Chapter 866

Something floated on the distant sea, flickering in and out of view under the sunlight.

Evelyn squinted and instinctively stepped forward. Her attention was completely captured by the unknown object, unaware that she had already reached the edge of the cliff.

"Stop!"

Alexander grabbed her wrist and yanked her back into his arms. His grip was so tight that Evelyn's back collided hard against his chest. She could feel his heart pounding violently.

"What are you doing?" Evelyn frowned.

"You almost fell!" Alexander's voice was strained, his fingers locked around her wrist. "The ground here is loose. It could collapse any second."

Only then did Evelyn realize she had been standing less than half a meter from the edge. She steadied herself and pulled out her phone. "I just wanted to see what it was."

Zooming in, the screen revealed a shattered phone wedged between the gaps of the wave-dissipating blocks.

The police arrived quickly. When divers retrieved the phone, it was severely damaged, barely holding its shape thanks to a black phone case.

"Recognize this?" An officer held up the evidence bag with gloved hands.

Evelyn shook her head. Alexander stared at the faint scratch on the phone case and said grimly, "It's Vincent's."

The sea wind turned bitingly cold. A wave of nausea hit Evelyn. She covered her mouth, forcing it down.

"We found something!" A shout came from farther away.

Evelyn turned to see officers crouching near the cliff's edge, photographing evidence in the mud. She tried to walk over, but her legs suddenly gave way. Darkness swallowed her vision—

When she woke, night had fallen outside the window.

Alexander sat by the bed, immediately handing her a glass of water when she opened her eyes. "Drink."

Her throat burned with dryness. She took small sips, her gaze drifting to the closed curtains. "Miss Liang... any news?"

Alexander's fingers trembled slightly. He walked to the window and parted the curtains just enough for moonlight to spill in, illuminating his tense profile.

"The police found tire tracks near the cliff," he said quietly. "One of Vincent's cars is missing."

Evelyn's nails dug into her palms.

"The search is still ongoing." Alexander returned to the bed and took her icy hand. "But based on the scene, they likely..."

"Fell into the sea," Evelyn finished for him, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.

Alexander didn't offer comfort. He knew words were meaningless now.

"That day, she called me..." Evelyn's voice broke. "If I had answered..."

"It's not your fault." He squeezed her hand tightly. "Bianca had already made her decision. Staying by Vincent's side for so long took everything she had."

Evelyn remembered Bianca's eerie calm at the civil affairs office. It wasn't acceptance—it was goodbye.

"She did it for the baby..." Evelyn's chest heaved. "She could've—"

"She didn't want to drag anyone down with her," Alexander cut in sharply. His eyes dropped to her flat stomach. "Right now, you need to focus on your health."

Only the ticking of the clock filled the room.

Bianca had severed every tie. Her parents were overseas. Her assets were settled. Even her beloved daughter had been entrusted to someone trustworthy.

She left without a trace—as if she had never existed.