Claire Vale cried for quite a while.
Unfortunately for her, no one paid much attention.
When she realized that her tears weren’t earning her any sympathy, she eventually found an excuse to leave.
No one tried to stop her.
After all, it had been Evelyn Vale’s grandfather who had once saved Grandfather Blackwood’s life.
Claire had nothing to do with that history.
The Blackwood family had only treated Claire politely in the past because she was Evelyn’s sister.
And apart from Damien, no one in the family genuinely liked Claire.
She was too fragile.
Too calculating.
She swayed whenever she walked, spoke so softly that people had to strain to hear her, and seemed to turn every simple matter into an exhausting performance.
Once Claire left, Evelyn couldn’t sit still any longer.
“I want to go see Alexander.”
Grandfather Blackwood waved his hand with a smile.
“Go ahead.
Go ahead.”
Evelyn immediately hurried toward the hallway.
Behind her, Aunt Eleanor called out,
“Evelyn, do you want some ice cream?
I’ll have someone bring some over.”
“I want Neapolitan!”
Evelyn’s cheerful voice floated back through the room.
“Thank you, Aunt Eleanor!”
By the time she finished speaking, she had already reached the door to Alexander’s room.
Her arrival had changed the atmosphere of the entire Blackwood residence.
The heavy gloom that had settled over the family earlier had gradually lifted.
Evelyn’s confidence was contagious.
If she could remain so certain that Alexander would recover, perhaps there really was hope.
Perhaps they shouldn’t surrender before they had exhausted every possibility.
Raymond Blackwood, Alexander’s uncle, finally spoke.
“Dad, Evelyn is right.
We can’t lose hope.”
His expression was serious.
“If modern medicine can’t help, we’ll look for another solution.
We’ll find specialists from other countries if we have to.
We need to do everything possible to help Alexander recover.”
His wife, Hannah Blackwood, was a highly educated and thoughtful woman.
She spoke calmly, never rushing her words.
“I actually wrote an article about alternative healing methods some time ago,” Hannah said.
“During my research, I interviewed a renowned specialist who had spent decades studying bone and nerve injuries.”
She paused thoughtfully.
“I still have his contact information.
I can try reaching out to him and ask whether he would be willing to examine Alexander.”
Grandfather Blackwood’s eyes brightened.
“Good.”
He nodded appreciatively.
“Thank you for thinking of it.”
Raymond smiled.
“Alexander is my nephew.
Of course Hannah and I want him to recover.”
Another member of the family, Martin Blackwood, quickly added,
“I’ll also ask around.
There are plenty of specialists out there.
I’ll see if I can find someone capable of helping him.”
Grandfather Blackwood nodded.
Then his eyes shifted toward Hannah, who remained seated with a sour expression.
He gave a quiet huff.
He didn’t say anything.
Everyone in the room understood what he was thinking.
At that moment—
Knock.
Knock.
Evelyn knocked on Alexander’s bedroom door.
“May I come in?”
Before Alexander could answer, Mark’s loud voice came from inside.
“The door isn’t locked!
Just push it open!”
The moment the words left his mouth, Mark felt a chill crawl up the back of his neck.
He slowly turned toward Alexander.
Alexander was staring at him.
Coldly.
Very coldly.
Mark swallowed.
Then, lowering his voice, he muttered,
“We aren’t taking our clothes off in here, so there’s no reason to lock the door.”
Alexander’s expression darkened.
For a moment, he genuinely wondered whether Mark’s brain had been damaged during his years in the military.
He felt a dull ache in his chest.
Trying to reason with Mark was like trying to teach a brick how to think.
The door opened.
Evelyn stepped inside.
Her smile immediately brightened when she saw Alexander.
She didn’t wait for an invitation.
She simply pulled a nearby chair closer and sat down opposite him.
Then she looked at Mark.
“I need to speak privately with your commander.”
She smiled sweetly.
“Mark, could you step outside for a moment?”
Mark froze.
Then understanding flashed across his face.
“Oh!”
He nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course.
I’ll go outside and get some fresh air.”
He immediately headed for the door.
In his mind, Evelyn obviously wanted to kiss his commander.
And if that was the case, his presence would certainly be inconvenient.
But before Mark could escape—
“Mark.”
Alexander’s cold voice stopped him.
“Who told you to leave?”
Mark froze with one hand on the doorknob.
He turned around helplessly.
His eyes darted between Alexander and Evelyn.
Evelyn couldn’t help smiling.
She waved at him.
“Go ahead.
Your commander is in my hands now.”
She smiled innocently.
“Don’t worry about him.”
Mark’s eyes lit up.
“All right…”
He happily slipped out.
“Evelyn will take care of you, Commander!”
Mark was completely relaxed.
Evelyn was only a young woman.
What could she possibly do to the terrifying Alexander Blackwood?
Even if they kissed or something…
Mark thought about it for a moment.
Well, if anyone was taking advantage of anyone, it would obviously be his commander.
Inside the room, Alexander watched helplessly as Mark disappeared.
His chest felt strangely tight.
That idiot had actually left.
Alexander’s gaze slowly returned to Evelyn.
She was smiling at him.
A very bright smile.
“Don’t be angry.”
Evelyn tilted her head.
“I’m not going to eat you.”
Alexander remained silent.
Evelyn, however, couldn’t stop looking at him.
The more she looked, the more she liked what she saw.
How had she been so blind in her previous life?
How had she failed to notice that Alexander was this handsome?
His features were sharp and masculine, his dark eyes deep and commanding, and even sitting in a wheelchair, he possessed an intimidating presence that few men could match.
Compared with Damien—
There was no comparison.
Damien’s narrow brows, flat nose, and sharp, triangular eyes suddenly seemed painfully ordinary in comparison.
Alexander was hundreds of times more attractive.
I really was blind.
Evelyn almost wanted to slap her past self.
She had abandoned a man like Alexander for Damien.
What had she possibly been thinking?
Alexander, meanwhile, felt increasingly uncomfortable beneath her intense stare.
He couldn’t understand her.
Before today, Evelyn had always been cold and indifferent toward him.
She had rarely looked at him directly.
Yet now…
She had suddenly become incredibly enthusiastic.
Too enthusiastic.
So enthusiastic that it made him uneasy.
Alexander’s expression gradually became distant.
“I don’t need your sympathy.”
His voice was cold.
“I don’t need your pity.”
Evelyn’s smile faded slightly.
She looked at him carefully.
There was no arrogance in his expression.
Only pride.
And beneath that pride was a deep wound.
Alexander had spent his entire life proving himself through his own strength.
Now, suddenly, he needed others to push his wheelchair, help him move, and assist him with even the simplest things.
He hated it.
Most of all, he hated being looked at as though he were already broken.
Evelyn’s heart tightened.
She understood now.
In his mind, her sudden change must look like pity.
But she wasn’t pitying him.
She was looking at the man she had once lost.
And this time…
She intended to hold on to him.