Chapter 177

The black sedan disappeared around the corner.

Alexander Hamilton stood motionless, the cigarette between his fingers burned down to the filter.

"Alex..." Annabelle Taylor approached in her white dress, her voice barely audible.

He crushed the cigarette abruptly. The ember flickered briefly in the trash bin before dying.

"Finished with the formalities?"

Annabelle lowered her head. "Aunt Margaret accompanied me through everything."

"Don't call her that." Alexander's tone was icy. "My mother isn't accustomed to it."

"But we're engaged..."

"Engagement isn't marriage."

She reached for his arm, but he sidestepped the gesture.

"Alex..." Tears splashed onto her dress. "I know I was wrong, truly I do..."

Alexander stared at the distant trees. "Can it bring Grandma back?"

"Even if I hadn't gone that day, she would've—"

"Enough!" He whirled around. "Annabelle, what happened to you?"

She lifted tear-filled eyes. "People change..."

"You've become unrecognizable." A bitter laugh escaped him. "Where's the kind girl I remember?"

"I swear!" She suddenly seized his hand. "I never forced her to terminate the pregnancy!"

Alexander shook her off. "Does it matter now?"

"We can have another child!" Her voice turned desperate. "IVF, surrogacy—"

"Surrogacy is illegal!" he snapped.

"Then..." She bit her lip. "You could have one with someone else. I'd raise it as my own—"

Alexander laughed coldly. "How 'magnanimous' of you, Miss Taylor."

"What choice do I have?" she sobbed. "I can't conceive anymore!"

"Then don't!"

"Fine!" Annabelle jerked her head up. "Bring the child's mother back if you want!"

Alexander studied her for several seconds before smiling mirthlessly. "What do you take me for? Some feudal lord with concubines?"

The wind lifted her dress, revealing a scar on her ankle.

A memento from taking a knife meant for him.