Chapter 813

"At least let me see our daughter?" Vincent Croix's voice carried a pleading tone. "I've failed as a father since her birth. Isn't it reasonable to want to make amends now?"

Bianca Langley clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. If not for their child, she'd have strangled this hypocrite on the spot.

"Still not as unreasonable as your attempt to erase that mistake," she sneered.

Vincent's knuckles whitened around the ring he held. "That was said in anger. Did I ever harm our baby afterward?"

"Anger?" Bianca scoffed, suddenly exhausted by this futile argument. "The last shred of hope I had for you died when you blamed our child for that girl's death. You're not just a liar—you're a coward!"

That girl had died believing Vincent was divorced. Discovering she'd been the other woman—and pregnant—she'd chosen the quietest exit: pesticide.

Vincent's mask cracked. "Must you provoke me like this? I kept it from her to protect you! I almost—"

"Almost faced the truth?" Alexander Hamilton cut in, his voice glacial. "You're just mourning your shattered fantasy. Had that girl lived, you'd still be playing house with both women."

The verbal strike hit its mark. Vincent turned ashen.

Evelyn Carter shot Alexander an appraising glance, surprised by his surgical precision.

"Mr. Croix," she said calmly, "you've never cared about anyone—only your 'CEO' title. Without the Langley family connection, you're nothing."

Bianca laughed bitterly. "Men truly understand men best. Alexander, why not spell it out clearer?"

Alexander shook his head slightly. "Enough."

He refused Vincent even a sidelong glance, as if the sight polluted his vision.

Vincent burned with jealousy. How could Alexander stand beside Evelyn while he was reduced to a clown? He grabbed Bianca's wrist. "I do care about you!"

"And?" Bianca wrenched free, her gaze dripping with revulsion.

"You came back because you can't forget me, didn't you? We can start over—raise our daughter together—"

"Fine," Bianca smirked coldly. "First confess everything you've done. Then I'll decide whether to slap you or send you to prison."

Panic flashed across Vincent's face. "I've done nothing! I only came to Coastal City hearing you're getting married—"

Bianca lowered her lashes. Adrian Valentine's death would likely remain an unsolved mystery.

"You look upset," Vincent pressed closer. "Is it because of me?"

Evelyn nearly gagged at his narcissism.

"Sorry, I'm nauseated." Bianca tightened her grip on the cloth bag, the two porcelain figurines inside pressing painfully into her palm. Adrian's was already shattered—like her heart.

Vincent kept babbling, but she'd stopped listening.

"I'm done with your lies." She turned toward her room. "From now on, I won't believe a word you say."

Evelyn swiftly produced the keycard. Alexander stepped between them, blocking Vincent. Security guards nearby discreetly withdrew.

Just as the tension seemed to ease, Bianca suddenly collapsed forward.