Chapter 502

The night deepened, bringing a chill to the mountain air.

Lydia Laurent approached with light footsteps, cradling an exquisite velvet box.

"Alexander, this is for you."

Alexander Hamilton frowned and stepped back. "No need."

"But Annabelle insisted..." Lydia bit her lip, her gaze flickering timidly toward Evelyn Carter. "If I don't deliver it, she'll be upset."

Alexander instinctively looked at Evelyn.

His physician wife remained as composed as ever, not even a flutter of her lashes betraying emotion. Only when their child was mentioned did those cool eyes ever ripple with feeling.

"Throw it away," Alexander said coldly.

Lydia grew frantic. "Alexander, please just take it! Annabelle said the capital's climate is dry, and she specially—"

"How generous of her to interfere," Alexander sneered.

Lydia twisted her fingers. "Annabelle only wants what's best for me. She says I'm too young and naive, that you might grow tired of me..."

"Her concern is unnecessary."

"But Annabelle doesn't know about your plans!" Lydia suddenly raised her voice. "She truly believes we're getting married. She's even introducing me to her connections..."

The box was shoved into Alexander's hands.

He lifted it, ready to discard it.

"Aren't you going to look?" Evelyn spoke abruptly.

Alexander paused. "It'll dirty my eyes."

"What if it's something important?" Evelyn's lips curved slightly.

Alexander sighed. "Evelyn, you know what I despise most."

As he spoke, he unwrapped the package.

A glass jar gleamed coldly under the moonlight, the label bearing the words "Pear Syrup" glaringly conspicuous.

"Oh, it's for lung health!" Lydia clapped her hands. "How thoughtful of Annabelle."

The jar arced through the air and landed precisely in the trash bin.

"Satisfied?" Alexander's icy gaze pinned Lydia.

She shrank back. "I-I'll take my leave then."

"Wait." Evelyn stopped her. "Was this all you came for?"

Lydia tilted her head. "Annabelle said..."

"What else did she say?" Alexander's voice was laced with frost.

"She said..." Lydia's voice dwindled to a whisper. "She'd help me become Mrs. Hamilton."

A sudden mountain gust swept through.

Alexander's expression darkened. "Stay away from her."

As Lydia's car disappeared around the bend, a cold glint surfaced in Evelyn's eyes.

Sophia Winston's words echoed in her mind: The most venomous ones often wear the most innocent masks.

What a masterful play—using others to do her dirty work.

Not only had she cemented Alexander's loathing for Annabelle, but she'd also planted seeds of doubt in Evelyn's heart. And the puppeteer? Still hiding behind that guileless face.

"Let's visit your adoptive parents," Alexander said, adjusting her coat.

Evelyn chuckled. "What can we do? It's not like we can kill her."

"Send her abroad." Alexander's eyes darkened. "Permanently."

"You—"

"The wind's picking up." He cut her off. "Let's talk inside."

Moonlight stretched their shadows long. Evelyn glanced back at the trash bin, where the glass jar glinted eerily in the pale light.