Chapter 135: A Sweet Homecoming

Rico and the security team emerged from the room, dragging another man with them. He turned out to be Viktor’s accomplice who had tried to enter through the window.

“Young Master, everything is secure. The intruder inside the room has been neutralized,” Rico reported.

Evan stood there, breathing heavily, his clothes in disarray and his hands smeared with blood. His gaze fell on Viktor, now tightly shackled by the security team.

“Take him to the underground holding room at our headquarters. Do not hand him over to the police yet. I have personal business with him,” Zavian ordered coldly.

Evan immediately ran to Alice’s room. As soon as he entered, he was met with devastation. Shattered glass littered the floor. He rushed toward Alice, who was still crouched on the ground.

“Alice! Are you all right?” Evan wrapped her in a fierce embrace, as if afraid she would disappear the moment he let go.

Alice sobbed against his chest. “I was scared, Evan. That man almost grabbed me.”

“Shh… it’s over now. He’s been caught. No one will hurt you again,” Evan whispered.

Lavina approached them, her face visibly exhausted. “Evan, we can’t stay in this hospital any longer. This place is no longer safe.”

“You’re right, Grandma. Rico, prepare the transfer to the private pavilion at the main residence. Move all medical equipment there. Raise security to the highest level,” Evan ordered.

That night, under the escort of a convoy of ten armored vehicles, Alice was moved back to the Nathaniel family estate. Security there now resembled a military base. Not even a fly could enter without a retinal scan.

After Alice finally fell into a deep sleep from emotional exhaustion, Evan went down to the underground level of his home. Viktor was already tied to an iron chair in the center of the dimly lit room. Zavian was waiting there, holding a small knife in his hand.

“Do you want to talk to him now, or after I ‘tidy up’ his skin?” Zavian asked without turning around.

Evan stared at Viktor with pure hatred. “I want him to talk. Someone helped him escape the explosion two months ago. He couldn’t have done it alone.”

Evan stepped closer and gripped Viktor’s jaw. “Tell me, Viktor. Who gave you access to the hospital? Who was the insider helping you?”

Viktor spat, fresh blood splattering onto Evan’s shoes. He smiled crookedly, revealing several missing teeth.

“You think this is over just because you caught me?” Viktor rasped. “You shouldn’t be asking me, Evan. You should be asking your father about the secret he hid in the Elino vault ten years ago.”

Evan frowned and turned toward Zavian. He saw his father’s hand holding the knife tremble slightly, and Zavian’s face suddenly drained of color.

“What does he mean, Dad? What secret is he talking about?” Evan asked suspiciously.

Zavian did not answer. Instead, he signaled the guards to silence Viktor. “Don’t listen to him, Evan. He’s just trying to drive a wedge between us before he dies.”

The convoy of luxurious black cars finally passed through the grand gates of the Nathaniel estate. Security there had doubled, but the oppressive tension of the hospital slowly faded as the tires rolled onto asphalt roads bordered by green gardens. The late afternoon sun cast a warm orange glow over the facade of the classic mansion.

Evan carried Alice out of the car. He did not allow her feet to touch the ground, even though she already felt much better. He held her carefully, as if she were the most precious porcelain in the world.

“Evan, put me down. I can walk on my own, really,” Alice whispered, her arms looped around his neck.

“Be quiet, love. Just enjoy the service,” Evan replied with a sincere smile. “The doctor said you need complete rest. That means you shouldn’t waste energy even on walking.”

Alice rested her head against Evan’s broad chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. A deep sense of peace seeped into her heart. After the storm of Selena’s drama and Viktor’s terror, the air in their home felt incredibly clean.

Evan carried Alice straight to their master bedroom on the second floor. The room had been rearranged. Large windows facing the sea allowed fresh air to circulate freely. Beside the bed, a tray with warm chamomile tea and healthy snacks awaited, prepared by Lily.

“Welcome home, Alice,” Evan said as he gently placed her on the bed. He arranged the pillows behind her back so she could sit comfortably.

“Thank you, Evan. It feels so much better here than in the hospital,” Alice exhaled slowly, her eyes taking in the room scented with lavender.

Evan sat on the edge of the bed and removed Alice’s shoes one by one. He looked at her intently. Traces of fatigue remained on her face, but the fear that had haunted her eyes that morning was gone.

“Do you want to drink the tea now?” Evan asked.

“Later. Evan, sit here with me for a moment,” Alice patted the empty space beside her.

Evan complied and leaned back next to her. Alice immediately took his hand and placed it over her belly.

“Can you feel it?” Alice asked softly.

Evan fell silent, focusing all his senses on his palm. “She’s very calm now. It’s like she knows her mother finally feels safe.”

“She’s a strong child, just like her father,” Alice turned to look at Evan’s profile. “I’m sorry for doubting you about Selena. My mind was a mess back then.”

Evan turned fully toward her and cupped her cheeks. “Don’t apologize. It was my fault for letting that woman have an opening to get close to you. I promise you, this is the last time. No more secrets, no more threats that can reach you.”

“I believe you,” Alice said sincerely.

The room grew warm as sunlight filtered through the curtains. Evan pulled Alice into his arms, and they fell silent, savoring the rare moment of togetherness. No phones rang, no reports came from Rico, no shouting echoed from Zavian. There was only the two of them.

“Alice, do you know what I was thinking about on the balcony earlier?” Evan suddenly asked.

“What?”

“I thought that if something had happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to stand here now. I might have jumped with you,” Evan’s voice grew hoarse.

Alice immediately covered Evan’s mouth with her finger. “Don’t talk like that. We’ve been through everything. Now there’s only the future. I want us to think about names for the baby, about paint colors for the nursery, and other boring things.”

Evan chuckled, a rare sound. “Paint colors? I thought we could hire the best interior designer.”

“No. I want us to choose it ourselves. I want this house to truly feel like our home, not someone else’s creation,” Alice protested in a playful tone that made Evan smile.

“Alright. Anything for you, Mrs. Nathaniel,” Evan said, pressing a long kiss to Alice’s forehead.