Torrential rain lashed against the floor–to–ceiling windows, large droplets hammering the glass with a staccato rhythm, as if God Himself were weeping for this buried history.
Inside, the wa
warm amber wall sconces cast a
a feeble light, creating a gauzy haze that enveloped Bailey and Julian in its mured glow
Bailey had always known that Alexander wasn’t originally the Winters heir–he had been an illegitimate son raised outside the family
Around the age of fifteen or sixteen, he was finally brought into the Winters household to receive an elite education.
Actually, bringing a child home at such a late age essentially meant there was no intention of letting him inherit the family business–just providing him with better prospects]
However, when Alexander turned twenty–one, everything changed dramatically.
Comatose
Mrs. Winters and her son suddenly had a car accident while on vacation. Matthew died instantly, while Mrs. Winters became com
Overnight, Alexander–once merely an illegitimate son–became the golden heir.
“I suspected then that Alexander had orchestrated the accident and wanted to investigate further.” Julian clenched his fist. “However, halfway through my investigation, my uncle suddenly forbade anyone from pursuing the matter.”
At this point, Bailey understood.
His illegitimate son had killed his legitimate son and left his wife in a vegetative state.||
What would the father do?
Seek justice for his dead son?
Perhaps some would. But Mr. Winters chose to bury the incident completely.
From that point on, Alexander became the Winters family’s only son, the unquestioned heir.]
Five years later, Mr. Winters suffered a sudden heart attack during a company shareholders‘ meeting, was rushed to the hospital, but couldn’t be saved.
A year after that, a hospital orderly accidentally knocked off Mrs. Winters‘ oxygen mask while cleaning, transforming her from a comatose patient to legally dead
Thus, Alexander inherited the entire Winters fortune, naturally becoming the largest shareholder of Winters Corporation
Young, vigorous, and ambitious, he quickly brought the extended Winters family under his control.
Of course, there was a price–hardly any family of equal standing would consider a marriage alliance with him
That’s why he turned to Bailey, from her respectable academic background
Outside, the rain fell harder, howling winds battering the windows as if threatening to devour the house
Bailey gazed out at the city lights, blurred and distorted by the rain into strange, twisted patterns–much like Alexander’s inscrutable mind
She leaned back against the sofa, absorbing Julian’s revelations about these long buried events
She suddenly realized that despite three years of marriage to Alexander, she’d never truly known him.]
Dilly now, hearing these stories from Julian, did she understand why Alexander had become so obsessed with saving Evan–a child who had never actually been sick
Because in Alexander’s eyes, Evan represented the child he once was, desperate for love and recognition
Meanwhile, Bailey and her unborn baby symbolized his lated stepmother and half–brother [
This explained why he had so easily fallen under Stella’s manipulation. Because from beginning to end, Alexander had never truly loved anyone. He loved only himself
And now, after Balley’s child had died tragically and she herself had supposedly perished in the fire, his gaze toward stella contamed no lingering tenderness–only undisguised disgust
While the former Balley now had a new identity.]
For a moment, the balance of power had shifted completely.]
