Chapter 377

"Fine, if you say he's here, then he's here." Annabelle sneered. "But why gather such a crowd? To witness him in your room? Even if he is here, so what? Who besides us knows about your relationship? To outsiders, it would just look like old friends catching up..."

"Catching up? He clearly drank—"

"Drank what?"

Annabelle bit her lower lip. "How did he leave?"

"He jumped into the sea."

"Jumped?!" Her pupils constricted. "He threw himself into the ocean to protect your reputation?!"

Gregory's expression darkened. "Enough of this."

His sharp gaze shifted to the girl behind Annabelle. "And her—what's your game bringing her aboard?"

Flames of fury ignited in Annabelle's eyes. "Gregory Wilson, do you fancy yourself some white knight? After all these years pining for her, has she ever spared you a glance? She's as cold as stone! She rejected Alexander, she rejects you—she has no heart! Why do you all lose your minds over her—"

"Shut your mouth!" Gregory cut her off sharply. "You don't get to judge her! Take your people and get out of my sight!"

Evelyn had been leaning against the doorway, watching the spectacle with detached amusement, curious about Annabelle's scheme. But Gregory suddenly shoved her inside the cabin and slammed the door shut.

He sank onto the couch, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "Ignore her. Sit."

The couch was cramped, so Evelyn moved to the bed instead.

Gregory's eyes darkened at her deliberate distance. "Did Alexander really jump?"

Evelyn shook her head, pointing to the window. "He climbed out there. Probably on deck now, getting some air."

Gregory grabbed a tissue and handed it to her. "Here."

"Hmm?"

"Your lipstick... it's smudged."

Her ears burned as she took the tissue and wiped her lips.

Gregory inhaled deeply, his fists clenched white. "I thought he cut ties with Annabelle. Why would he come to the wedding with her? Stringing you along while keeping his childhood flame close? Does he think he can have it both ways?"

Evelyn sighed. "I can't figure him out either."

Gregory caught sight of her slightly swollen lips and abruptly turned away. "And you? What do you want?"

"To never see him again."

"Then why did you let him kiss you?!"

"He was drugged." Evelyn frowned. "Annabelle must have done it. Alexander said after she found out she couldn't conceive, she found a girl who looks like me—wanted her to carry his child."

Gregory scoffed. "Surrogacy is illegal. She's a lawyer—how could she not know?"

"Maybe... if it's someone else's egg, it doesn't count?"

Understanding dawned on him. "So she drugged Alexander, brought that girl aboard, hoping he'd mistake her for you?"

"Most likely."

"That way, he'd have no reason to seek you out." Gregory paused. "But if that's the case, why expose you two now?"