CHAPTER 96: THE WARNING

Alexander’s jaw tightened as he glared at his father.

He hated that Benjamin was right. Just the thought of Jack hovering around Evelyn—smirking, pretending and plotting—made something violent coil inside his chest.

He exhaled slowly. "I will handle it."

Benjamin gave a single nod, the kind that meant ’Good. I expected nothing less’ and then he turned toward the door.

But before leaving, he paused and looked back at his son.

"Alexander whatever Jack is planning you stop it before it reaches Evelyn. I don’t want her dragged into this mess," he said with his voice was low, layered with warning and a strange shade of fatherly protection.

Alexander stiffened. He didn’t like Benjamin’s tone or how involved he suddenly was in anything concerning Evelyn. It hinted at motives he didn’t trust.

Still, he answered, "Evelyn will not suffer because of him. I won’t allow it."

Benjamin studied his face for a moment and for once, something like agreement flickered through his eyes.

"Good because your brother is no longer predictable," he then added, "I will deal with the investors and you deal with your brother."

Then he left the office, shutting the door behind him.

The room went painfully still.

Carl who was standing in the corner, didn’t dare move.

Alexander lowered himself into his chair with elbows on his knees and hands clasped tightly as he stared at the floor.

Everything Benjamin said, everything Jack had done and everything Alexander had felt in his gut, it all aligned into one truth—

Jack was planning something and it wasn’t small.

Carl cleared his throat cautiously. "Sir, should I increase private security on Miss Evelyn?"

Alexander didn’t answer immediately.

He lifted his head slowly. "No," he said. "Security will raise his alarm and I don’t want Evelyn to be cautious all the time."

Carl nodded meekly.

Alexander continued, "But keep someone on Jack, quietly. I want every move he makes to be reported to me."

"Yes, sir."

"And Carl—" Alexander added, his voice dropping even lower, "find out how the inspectors got those photos. Who delivered them, the name, the address, the device—everything."

Carl’s eyes sharpened and he nodded. "I will get right on it."

When the assistant finally slipped out, Alexander leaned back, staring at the ceiling as his mind spiraled.

The halted project, Jack’s fake innocence, his reckless confidence, sudden work ethic and his sudden message to Evelyn congratulating her, all of it pointed to one thing—

Jack was not trying to win back Evelyn and he was trying to destroy something.

And Alexander had no intention of letting him succeed.

He reached for his phone, ready to call Evelyn but then he stopped.

The last thing he wanted was to worry her before he knew the full truth.

Instead, he typed a message:

Alexander: I will be late today. Don’t worry. I will pick you up for dinner.

He stared at the screen for a moment, letting her simple existence soften the storm inside him because she was the only thing that made the chaos worth fighting through.

....

[Jack’s Office]

Jack didn’t even get a chance to settle into his chair when Alexander walked in without knocking, the door swinging shut behind him with a sharp, echoing click.

"Big bro—"

"Drop the act," Alexander said quietly.

Jack blinked. "What act?"

"That one," Alexander replied without raising his voice. "The confused, innocent, wide-eyed performance you keep doing as if anyone is buying it."

Jack stiffened but he didn’t dare to drop his act. "I don’t know what you mean—"

"You sabotaged the Heinberg project." Alexander took a slow step forward. "The Heinberg project didn’t collapse on its own, Jack someone staged it. Someone who knew exactly how to trigger the regulatory board."

Jack’s jaw dropped open in outrage. "I don’t know what you are talking about."

Alexander took a slow step closer. "Don’t insult my intelligence."

Jack stepped back instinctively before catching himself and lifting his chin. "I had nothing to do with it."

"You were the only one who would benefit," Alexander said. "The only one who doesn’t want to leave this city."

Jack’s face hardened for a fraction of a second, barely noticeable but Alexander saw it.

"Are you seriously accusing me?" Jack demanded. "Just because Father wants to ship me off to—"

"It wasn’t father," Alexander cut in. "He wanted to give you a chance. Heinberg was supposed to help you prove yourself."

"I didn’t do anything," Jack hissed. "Why would I ruin my own company’s project?"

Alexander’s jaw flexed. "Because it was never about the company. It was about staying."

He paused. "Staying in the same city and staying close to Evelyn."

Jack’s face tightened. It was just a fraction but enough for Alexander to notice.

He stepped closer until only a desk separated them.

"I know you can’t erase yourself from Evelyn’s life," Alexander said with his voice steady, not mocking but painfully honest. "You share a past. She once cared for you and I won’t pretend that doesn’t bother me."

Jack inhaled sharply, almost triumphant until Alexander continued.

"But the past is all you have."

Jack froze.

Alexander’s tone deepened into something cold and terrifyingly certain.

"I am not trying to erase your existence, Jack," he said. "I don’t need to. Evelyn already moved on from you long before I walked into her life."

Jack flinched.

"And as for the future?" Alexander leaned slightly forward. "You won’t be in it."

Jack swallowed hard, gripping the desk edges. "She might change her mind."

Alexander smiled, a slow, chilling smile. "She already did. That’s why she chose me."

Jack’s nostrils flared. But he didn’t say anything.

Alexander continued, "If you think sabotaging projects, creating scandals or lurking around her will pull her back to you, let me make this very clear—"

His voice dropped to a whisper that felt like steel sliding across bone.

"If you ever put Evelyn in danger—" He paused. "Or try to manipulate her life from the shadows, I won’t let it go and I don’t care if you are my brother."

Jack’s jaw clenched as fury rose im him but Alexander’s next words cut straight through him.

"You are her past," Alexander said, stepping back. "I am her present." Then he added firmly, "And I intend to be her future."

Jack couldn’t hide the sting — it hit him straight in the chest.

Alexander turned to leave, but paused at the door.

"One more thing," he said without facing him. "Listen carefully," Alexander continued. "If you so much as breathe in a direction that hurts Evelyn or affects her peace or touches her safety—"

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper.

"I will bury you professionally so deep, the world will forget you ever existed."

Jack’s breath hitched.

"And I won’t need father’s help," Alexander added. "I can do it myself."

Jack said nothing because he couldn’t.

Alexander stepped back and his composure returned like a perfectly tailored suit sliding back into place.

"We will find who did this," he said. "Maybe it was you maybe it wasn’t. But understand this—"

His voice sharpened like broken glass.

"If you’re playing a game, Jack you chose the wrong opponent."

Then he walked out, leaving Jack standing there trembling with rage he couldn’t show.

....