Chapter 755

Her voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible.

Alexander Hamilton immediately realized their oversight—they'd forgotten to select pearl earrings for Teresa Taylor when choosing gifts for Grace Anderson and Margaret Hamilton.

After all, Anthony and Teresa had joined Grace and Margaret on their Southeast Asia trip.

Evelyn Carter had never met Teresa. In her heart, aside from her adoptive mother Grace, Margaret was the closest maternal figure she had. Missing one gift was understandable.

Yet, thinking of Teresa's guilt and care toward her, a pang of sorrow welled up inside.

She hated owing favors most of all.

Alexander abruptly stood. "Wait here."

Evelyn blinked. "Where are you going?"

His gaze was steady. "To buy another pair of pearl earrings. One for each of them."

He made it sound trivial, as if it were nothing.

Evelyn lowered her eyes. "It's about to rain. Let's go tomorrow—we're staying through the New Year anyway."

Since Andrew Anderson's passing, Anthony and Teresa had become increasingly attentive, embracing even Grace and Emily Anderson as family.

But Evelyn still felt an invisible barrier.

Alexander didn't insist. Instead, he asked gently, "Can you tell me how you truly feel about Anthony and Teresa now?"

Evelyn fell silent. Even as their food arrived, she couldn't find an answer.

Alexander waited patiently, serving her dishes, refilling her water, and tending to the baby. When the formula ran out, he handed over a warm bottle—a trick he'd learned from Auntie Marry.

"Raising a child isn't easy," he remarked casually. "I hear crawling and walking stages are the real challenges. Then comes the 'seven-eight nightmare phase'..."

Evelyn instantly understood his implication. She picked up a lettuce leaf. "I was seven or eight when I was adopted."

Alexander's breath hitched. Though he'd known about her past from Anthony, this was the first time she'd spoken of it herself.

"Anthony said you lost your memories after that fever. Have they returned?"

The lettuce was crisp, but Evelyn tasted only bitterness. She set down her chopsticks. "Not fully. But since meeting Anthony and Teresa, fragments keep surfacing... They love me, yet I don't know how to return to them."

Today was unusual—first running into Gregory Wilson, then this oversight, now long-buried memories resurfacing.

Was fate demanding she resolve all unfinished business today?

Evelyn smiled wryly, her eyes glistening. "If I could redo it all, I'd wish never to have met you at that blind date. Then I wouldn't have known Anthony and Teresa, nor learned I was adopted. The coincidences are... cruel."

Studying Alexander, a thought struck her: even a fateful bond was still a bond.

His Adam's apple bobbed. "Do you regret meeting me? Even if you do, it's okay."

The pearl earrings had been his idea. Tonight, he'd either help her overcome this hurdle or be relegated to her past—just like Gregory.

Thinking he was jealous again, Evelyn pondered seriously. "No regrets."

Light rain began falling. Alexander pulled a compact umbrella from the stroller's base—just large enough for three.

As rain slanted sideways, he subtly tilted the umbrella toward Evelyn, letting his own back grow soaked.

Back in the car, Evelyn noticed his drenched sweatshirt but said nothing.

He never sought credit for such small gestures.

Despite his sharp memory, Alexander took a detour, stopping at the old town's lone auto lane.

Evelyn frowned in confusion.

He explained softly, "You're right—the past can't change, but we still have choices now. Give me a moment."

The umbrella opened and closed. When he returned, a delicate gift box was in his hand.