Chapter 834

When civil disputes reach an impasse, they inevitably follow procedural formalities. Bianca Langley retains custody of Baby Chloe, while Vincent Croix secures visitation rights—provided no one interferes.

If Alexander Hamilton and Evelyn Carter refuse to relinquish the child, Vincent is powerless. Unless he can prove the couple guilty of child abuse.

"Mr. Hamilton, let's speak plainly." Vincent's jaw clenched audibly over the phone. "Bianca and I will reconcile eventually. Surely you understand the principle of preserving marriages over destroying them? When we reunite, how will you and Dr. Carter save face?"

He had dialed the Hamilton residence's long-disused landline—a number retired from business dealings, now only used by Aunt Margaret for leisurely chats. Vincent must have unearthed it from some obscure record.

Alexander detected the veiled threat but didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.

"Mr. Croix, you seem to have forgotten another adage—'The instigator shall have no posterity.'"

Though Hudson City lies a thousand miles from the capital, Alexander's investigation into that car accident never ceased. Beneath the officially closed case file, undercurrents still churned.

The breathing on the other end noticeably hitched.

"Mr. Hamilton, I've recently acquired a parcel of land." Vincent's voice turned glacial. "Sandwiched between two of Hamilton Group's new developments. Rumor has it your marketing team has been losing sleep over this 'bisected' plot?"

The land lay like a blade across Hamilton Group's commercial empire. Alexander had offered a king's ransom, yet the previous owner remained obstinate as a mule.

Now the mystery unraveled—Vincent had been pulling the strings.

"So you were the bankrupt owner's backer." Alexander's laugh was icy. "No wonder he dared play hardball."

"Backer is too strong a word." Vincent tapped his desk. "Though his outstanding loans were... substantial. Dr. Carter's on night shift today, isn't she? Let's be frank—I'll transfer the land at cost. In return, you withdraw from the child's affairs."

This chess move was meant as his trump card. But Alexander's probes cut too deep. Left unchecked, they risked igniting a fire Vincent couldn't control.

"Are you dictating terms to me?" Alexander's voice dropped dangerously. "Hamilton Group answers to no outsiders."

A lighter clicked distinctly through the receiver.

"No rush. Consider at leisure." Vincent exhaled a smoke ring. "I can sweeten the—"

"Unnecessary." Alexander severed the offer cleanly. "A plot of land isn't worth my integrity." Then his tone shifted abruptly. "Vincent, do you even know what you're truly fighting for?"

"Naturally." Vincent scoffed. "Having secured your own happy ending, you'd sabotage mine?"

"Turn yourself in." Alexander's voice weighed like iron. "For the baby's sake, Bianca might visit you in prison. But to compare yourself to me—" A derisive snort. "That's an insult."

Click. The line went dead. Alexander left the receiver off its cradle—ensuring Vincent would only ever hear a busy signal henceforth.

——

In the OB-GYN Department at Central Hospital, Olivia Lightfoot waggled her eyebrows at Evelyn returning from rounds. "Mr. Hamilton playing the devoted husband again? At this rate, I'll mutate into a Samoyed from all this sweetness."

Evelyn rolled her eyes affectionately before turning to Alexander. "Bed 21's postpartum patient needs attention. Give me five minutes."

Five minutes later, when Evelyn reentered the lobby, the sight froze her pupils to pinpoints.

Alexander's black Maybach had been reduced to a mangled wreck. The windshield spiderwebbed with fractures, the body gouged with horrific dents. Two side mirrors lay severed on the pavement like torn-off ears.

"Eight masked men charged out of nowhere!" The head guard barked into his radio. "All wielding steel pipes! Surveillance, pull the footage now!"

Bystanders buzzed with speculation:

"Those sledgehammers were arm-thick!"

"Definitely medical dispute retaliation!"

"That car costs seven figures... Who'd dare—"

Alexander swept Evelyn behind him in one motion. Their eyes met—both recognizing the same answer in each other's gaze.