Chapter 836

The invitation couldn't have been more half-hearted.

The booth's couches faced each other, with Alexander Hamilton and Evelyn Carter occupying opposite sides—neither willing to budge.

Vincent Croix stood in the aisle, his face dark with barely contained fury.

"Bring an extra chair," he ground out through clenched teeth to the waiter.

The confused server quickly produced a barstool.

Evelyn watched Vincent's strained expression, her fingers lightly tapping her glass rim. "If this is about Baby Chloe, you can leave now."

Her subtle alignment with Alexander didn't go unnoticed.

Alexander's lips curved as he delivered the finishing blow. "Perhaps you should visit the hospital across the street first?"

"Already did." Vincent's laugh was icy.

His gaze darted between them before lowering his voice. "Let's cut the pretense. I'll concede on the custody matter. As for that land deal we discussed..."

He let the sentence hang, his stare loaded as it landed on Alexander.

Alexander pretended not to hear, carefully refilling Evelyn's tea.

"Then we appreciate your cooperation." Evelyn replaced the cup lid, her tone as casual as discussing the weather.

Vincent's pupils constricted.

He never anticipated Alexander would disclose their entire private conversation.

"Surprised?" Alexander chuckled. "We keep no secrets between us."

The words stabbed Vincent like a dagger.

His fists clenched until his knuckles whitened. "So Bianca Langley's situation..."

"Correct." They answered in unison.

Vincent staggered to his feet, abandoning his carefully prepared bargaining chips as he fled the restaurant in disarray.

"Will he back off?" Evelyn watched the swaying door curtain.

Alexander shook his head. "Men like him only escalate."

He immediately contacted hotel staff to discreetly monitor Bianca.

Yet two days later, a panicked voice came through the phone: "Mr. Hamilton, Miss Langley is gone!"

The room was spotless—only empty liquor bottles in the trash hinted at recent occupancy.

Alexander's brow furrowed as he dialed Vivian Dempsey.

"This better be important!" Vivian's shout vibrated the phone.

"Bianca's missing."

Dead silence.

"Impossible!" Vivian's voice tightened. "She promised she'd tell me before..."

When Vivian arrived at the hotel, Alexander was reviewing security footage.

The cameras showed Bianca entering and exiting normally the previous night—only to vanish by morning.

A nervous staff member handed over a phone. "This is from today's surveillance..."

Alexander's eyes darkened as he studied the screen.

The hallway cameras never captured Bianca's departure.