Evelyn froze.

The nurse was walking toward her.

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

It was Olivia Martinez.

The same woman she had seen earlier near Alexander's hospital room.

A cold dread slithered down her spine.

A powerful, inexplicable foreboding gripped her.

Then, understanding struck.

Her mind flashed back to the pharmacy.

The nurse who had handed her the medicine through the window.

It had been Olivia.

Evelyn's eyes widened with clarity.

She pointed a trembling finger at Olivia.

"It was you!" she declared, her voice sharp. "You gave me that medicine. You set me up!"

Olivia's lips twitched into a fleeting smirk.

It vanished instantly, replaced by a mask of hurt innocence.

"What are you talking about?" she protested. "You just said a nurse at the pharmacy gave it to you. Now you're accusing me? Which version of your story is the truth?"

Daniel Pierce's expression darkened at Olivia's words.

Suspicion thickened in the room, heavy and suffocating.

Evelyn drew a slow, steadying breath.

She knew the tide was turning against her.

She met Daniel's gaze squarely.

"I demand a full investigation," she stated firmly. "I had no intention of harming-"

"Enough!"

Daniel snapped, his face rigid with fury.

"You and Alexander planned this together! First, you made Mr. Vance wait, knowing his patience would wear thin. Then, you offered just enough comfort to gain his trust. That's when you switched the medicine. It was all your scheme!"

Evelyn's chest constricted.

"I told you I didn't do it!"

But he was no longer listening.

His jaw clenched tight.

He gestured sharply to Theodore Vance's bodyguards.

"Arrest her."

Just then, a cold, familiar voice cut through the tension.

"I dare anyone to try."

The room fell into stunned silence.

Every head turned.

Alexander Blackwood strode in, his men flanking him.

Without a moment's hesitation, he moved in front of Evelyn, shielding her with his body.

The shift was immediate.

The men who had been advancing on Evelyn faltered.

They instinctively stepped back.

Daniel narrowed his eyes.

Resentment flashed across his face.

Alexander cast a sharp, warning glance around the room.

Then his focus returned to Evelyn.

His eyes held a turbulent mix of fury and regret.

Wordlessly, he lifted a hand.

He gently caressed her cold cheek.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and edged with concern. "Did they hurt you?"

A lump formed in Evelyn's throat.

A storm of emotions swirled inside her.

She forced them down.

Pressing her lips together, she shook her head.

"I'm fine," she murmured.

But Alexander wasn't convinced.

His brow furrowed, his worry deepening.

He had only been gone a short while.

Yet she had been dragged into chaos once more.

"Don't worry. I'm here now," he reassured her, his hand tightening around hers.

Watching their intimate exchange, Daniel's frustration boiled over.

He scoffed sharply.

"Evelyn, you really are something. Mr. Vance was hurt because of you. Yet here you are, acting lovey-dovey with Alexander without a shred of guilt."

Daniel's mocking voice made Alexander's jaw tighten.

Slowly, he turned.

His cold gaze locked onto Daniel.

But Daniel didn't flinch.

He met Alexander's stare head-on.

Like Theodore Vance, he believed that even if Alexander wasn't a cripple, he was still no match for Theodore in terms of power.

"Alexander, Evelyn harmed Mr. Vance. As her husband, you can't escape responsibility. The Vance family will not let this go!" Daniel paused, letting the threat hang in the air. "But if you hand Evelyn over to us, we might reconsider involving your family."