Chapter 533

"Dad, I actually found out months ago." Evelyn clenched the hem of her shirt, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to hide it from you and Mom. I just didn't want you to worry."

"How did they find you?"

"It was because of this red thread bracelet."

Andrew Anderson let out a heavy sigh. "Your mother and I never told you all these years because we didn't want you to feel unsettled. To us, you'll always be our real daughter."

"I know, Dad."

"We thought... after all these years with no word from your birth parents, perhaps they were already..." His voice cracked. "Who knew it would turn out like this?"

The world spun around Evelyn.

The secret she'd guarded so carefully had been brutally ripped open.

Her stomach churned violently. She bit down hard on her lower lip to keep from vomiting on the spot.

"Sweetheart!" Andrew caught her swaying figure. "Did that bastard hurt you again?"

"I'm fine," she forced out, shaking her head. "Just too many surgeries lately... And what Annabelle said..."

"Don't mention that lunatic!" Andrew's face darkened with rage. "Hospital security already threw her out. Come on, let's go home."

Evelyn's eyes burned.

At least she still had a home to return to.

Meanwhile, Alexander Hamilton was in chaos.

After Andrew stormed off with Evelyn, he'd wanted to chase after them but was stopped by the baby's wails.

The little one cried so desperately she even pushed away her bottle, only calming slightly when Alexander paced around the room holding her.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. When his phone vibrated, he nearly dropped the bottle.

The baby suckled tearfully, her big eyes fixed on the doorway, waiting for that familiar figure to return.

To make matters worse, the Laurent father-daughter duo had slithered in like ghosts.

"Alexander," Lydia cooed, stepping closer, "the poor thing is crying so hard. Let me hold her?"

"No." He turned away.

"I can learn!" She reached for the child. "Look here, baby—"

"Waaah—" The cries intensified.

Alexander's gaze turned glacial.

All that soothing effort—wasted.

Lydia withdrew her hand, pouting. "Does the baby hate me?"

"Don't be angry, Alexander," she suddenly pulled out her phone. "I'll call Evelyn right now! How heartless of her to ignore the baby crying like this..."

Leonard Laurent chimed in: "Exactly, Mr. Hamilton. I also wanted to consult Ms. Carter about the Dempsey Group collaboration."

Alexander suddenly smiled.

Cradling the baby with one arm, his eyes turned razor-sharp. "Lydia, Evelyn has always treated you well."

Her face paled.

"I don't care who taught you these tricks," he enunciated each word, "but lay one finger on Evelyn, and I'll bury Banyan Group with you."

Leonard broke out in a cold sweat. "Mr. Hamilton, that's too extreme—"

"Get out." Alexander pressed the call button. "I need to change the baby."

Five minutes later, a nanny hurried in.

"She misses her mother." Expertly taking the child, she patted her back.

Alexander loosened his tie. "From now on, you're assigned exclusively to her. Triple the standard rate."

"Thank you, Mr. Hamilton!" The nanny beamed.

Lydia tried again: "Alexander, I can help—"

"No need!" The nanny quickly stepped back, shielding the baby. "I've raised three children—I'm very experienced!"

By the window, Alexander stared at the direction Evelyn had left, his knuckles whitening.