Chapter 810

Evelyn Carter's words trailed off as Bianca Langley lifted trembling hands to cover her face.

A stifled sob escaped through her fingers.

The usually bold and decisive Bianca now resembled a helpless child. The fragile facade she'd maintained throughout the journey crumbled completely.

"Is he really... gone?"

Her question hung in the air like a blunt knife slowly carving through everyone's hearts.

After a weighted pause, Evelyn spoke softly, "Haven't you already known the answer?"

Bianca's body jerked violently.

The last shred of desperate hope from the flight evaporated instantly. Not a nightmare. No miracle. Adrian Valentine was truly gone forever.

"Impossible..." Bianca's eyes flew open, her voice raw. "He was an expert driver—even had racing credentials. How could..."

Her fingers twisted the fabric of her dress unconsciously, knuckles bleaching white.

"He didn't even own a car here! Something's wrong..."

Bianca surged to her feet, only to stagger as a wave of dizziness hit her.

Evelyn caught her immediately. "When was the last time you ate?"

"Doesn't matter..." Bianca shook her head, gaze unfocused.

Evelyn firmly guided her back to the sofa, pressing a glass of water into her hands before retrieving chocolate from her bag—prepared earlier by Alexander Hamilton. "Eat this first. You're still alive. That's what matters most right now."

Bianca chewed mechanically as silent tears streaked down her face.

"He promised those porcelain figurines would reunite..." Her whisper floated like a feather. "But now his is shattered..."

Alexander stood in the corridor, his second cigarette nearly burnt out when the door opened.

Bianca emerged wearing a deep red dress—the exact shade of maple leaves when she first met Adrian. The vibrant hue seemed painfully bright against her pallor.

The morgue occupied the hospital's sublevel, its chill gnawing through clothing.

"Your relation to the deceased?" The attendant asked cautiously.

Bianca's lips curved unexpectedly. "His wife."

When the drawer slid open, an icy gust rushed out. Alexander instinctively shielded Evelyn.

Bianca reached to touch Adrian's face but recoiled from the cold.

"Where are his glasses?" she demanded suddenly. "He can't see properly without them."

The attendant hesitated before silently retrieving the effects bag. Through the translucent material, distorted shapes of personal items were visible.

Emerging upstairs felt like rebirth.

On a garden bench outside, Bianca's shaking hands struggled with the sealed bag.