I Failed To Protect Evelyn

Alexander was at the threshold of the mansion when Samuel, his ever-attentive butler, approached him. "Mr. Blackwood," he said respectfully, "Mrs. Blackwood's friend has arrived."

An unmistakable tension hung thick in the air of the living room. Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly as he took in the scene. "Why does everyone look so serious?" he inquired, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight.

At the sound of his voice, Charlotte's head whipped around.

Her eyes widened in sheer astonishment as they landed on Alexander.

Could this devastatingly handsome man really be the Blackwood family's infamous pariah?

Even seated in a wheelchair, he radiated an aura of formidable authority and unwavering resolve.

It suddenly made perfect sense why Evelyn, known for her appreciation of attractive men, had fallen for him.

A flicker of puzzlement crossed Charlotte's features.

There was something oddly familiar about Alexander.

She felt a nagging sensation that she had seen him somewhere before.

Shaking off the feeling, Charlotte addressed him directly. "You must be Alexander," she stated, her tone clipped and direct. "I'm Charlotte Sinclair. Evelyn's closest friend."

Before Alexander could formulate a reply, Charlotte's expression turned stern and accusatory. "Evelyn chose you. That makes her safety your responsibility. Julian abducted her, he hurt her—all because you weren't there to protect her," she charged, her voice sharp with blame.

Evelyn's mouth fell open. She immediately wanted to defend Alexander.

She was an independent adult. She didn't need a full-time bodyguard.

This entire nightmare was Julian's doing, not Alexander's.

In fact, Alexander had been her savior, arriving just in time to rescue her.

The thought of what might have happened without his intervention made her blood run cold.

Evelyn opened her mouth to protest, but Alexander spoke first. "You are completely right," he conceded, his voice heavy with genuine regret. "I failed to protect Evelyn."

His blunt admission of fault stunned both women into a momentary silence.

"I give you my word," Alexander vowed, his tone becoming iron-clad with determination. "From this moment forward, I will use every resource at my disposal to keep Evelyn safe. An incident like this will never happen again."

A powerful wave of warmth flooded through Evelyn, a mixture of deep affection and profound gratitude for his words.

Charlotte, however, was reassessing Alexander.

Her initial impression had been one of disappointment that Evelyn had married a man with a physical limitation. But his direct acceptance of responsibility caught her off guard, sparking a new flicker of respect.

Most men, in her experience, would have scrambled for excuses, deflecting blame. Yet here was Alexander, confronting his shortcoming head-on, without a trace of evasion.

Perhaps, she thought, Evelyn's judgment wasn't as flawed as she had first believed.

Noticing the subtle change in Charlotte's demeanor, a slight softening around her eyes, Evelyn allowed herself a quiet, internal sigh of relief.

Years of friendship had taught Evelyn just how stubborn and fiercely protective Charlotte could be.

She vividly remembered countless arguments between Charlotte and Julian, her ex-boyfriend, that erupted from the smallest disagreements.

Evelyn had been genuinely worried about a potential clash between Charlotte's forceful personality and Alexander's imposing presence, fearing she would be stuck in the middle.

Charlotte's expression hardened once more as she issued a stern ultimatum. "Listen carefully," she said, her voice low and threatening. "You might be Evelyn's husband, but I hold a unique place in her life. We are closer than sisters. If you ever, and I mean ever, mistreat her, I will take her away from you so fast it will make your head spin. And you will live to regret crossing me. Mark my words. So you'd better tread very carefully."

Alexander's face remained an impassive mask, showing no reaction to her threat.

Instead, his gaze shifted to Evelyn, softening noticeably. "You will not get that chance," he promised, his voice quiet but absolute.

Charlotte let out a dismissive snort, clearly unsatisfied.

Sensing the tension escalating again, Evelyn quickly interjected, trying to steer the conversation to safer ground. "Oh, that reminds me, Alexander. We discussed you and Charlotte getting acquainted. Since she's here now, why don't we invite her to stay for dinner?"