sin...

"Do you like the roses?" Alexander suddenly asked.

Evelyn froze.

The unfamiliarity and confusion in her eyes made his brow furrow.

She didn't like them?

"I don't know what game you're playing," Evelyn met his gaze, self-mockery outweighing bewilderment in her eyes. "Alexander, we're over. Isn't this pathetic?"

When she'd begged, he'd withheld.

Now that she wanted nothing, he forced it upon her.

No treasure could tempt her now...

Her lips, crimson as blood, formed words sharp as blades.

Alexander had never faced this version of Evelyn.

This Evelyn reminded him of the spoiled princess he'd first met - beloved by her parents, secure in her status, looking down her nose at him.

Back then, no amount of scheming could earn him her glance.

The loss of control agitated him.

He seized her shoulders.

"Take it back! I never agreed to break up!"

"Let go!" Evelyn winced at the pain. "I don't appreciate this joke!"

Alexander always resorted to force when emotions ran high.

At Royal Gardens, whether in good moods or bad, he'd left marks on her body.

She'd foolishly mistaken it for love.

Now she knew better - it was pure possessiveness.

He'd never treated her as human, just a disposable object.

"On what grounds?" Her laugh was icy. "You gave me the choice to break up. I chose. Now you regret it. Alexander, what am I to you?"

Might as well lay everything bare today.

So he couldn't accuse her of poor communication later.

"I gave you a choice?" Alexander laughed bitterly. "I only asked for an apology, and you threw a breakup at me!"

"Amnesia?" Evelyn held her ground. "You were the one who..."

The one who forced her to choose.

Now he twisted the narrative?

"Whatever." Sudden exhaustion washed over her.

She'd promised herself to move on.

To stop dwelling on the past.

Her lips twisted. "So in your eyes, I was being unreasonable. Thanks for clarifying."

His people had struck her.

Why should she apologize?

"That's not..." Alexander knew the truth.

He knew it was about the Butterfly Brooch.

"Answer me," Evelyn gritted through shoulder pain. "At the sanatorium, was it Madam Zade who helped recover my memories?"

Alexander's pupils constricted.

"Why did you never tell me about my past? Why hide even my parents' history?"

She'd grown close to Julian Ashford only to rediscover her roots.

However kind the Kingsleys were, her heart remained unsettled.

Yet Alexander had repeatedly blocked her search for truth.

She'd once deluded herself into thinking it was for her protection.

Now she understood - he might be concealing something...

"So this is why you chose Julian Ashford, why you betrayed the Kingsleys." Alexander released her.

"My oversight gave you the chance to leave."

After all he'd invested, she still walked away.

For ten years of memories.

Was the past so important?

Or was it... someone she couldn't forget?

Evelyn turned away, too weary to explain.

Let him think what he would.

Not worth it anymore...

"I'll attend Grandfather's birthday banquet and play my part."

"And then?" The question burst from Alexander.

Then?

Evelyn looked at him.

His gaze darkened. "You'd deceive Grandfather forever?"

Forever?

Evelyn nearly laughed aloud.

Even if she wanted to, would Isabella Winslow wait?

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

There would be no bridge to cross...

......

Nathan Carter and Iris Cooper chatted outside the door.

Iris complained about the hardships of journalism.

Nathan sighed. "We're exhausted too. Handling so much money daily - no room for error."

Iris thought he was bragging.

"Apples and oranges! Your salaries versus ours? You're the elite - we're called paparazzi scum."

The door suddenly opened.

Alexander strode toward the elevator.

Nathan hastily excused himself to follow.

Iris bit her lip, gathered courage, and chased after them.

"Lord Alex!"

Alexander turned.

His gaze made her heart stutter.

But having started, she pressed on.

"Lord Alex, if Evelyn seems ungrateful... please don't blame her."

"Why?" Alexander asked.

Why did even her colleagues know her current attitude?

"Lord Alex, countless girls would kill to stand by your side - for money or the man. But Evelyn's different..."

"How?" Alexander fully faced her now.

The pressure intensified.

"When Evelyn first arrived, everyone called her a nepotism hire. But I knew the truth."

"That article she wrote about you? She was framed by a colleague..."