Chapter 19

Alexander Hamilton's knuckles turned white, veins bulging. He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse. "Evelyn, you're always so composed."

"Clarity comes from composure. This is best for all three of us."

"Three?"

"I can start my life anew. You won't be tied down by a child—Annabelle will give you children someday. As for Miss Taylor..."

A bitter smile touched Evelyn's lips. "She won't need to study inheritance laws anymore, or scheme to secure her future child's share of the family fortune."

Alexander remained silent.

He knew Annabelle's tactics better than anyone.

"Most importantly," Evelyn gently touched her abdomen, "I want my child to be born into a family filled with love. At the very least, his father should genuinely love his mother."

Alexander kept his head lowered, unable to meet her gaze.

"Let's leave it at this," Evelyn turned away. "Going our separate ways is the best outcome."

A single tear slid down the man's cheek.

Years in the OB-GYN department had shown Evelyn too many indifferent husbands. Wives screaming in agony during labor while their partners scrolled through videos outside.

At first, she'd confront them angrily.

The response was always the same: "None of your business."

Eventually, she understood—men would never comprehend the hardships of pregnancy. They'd never endured morning sickness or the bone-shattering pain of childbirth.

The most chilling case was the woman who went into shock from the pain, only for her husband to insist on waiting for an "auspicious date" before allowing a C-section.

After that, Olivia swore off marriage entirely.

"Dr. Carter," Olivia had asked, trembling, "do men just not care about their unborn children? Even if they don't love their wives, aren't they afraid something might happen to the baby?"

Evelyn had no answer.

She'd seen too many men coldly say, "Get rid of it," to their weeping wives.

If she'd told Alexander about the pregnancy back then, what would he have chosen?

Keep the child?

Forever placing an outsider between him and his first love.

Would Annabelle have tolerated that?

Evelyn even thought of that age-old question: If she and the child were both in danger, who would Alexander save?

The answer had always been obvious.