Evelyn placed a hand over her heart, giving Alexander a look that was both playful and slightly accusing.

Her bright eyes held a charming glint of mild reproach.

Alexander responded with a low, melodious chuckle. "I'm not nearly as poor as people believe," he explained. "My family may have cast me aside, but I received a significant inheritance from my grandmother and my mother. Furthermore, I've been running a modestly successful company these past few years. Financially speaking, your husband is quite comfortable."

He raised an eyebrow meaningfully. "How do you think I manage to reside in Serenity Oaks? Our garage isn't exactly empty, either."

Evelyn was momentarily stunned, her mind racing. She had no idea that the "modest company" Alexander mentioned was actually the global powerhouse, Aethelgard Industries—the very company where she worked.

She knew his life was consumed by work, often to the point of skipping meals and losing sleep.

If not for his business obligations, his paths likely wouldn't have crossed with Sebastian's so frequently.

Yet, a thread of anxiety still pulled at her.

"But Alexander, we can't just spend money so freely," she protested softly. "Some of my former classmates are already whispering behind my back. Why give them such extravagant gifts?"

Her lips formed a slight pout as she voiced her concern.

Alexander couldn't help but laugh, his large hand affectionately ruffling her hair.

"I despise the thought of you facing any unnecessary trouble," he said with sincere gentleness. "This way, no one will dare look down on you. That makes it worth every penny."

He paused, his expression turning utterly serious. "I mean, I can't very well have all your old classmates thrown in jail, can I?"

A smirk finally broke through on Evelyn's face, and she gave his arm a light, playful slap. "Stop being absurd."

The atmosphere in the car lightened considerably, the remaining tension dissolving away.

Then, remembering a news segment she'd seen, Evelyn leaned in slightly, her tone casual but curious. "Since you're just a simple businessman, maybe we should be more careful. You're not the mysterious founder of Aethelgard Industries, after all. Did you hear about him? He supposedly spent a billion dollars on a necklace."

Unbeknownst to her, the very billion-dollar necklace was the one resting against her collarbone, a lavish gift from Alexander.

The unspoken significance hung heavily in the air between them.

Alexander fell into a deep silence.

As he watched the emotions play across Evelyn's face, a sudden, powerful urge overwhelmed him. He felt compelled to confess everything, to reveal his greatest secret—that he was the founder of Aethelgard Industries.

"Evelyn, there's something I need to tell you—" he began, his voice thick with emotion.

But his confession was cut short.

Their smooth journey erupted into chaos. The car jolted violently, tires screeching against the asphalt in a deafening shriek.

The brakes slammed. Unprepared for the sudden stop, Evelyn was thrown forward by the force.

"Ah!" A sharp cry escaped her lips as she lurched toward the dashboard.

Alexander's reflexes were lightning-fast. His strong arm shot out, encircling her waist and pulling her firmly back against the safety of his chest.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" His voice was laced with urgent concern. His other hand cradled the back of her head, shielding her from any impact.

Shaken, Evelyn collapsed against him, her heart pounding from the shock.

She met his worried gaze and managed a tremulous nod. "I'm fine, really... don't worry about me..."

Despite her reassurance, worry remained etched on Alexander's features. He turned sharply towards the driver, his voice cutting like ice through the stunned silence.

"What the hell was that?"