CHAPTER 77: A WAR

[Carter Mansion – Evelyn’s Room]

The house was silent, too silent for Evelyn’s liking.

After she came back from Alexander’s place, she had been lying in bed staring at the ceiling, still lost in the moment which had felt like forever.

The faint glow of her bedside lamp stretched warm shadows across her room but nothing felt calm inside her. Her pulse still hadn’t settled since she left Alexander’s penthouse.

Every time she closed her eyes, she could still feel his lips on hers. The way he cupped her face like he had been holding himself back for years.

She pressed a hand over her chest where her heart refused to slow down.

She turned on her side, hugging her pillow but that only made it worse because she could still smell his cologne on her.

She glanced at her phone which was sitting on the bedside table, hesitated for a second and then looked away.

He was probably asleep or thinking or maybe regretting.

Just then, her phone vibrated suddenly and then she jolted upright.

She quickly grabbed her phone and her stomach flipped violently when she saw Alexander’s name on the screen.

She stared at the screen for three whole seconds before opening the message but before she could type anything, a new message appeared.

Alexander: Are you still awake?

Evelyn’s breath caught and her fingers trembled slightly as she typed back.

Evelyn: Yes, I can’t sleep.

There was a pause of a few seconds before his reply came.

Alexander: Me neither.

Then another message appeared instantly, like he had been waiting to say it.

Alexander: I thought I ruined things again. I should have told you about the shares as soon as I learned about it.

Her heart squeezed. She hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the screen as her throat tightened.

Evelyn: It’s fine, I can understand.

Alexander:

I promise to never keep anything away from you in the future.

Her breath shuddered out. She didn’t know what to say but she knew he was being honest.

Evelyn: I trust you.

The typing dots appeared instantly.

Alexander: I am glad you do. That’s all I need.

She smiled and was about to reply when another message came which was longer, hesitant and vulnerable in a way she had only seen once before.

Alexander: Evelyn, this marriage, this pressure, your father, my family, I know it’s a lot.

I don’t want any of it to scare you and I don’t want you to feel trapped. Just stay with me and I will fix everything. That’s all I am asking.

Her eyes burned unexpectedly but she wiped them quickly.

Her fingers hovered before she started typing.

Evelyn: I am scared but I am still here.

His reply came almost immediately.

Alexander: So am I.

Her lips curved into a tiny smile.

She leaned back against her headboard, exhaling shakily. The ache in her chest eased and was replaced by something warm, soft and terrifyingly hopeful.

Alexander: Goodnight, Evelyn.

Evelyn: Goodnight, Alexander.

Neither of them put the phone down for minutes.

And in two different parts of the city, both fell asleep with the same quiet, aching smile and the kiss still lingering on their lips, oblivious to the impossible weight of what awaited them tomorrow.

.....

[Alexander’s Penthouse]

Lucas didn’t knock, In fact, he never knocked.

The keypad beeped, the door swung open and Lucas walked in like he paid the rent with a jumbo iced coffee in one hand and a paper bag of fries in the other.

"Alexander," Lucas called but silence greeted him .

He frowned, stepping further inside.

"Alexander?" He called again.

When he walked inside and turned to the corner into the living area, he froze.

Alexander was sitting on the armrest of the couch with his jacket off, shirt sleeves rolled up and staring into nothing like a man whose entire world had shifted a few hours ago.

Lucas blinked.

"Oh god," he whispered dramatically. "Are you dying?"

Alexander looked up slowly. "What are you doing here?"

Lucas marched in and plopped himself onto the couch. "Visiting my emotionally unavailable best friend. Also—" Extending the bag of fries he asked, "Fries?"

Alexander sighed and took a piece or two before returning back to sulking again.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Okay, what happened? Why do you look like someone unplugged your soul?"

Then Alexander exhaled.

"Evelyn," he said quietly.

Lucas sat up straighter. "What about her? Did she reject you? Did she stab you? Oh my god, don’t tell me she chose someone else?"

"She said yes."

Lucas blinked. Then blinked again before exploding in excitement.

"YES TO WHAT? YES TO WHAT, ALEXANDER? If you tell me yes to lunch, I will throw myself off your balcony."

Alexander dragged a hand down his face. "Yes to marrying me."

Lucas choked so violently he almost aspirated his fries. "She what? Marrying? You?"

Alexander winced. "Lucas—"

"No, no, you need to sit down—" he shook his head. "But you are already sitting." He then sat down. "I need to sit down."

Then suddenly he stood up and started pacing the room like a malfunctioning robot. "OH. MY. EFFING. GOD."

He grabbed Alexander’s shoulders and shook him. "YOU KISSED HER, DIDN’T YOU?!"

Alexander didn’t respond but the faintest flush at the tips of his ears betrayed him.

Lucas screeched. "I KNEW IT! My man finally got some action after a decade of being emotionally constipated!"

Alexander muttered, "Lucas."

"No, don’t ’Lucas’ me. Do you know how long I have waited for this? I should be given a national award."

Lucas dramatically wiped an imaginary tear then launched himself off the couch and tackled Alexander in a hug that was more violent than affectionate.

"My brother is GETTING MARRIED!" Lucas yelled.

Alexander actually smiled, he couldn’t contain it but that smile faded just as quickly.

But Lucas caught it. "Okay. What is the matter?"

Alexander shook his head. "No. Something isn’t right, Lucas. I can feel it." He had been constantly getting a feeling and his gut was screaming at him to keep his guard up.

Lucas nodded slowly. "You are overthinking again, big guy."

Alexander didn’t respond.

"Look—" he continued. "Do you honestly think Evelyn would say yes if she didn’t already feel something? That woman can slice people alive with her silence. If she didn’t want you, she would have carved ’NO’ into Gregory’s forehead."

The corner of Alexander’s mouth twitched but his worry didn’t fade.

Lucas sighed. "Okay, tell me exactly what is bothering you."

Alexander hesitated for a while before answering, "It feels too easy."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "You mean after seventy-five Chapters of hell, heartbreak, trauma, manipulation, corporate war, family drama and sexual tension that could power a city, it now feels easy?"

When Alexander shot him a glare, Lucas lifted both hands. "I am just saying.".

Alexander leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "I don’t overthink and you know that."

"Alright, then what is it?" Lucas asked again. "See, if you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to help?"

"My father has been strangely quiet," he murmured. The way Benjamin had stormed out after his argument with Margaret, Alexander had expected he would react after finding out that his marriage with Evelyn was final and it was happening.

But to his surprise, Benjamin was silent, too silent.

Something dark flickered in Lucas’s expression.

"Well—" he said slowly, "that actually brings me to the reason I came here."

Alexander turned sharply.

Lucas dropped the teasing tone and leaned forward. "My sources finally got back to me about Benjamin."

"Apparently your father has been after a certain property for nearly twenty years. Practically obsessed but recently his men say he is desperate and impatient. Like he needs it now."

Alexander frowned. "Which property?" He had never heard of his father trying to vouch a property.

Lucas shook his head. "I don’t know. They wouldn’t reveal the name yet. I only know that it’s old, important and he has been circling it since before you took over Reid Enterprise."

Alexander froze and a cold, sinking feeling crawled up his spine.

"And you think this has something to do with the Carters?" he asked quietly.

Lucas exhaled. "Knowing your father? I would bet my left kidney."

Silence settled between them.

Alexander turned toward the window again with hands curling into fists.

Lucas watched him carefully.

"Hey," he said softly. "I know you are scared and worried."

Alexander didn’t deny it.

"But this time, you are not facing him alone. If Benjamin’s planning something, we will find out first and we will shut it down," he assured him.

Alexander closed his eyes and sighed.

"I won’t let anything touch her," Alexander said. "Not my father or his schemes and anyone."

Lucas smirked. "Good, because now, it’s not just love." He raised his coffee like a toast. "It’s war."

Alexander didn’t smile but his eyes sharpened with purpose. "Then let’s prepare."

Whatever his father was planning, they had to be ten steps ahead in order to beat him.

....