Chapter 782

Evelyn's fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her phone.

Vincent Croix's actions couldn't simply be described as "scummy" anymore. Vivian was right—he was a monster in human skin.

Baby Chloe seemed to sense her distress, pausing her play with the plush toy to gaze up timidly. Those clear, innocent eyes brimmed with unease.

"It's okay." Evelyn immediately crouched down, gently holding the child's soft little hand. This poor girl had already suffered enough—her birth mother was missing, and her father was a madman. In comparison, Alexander Hamilton, her godfather, seemed more like a real parent.

Alexander's sharp intuition picked up the tension through the phone. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Evelyn steadied her breathing, softening her tone. "I scared Chloe with my tone earlier. Don't worry, I'll remind the family to be extra careful when taking her out."

Since returning to work, they had less time to spend with the baby. During the day, the grandparents usually took her to the park to play with other children.

Days passed uneventfully, and Evelyn almost let her guard down—until that sunny afternoon.

To devise the best treatment plan for a pregnant patient with heart disease, Evelyn often missed meals. Alexander, concerned, made it a daily ritual to deliver a thermal lunchbox to her office, leaving it on her desk even if she wasn't there.

That day, after hurriedly finishing lunch, Evelyn was heading to the washroom to clean her dishes when someone abruptly grabbed her from behind.

The hospital hallway was crowded—who would dare such boldness?

"Dr. Carter, I just want to talk."

The hand clamped around her wrist was cold as iron. The voice carried a bone-chilling eeriness, vaguely familiar.

Evelyn spun around and met a pair of bloodshot eyes.

"...Vincent?"

She finally recognized where she'd heard that voice before—at the Hamilton Resort, where that ruthless man had been searching for Bianca Langley.

Now, Vincent looked even more haggard, his gaze dark and unsettling.

"I just want to know where Bianca is." He cut straight to the point. "The baby is with you and Mr. Hamilton, right? Don't bother denying it. We both know the truth."

He pulled out several surveillance photos from his suit pocket—all taken near the Hamilton estate.

Evelyn's heart sank.

This man was far more dangerous than Alexander had described. To have stalked them undetected for so long, he was either truly desperate or a deeply concealed lunatic.

Sunlight streamed through the hallway windows, yet Vincent's face remained shadowed. He was undeniably handsome, with a tall, commanding presence—no wonder he'd once won Bianca's heart among countless suitors. But now, he only sent chills down her spine.

"Mr. Croix," Evelyn said coldly, "I have nothing to say regarding Ms. Langley."

Her stance mirrored Alexander's exactly.

Vincent, wary of Alexander, didn't dare push too hard. Seeing her resolute silence, he suddenly softened his tone. "The rumors about our marital issues are affecting the company's stock price. Surely she can't ignore all this?"

He practically spat the words through gritted teeth, his eyes swirling with complex emotions. To an outsider, it might seem like he and Bianca shared some deep-seated hatred.

Evelyn recalled Bianca's parting plea and grew even more guarded. "Why should she care? Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Congratulations—you've finally kicked aside the stumbling block."

The sarcasm was unmistakable.

Vincent's expression darkened, but Evelyn stood her ground. This was a hospital, with surveillance everywhere. Any move he made would be self-incrimination.

"There's been a misunderstanding." Vincent suppressed his rage. "Dr. Carter, you wouldn't want to break up a family, would you?"

Evelyn scoffed. "Funny you should say that—I specialize in counseling such families to divorce. Didn't you know I've been divorced too?"

The counterattack caught Vincent off guard. He pressed on stubbornly, "But aren't you and Mr. Hamilton back together now?"

Alarm bells rang in Evelyn's mind.

All previous signs pointed to Vincent despising Bianca and their child. This sudden shift in attitude could only mean another scheme.

"Mr. Croix," she said bluntly, "Alexander and I truly don't know Ms. Langley's whereabouts, and we won't give you the chance to harm them."

"Who said I want to harm them?" Vincent's face twisted, his voice dropping to a growl. "This is all a misunderstanding. I'll explain it myself."

Evelyn lost all patience. "Do you really think your crimes are still secrets? Whether it's the girl you killed or Ms. Langley, who misjudged you—you're the one to blame!"

The hallway fell deathly silent.

Vincent's eyes burned with fury. "Dr. Carter, watch your words."

"What?" Evelyn met his gaze head-on. "Planning to erase me like you did your other mistakes?"