Chapter 248

Evelyn Carter leaned against the car window, her fingers lightly tapping the leather seat. "The dean mentored me. Helping Natalie Stapleton doesn’t require her gratitude."

Alexander Hamilton tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "I helped you."

"So you want my thanks?"

"No." He turned to look at her, his gaze intense. "I just want you to lower your guard around me."

Evelyn subtly shifted half an inch toward the door.

Alexander chuckled, though his eyes held bitterness. "I overstepped earlier. I apologize."

"Next time you have such impulses, go find Annabelle Taylor." She kept her eyes fixed ahead. "She’d be more than willing to oblige."

His expression darkened. "That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about today."

"I’m not interested in your love story."

"You can cover your ears." His voice remained calm. "But I’m going to say it."

Evelyn scoffed.

No matter how spacious the Rolls-Royce was, it was still a confined space. If he insisted on speaking, she’d have to jump out to avoid hearing it.

"Annabelle’s parents were my parents’ closest friends." His voice grew somber. "When my father passed, my mother was eight months pregnant."

Neon lights flickered outside, casting shifting shadows across his profile.

"Mrs. Taylor cooked for my mother every day, making sure she ate. After I was born, Mr. Taylor helped my grandmother stabilize the company."

Evelyn recalled Margaret Hamilton mentioning how Grandma Hamilton adored Alexander—he was her son’s only legacy.

"Your grandmother went through a lot back then."

"Yeah." His Adam’s apple bobbed. "She was so strong, but in the end..."

A brief silence settled in the car.

"You’ve managed Hamilton Group well," Evelyn said softly. "Your grandmother would be proud."

"But I let Annabelle rob her of her last words!" His fist slammed against the steering wheel, the horn piercing the night. "I should’ve realized sooner—back at Cloud Terrace Resort!"

Evelyn turned away. "What’s done is done."

"Which is why I can’t keep making mistakes." He looked at her, his gaze burning. "Evelyn, you might not want to hear this, but I have to say it."

Her grip tightened on her bag strap.

"These past months apart, I’ve tried convincing myself to let you go." His voice was rough. "If you were with someone else, maybe I could. But Peter Harrison..."

His words faded into the night, heavy with reluctance.