Chapter 800

"Me?" Alexander Hamilton frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on Evelyn Carter's face.

He had indeed learned to bake Chinese tea pastries from Auntie Wu and even showcased his skills in front of Evelyn before. But preparing dozens of cookies in such a short time was an unreasonable demand.

Bianca Langley had already grabbed his hand excitedly. "Perfect! Homemade treats are the most reassuring. See you tomorrow!"

She and Adrian Valentine still had a mountain of preparations, so they hurried out without giving Alexander a chance to refuse.

The next morning, Adrian distributed plainly packaged cookies to guests gathered around the maple tree. No one knew these were the results of Alexander and Evelyn's all-night baking session.

Alexander watched as Evelyn's handmade cookies were handed out, his heart twisting like a cat's scratching post. Only when he noticed the faint smile on her lips did that reluctance gradually fade.

The engagement ceremony took place under the red maple tree where Bianca and Adrian first met. This century-old tree bore witness to their love—not only were all invited guests present, but even passersby paused to offer blessings, touched by their happiness.

After the ceremony, the cookie table was piled high with return gifts. The entire event had been planned in record time, perfectly reflecting Bianca's free-spirited nature—guests weren't expected to give monetary gifts but could receive party favors simply by offering congratulations.

Locals found this arrangement perfectly normal, but some Chinese guests felt uncomfortable arriving empty-handed. Some left red envelopes, others small presents.

Among them, one plush toy stood out conspicuously.

Bianca's expression darkened the moment she picked it up. Finding a loose thread near its ear, she gave a gentle tug—the toy immediately fell apart.

A diamond ring the size of a pigeon's egg rolled out from the stuffing, along with a note that read: "Waiting for you."

The gift sent chills down everyone's spine. Bianca could almost hear Vincent Croix's icy voice whispering in her ear—You're not going anywhere!

Without hesitation, Adrian threw both the toy and ring into the trash, gripping her cold hands. "Don't be afraid. It's over between you two. He can't hurt you anymore."

"I know," Bianca replied weakly, unable to muster even a forced smile.

Evelyn and Alexander exchanged glances. Though there was no proof, they were certain this was Vincent's doing. Unfortunately, whoever delivered the gift had long since disappeared.

"Hiring professionals like this means Vincent is truly desperate," Alexander said darkly. "Someone must have tipped him off from back home."

Just as he suspected, Bianca's sudden exposure in Hudson City wasn't accidental. This place was no longer safe.

Adrian squeezed Bianca's hand tighter. "We'll face this together. Now that we're engaged, he has no right to harass you."

Bianca gave a strained smile. His naivety was both touching and frustrating.

Evelyn and Alexander had already warned her about Vincent's frantic search back home. She wasn't afraid—just disgusted at the thought of him.

How could she have been so blind?

Seeing her distress, Adrian suggested, "Should we return to Hudson City first? Even if he tracks us here, he'll find nothing."

As a student yet to graduate, his thinking was inevitably simplistic.

Bianca sighed. "He's scum, but not stupid. If we all leave, he'll immediately guess we've returned. It might buy some time, but not much."

"Leave it to me," Alexander said, his voice laced with frost.

He'd stayed up all night baking those cookies in the hotel kitchen just to avoid disappointing Evelyn. Now Vincent not only sent that ominous gift but also took the cookies Alexander personally made—this was unforgivable.

Alexander made a call under the tree. When he returned, his expression had subtly shifted.

Noon sunlight filtered through maple leaves, casting dappled shadows on him. The hesitation in his eyes told Evelyn everything—this was about Vincent.

"Hold my bag for me," Evelyn suddenly said.

For Bianca's casual engagement, she'd brought a large backpack for convenience—the kind that could easily be hung in a restroom.

Understanding immediately, Alexander took the bag and followed her toward the academic building.

Coincidentally, Bianca's professor arrived for a reunion, keeping her and Adrian occupied long enough not to notice their departure.

Once they reached the flower beds beside the building, Evelyn cut straight to the chase. "What's Vincent up to now?"

"That 'again' is spot-on," Alexander quipped, indicating the situation wasn't dire.

"I anticipated this. Had some friends restrict his cash flow—financial firms fear liquidity issues most. It worked initially. But I just got word he's 'on a business trip.'"

Vincent traveling wasn't unusual, but his employees' evasiveness about his whereabouts raised alarms. At least he hadn't appeared at the engagement—there was still room to maneuver.

Remembering that eerie plush toy, Evelyn felt a shadow cross her heart. "Who else would do such a thing? If it was really his doing, he's probably almost here."