Chapter 718

News of Annabelle Taylor's disappearance had spread throughout the entire social circle.

Evelyn Carter forced herself to remain composed, but when Lydia Laurent didn't take the bait, she felt a cold sweat trickle down her spine. The plan had failed.

The bodyguards roughly shoved her toward the warehouse.

"What about the children?" Evelyn suddenly raised her voice. "That youngest girl is the Langley family's treasured jewel. If anything happens to her, the Langleys will tear the city apart to find you!"

She knew the odds were against her, but at the very least, she needed to confirm the children's safety.

At the mention of "the Langley family," a flicker of regret flashed in Lydia's eyes. She had indeed underestimated the little girl's value.

Evelyn read the answer in her expression. "They're already safe, aren't they?"

Lydia didn't respond, simply turning toward the warehouse with a chilling aura.

Evelyn tried to warn Alexander Hamilton, but her mouth was gagged. She noticed Lydia seemed to have changed her mind—she no longer intended to follow through with the original plan of drowning her at sea.

Inside the warehouse, Alexander was locked in combat with a group of thugs. After confirming Evelyn's escape, his strikes grew even more ruthless, quickly taking down two of them.

Seeing the tide turn against him, the leader abandoned his comrades and fled in panic. The others scattered like frightened birds.

Just as Alexander moved to find Evelyn, Lydia blocked his path at the entrance. Beneath her sweet smile lay twisted hatred.

"Alexander, that hit you gave me really hurt," she complained in a childish whine.

Alexander smirked coldly. "If I'd known you'd be this troublesome, I would've hit you harder."

Lydia tilted her head like an innocent doll. "I brought the person you most wanted to see."

The bodyguard shoved Evelyn forward. The rough handling of her injured right arm sent waves of pain through her, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead.

"What do you want?" Alexander's voice was tight.

Evelyn tried to shake her head to signal she was fine, but her pale face betrayed her.

The last glimmer of light vanished from Lydia's eyes. "Do you love her that much?" Her voice turned shrill. "Have you forgotten how you abandoned her for Annabelle?"

Evelyn let out a pained whimper.

Alexander's voice was resolute. "Everything in the past was against my will. But now, Evelyn Carter is the one I love. Stop this, Lydia."

The word "love" sent a shock through Evelyn's heart.

"You're lying!" Lydia screamed hysterically. "I'm cuter than her, I understand you better, I know how to make you happier!"

Alexander scoffed. "Even my pet dog is cuter than you."

Suddenly, Lydia smiled eerily. The shadows in the warehouse seemed to come alive.

Evelyn felt a chill—the same premonition she'd had before the car accident.

Alexander gave her a deep look, his gaze tender yet resolute, before turning back to Lydia with icy detachment. "Don't make this worse."

"Are you going to call the police on me, Alexander?" Lydia tilted her head. "That's fine. Daddy will be home soon."

Evelyn's pupils constricted. Leonard Laurent had been taken away by the police—where was Lydia getting this confidence?

Alexander studied her. "I underestimated you."

Lydia's voice dripped with saccharine sweetness. "I'll give you one last chance. You say you love Evelyn. If she were in danger, would you save her?"

"Of course."

"What if only one of you could live?"

Evelyn shuddered. "Lydia!"

"Scared, Evelyn?" Lydia giggled. "Don't you want to know the answer too?"

Without hesitation, Alexander replied, "I choose her."