Chapter 954

Vivian Dempsey bolted upright in bed, fumbling for her phone. "I'm calling an ambulance!"

Evelyn Carter caught her flailing hand. "Relax. Fetal movement during the second trimester is completely normal."

Vivian collapsed back onto the mattress, clutching her chest. "You scared me to death. I almost forgot you're the expert." She suddenly leaned in closer. "Alexander still doesn't know?"

Ever since Alexander Hamilton nearly sacrificed himself saving Vivian's grandmother, she'd become his staunchest ally. These days, she looked at him with stars in her eyes, practically ready to drag him to the courthouse herself.

Evelyn rested a hand on her rounded belly. "He's probably noticed my bump is larger than average for this stage, but he hasn't asked."

"We agreed this arrangement works for now."

Vivian's eyes widened. "And you're okay with that? I thought he'd have figured out it's twins by now! Men really are useless."

A soft laugh escaped Evelyn. "It's not that he can't guess. He's waiting for me to tell him."

Vivian sucked in a sharp breath. "Your relationship dynamic... I'd have flipped the table by now!" Her expression suddenly soured. "Speaking of which, the candidates my dad set me up with are something else."

"The first one brought his mother to the 'interview.' The old lady announced she was hiring me as her daughter-in-law on the spot."

Evelyn choked.

"The second was even better—started lecturing me on how to run my company the moment we met."

"The third looked like a K-pop idol but opened with 'just bear me a son.'" Vivian rolled her eyes. "What, is there a throne waiting to be inherited?"

Evelyn massaged her temples. "Where does Uncle Dempsey find these specimens?"

"His old buddies' connections." Vivian looked utterly defeated. "A few more of these blind dates, and Dad will get booted from their group chat."

Now Evelyn understood why Uncle Dempsey had asked Alexander to arrange introductions.

Her phone screen lit up just then. Alexander's video call request appeared.

In the conservatory, Evelyn set aside her medical journal. The man on screen had dark circles under his eyes, a hotel room visible behind him.

"It's 3 a.m. Why aren't you asleep?"

"Just finished the meeting." Alexander adjusted the camera to reveal a sleeping baby surrounded by pillows, a smile still on the tiny face.

Evelyn's eyes grew moist. "The Langley family..."

This was the unavoidable challenge between them.

Alexander's voice remained steady. "The baby stays with us." He rubbed his temples. "Mr. and Mrs. Langley... they know now."

Evelyn's fingers tightened around her shirt hem.

"Someone leaked the news to them." His Adam's apple bobbed. "Mr. Langley had a stroke but received timely treatment. As for Mrs. Langley..."

He didn't continue, but Evelyn understood. The pain of losing their only daughter wasn't something anyone could easily bear.