Chapter 427

Margaret Hamilton gently traced the rim of her teacup. "At my age, my blood pressure hasn't been stable since the fire. Alexander insisted on moving next door to keep an eye on me."

"That's thoughtful of him."

"I just don't want to intrude on the newlyweds."

Alexander Hamilton methodically peeled shrimp, arranging the meat neatly on Lydia Laurent's plate. "We can stay elsewhere."

Clatter.

A fruit knife hit the floor.

Annabelle Taylor scrambled to pick it up. "Sorry—ah!"

Blood dripped from her slender fingers, blooming like crimson petals on the hardwood.

Anthony Taylor rushed over. "How bad is it?"

"It's nothing..." Annabelle's voice trembled.

Margaret stood. "Auntie Marry, fetch the first aid kit!"

"Right away!"

Annabelle forced a smile. "Don't trouble yourselves. I'll go to the hospital. Dad, Aunt Margaret, I should leave."

Anthony blocked her path. "That cut needs immediate attention."

Auntie Marry arrived breathless with the medical supplies. "Good heavens! This might need stitches!"

Anthony turned to Evelyn Carter. "Evelyn—"

Vivian Dempsey clamped a protective hand over her friend's wrist. "Uncle Anthony, Evelyn's an OB-GYN. This isn't her specialty."

Alexander spoke without looking up. "Physicians swear to preserve life. Would she refuse aid?"

"Would you ask a cardiologist to perform brain surgery?"

"She treated my injuries competently."

Vivian scoffed. "You expect Evelyn to bandage your ex-girlfriend?"

"Ms. Dempsey should focus on her family affairs."

Vivian's face darkened. "Is this corporate retaliation?"

"Pure business calculus." Alexander wiped his hands. "Profit dictates my decisions."

"Because I challenged you?"

"Sentiment has no place in commerce."

Evelyn squeezed her friend's arm in warning.

She examined Annabelle's hand. Four fingers bore deep lacerations, flesh gaping.

"No tendon damage." Evelyn addressed Auntie Marry. "Do you have coagulants?"

"Will Yunnan Baiyao work?"

"Anything else—"

Auntie Marry upended the kit. "Here, madam—"

The room froze.

Margaret frowned. "Auntie Marry!"

The flustered maid glanced at Alexander.

He rose. "I'll take Lydia home."

"You've been drinking—"

"She can drive."

As the door shut, a tear splashed onto Annabelle's wound.

Anthony sighed. "Regrets come too late."

Annabelle finally broke. "If only I'd known..."

"Known what?"

She met Evelyn's gaze with red-rimmed eyes. "I should've let you two be together from the start."

Vivian snorted. "Now the mistress plays martyr?"

"If I hadn't gone abroad—"

"Spare us the act. You enjoyed stringing men along."

Annabelle choked back a sob. "You don't understand until you've lost—"

Vivian rolled her eyes. "More like closing the barn door after the horse bolted."

Margaret cleared her throat.

Vivian backtracked. "Poor analogy."

"Let bygones be bygones." Margaret softened her tone. "Annabelle, have you considered relocating overseas?"

"I want to stay with my parents."

"Evelyn cares for them now. You've never lifted a finger your whole life."