Chapter 280

Evelyn's fingers trembled as she finally understood Eleanor's intention.

She had noticed Eleanor's subtle maneuvers but chose to ignore them. The older woman clearly knew about their marital struggles and was trying to reconcile them.

"Sleep." Alexander's voice cut through the darkness, strained with restraint.

Evelyn lay rigid beside him.

Sharing a bed felt foreign now. Those midnight intrusions in her rented apartment had left scars.

Silence stretched between them.

"Waiting for me?" Alexander suddenly growled through clenched teeth.

Evelyn flinched at the accusation.

Fabric rustled as he abruptly sat up, muttering a curse before storming into the bathroom again.

She bolted upright.

The shower's roar seeped through the door as she sat frozen, pulse hammering.

......

Four times that night, Alexander retreated to the bathroom.

Each return brought icy droplets rolling down his feverish skin, his darkened gaze swallowing her whole.

Exhaustion finally claimed her before dawn.

The alarm blared twice before rousing her.

Fumbling for her phone, she registered the scorching weight pressed against her back.

Five seconds passed before she recognized Alexander's form.

Her fingers brushed his abdomen—burning.

"Alexander!" She shoved at his unresponsive body.

His brow furrowed in distress.

A touch to his forehead confirmed the raging fever.

She scrambled to call for help.

"Eve..." A weak plea stopped her.

"C-cold..." His fingertips felt like death.

She clasped his freezing hand between hers.

"Eve..." Half-lidded eyes pinned her in place. "Stay..."

Delirium glazed his words.

Alexander's illnesses always hit hard. She needed a doctor, but his grip turned vise-like.

"Eve..." He pressed his fiery forehead to her knuckles. "Hurts..."

"Let me call the physician." She bent closer.

He shook his head, rubbing against her skin like a wounded animal.

Nathan's ringtone shattered the moment.

She reached for it.

Alexander knocked the phone away.

"I said no calls!" His ragged breath burned her cheek.

Nathan's silence spoke volumes through the speaker.

"He's ill," Evelyn managed before Alexander's wandering hands startled her.

"Stop!"

"Eve..." His broken whisper cracked. "Sorry..."

"You need medical attention!" She pushed sweat-dampened hair from his brow. "Please?"

After an eternity, he gasped, "Last night's soup..."

Understanding dawned with horrifying clarity.

"Eve," clearer now, "next time... either don't come back... or play along..."

The entire Kingsley household saw through their charade. Without this pretense, Madeline wouldn't have believed those vile rumors questioning the baby's paternity.

"I wanted to pretend..." His face buried against her, voice fracturing. "Wanted to believe this child was mine... but you have to meet me halfway..."

"Did you ever consider..." Her teeth sank into her lip. "That it really is yours?"

Silence.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

When awareness returned, her fingertips found wetness on his cheeks.

His hand slipped away, limp.