Chapter 72: Will Alexander Die?

Sienna said nothing and hung up the phone. Did she look forward to seeing him?

Perhaps once she had, but those expectations had been ground down bit by bit through years of disappointment and pain. After everything she'd endured, Sienna's once-warm heart had turned cold as stone. Whatever the Smith family planned to do to Alexander was beyond her control now.

Ethan had also watched the press conference and knew Alexander was lurking somewhere near Smith Villa, which actually made him laugh with bitter amusement. "He's got some nerve, waltzing onto our turf and then having the audacity to show off about it."

Gage was already rolling up his sleeves, having spent considerable time planning exactly how he intended to make Alexander suffer.

Henry, however, frowned as he watched the broadcast and immediately called Alexander. When Alexander saw Henry's name on his phone, his face lit up with genuine joy.

"Henry, did you miss me?"

"You're such a jerk, Dad!" came Henry's voice through the speaker.

Alexander smiled fondly. "But what if I miss you terribly? I miss you and William and Olivia so much, and I miss your mother too. You've done excellent work with the company, but you're still just a child. Leave the rest to me. You can use Knight Group's funds however you want, but make sure all the profits go to your mother, understood?"

"Of course they go to Mommy—everything we have belongs to her!" Henry's fierce loyalty made Alexander's chest tighten with both pride and regret.

"Did you like the gifts I sent?" A few days earlier, Alexander had shipped an entire truck full of toys, though Henry's favorite had been the 3D printer now set up in the game room.

"You could send a million gifts and I still wouldn't help you. If Mommy doesn't forgive you, then we don't acknowledge you as our father!" Henry's declaration was clear and unwavering.

Alexander chuckled despite himself, though the constant travel over the past few days had taken its toll on his still-recovering body. He was running a fever and had developed a persistent cough that he couldn't quite shake.

Henry's sharp ears caught the sound, and his expression immediately shifted to concern. "You're sick, aren't you?"

Alexander forced a smile into his voice. "I'm fine—I'm Superman, remember? No matter how tough things get, I'll never give up on you and your siblings and your mother. Just wait for me at Smith Villa like a good boy."

After the call ended, Henry's mood plummeted. Though they were all angry with Alexander, none of them had ever wanted their father to actually die. Henry knew Alexander was seriously ill, and the thought of him suffering alone somewhere made the boy's heart ache.

Sienna noticed Henry's troubled expression immediately and gathered him into her arms. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you feeling sick?"

Henry looked up at her with eyes that were beginning to redden with unshed tears.

"Henry, if something's bothering you, you need to tell me. When you go quiet like this, it makes me worry." Sienna's voice was gentle but insistent.

Henry suddenly threw his arms around her neck. "Mommy, is Daddy going to die?"

Sienna carried him outside where they could speak privately. "Did something happen? Please tell me what's going on."

Henry nodded, his small fists clutching desperately at her shirt collar—a unconscious gesture he made when frightened. "I heard him coughing really bad. He's definitely sick, Mommy. If he dies, does that mean we won't have a daddy anymore?"

Sienna was surprised by Henry's concern, having assumed both he and William harbored nothing but resentment toward Alexander. But blood ties ran deep, and children needed their fathers, no matter how complicated the relationship.

"Would you want your daddy to come live with us, Henry?"

Henry considered this carefully but didn't nod. "I'll do whatever you think is best, Mommy. He hurt you so badly and made your life so difficult—you're still the most important person to me."

Sienna smiled despite herself, recognizing her son's cunning intelligence. He was definitely Alexander's child—appearing to take her side while actually paving the way for his father's return. Was this really the thought process of a four-year-old?

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Your uncle and grandfather may be angry with your daddy, but they won't actually hurt him. Go play with William and Olivia while I talk to Ethan."

Henry nodded and scampered off while Sienna went to find Ethan. His face brightened when she entered his study.

"What brings you here? Need something?"

"Where is Alexander?" Sienna asked directly.

Ethan's expression darkened immediately. "Please tell me you're not planning to go see him. Sienna, Mom has given explicit orders to teach Alexander a lesson—you can't undermine us now!"

Sienna met his gaze steadily. "His health hasn't fully recovered yet. If you and Dad want to settle scores with him, at least wait until he's well enough to handle it. He's Henry and William's father—if something terrible happens, the children will be heartbroken."

Ethan frowned. Was Alexander really that pathetic? They hadn't even started their revenge and the man was already at death's door?

"That worthless piece of trash is waiting at the front gate," Ethan snorted. "Dad went out to beat some sense into him. If you hurry, you might be able to collect his body."

Alarmed, Sienna immediately went to find Paxton and headed for the main entrance. A black Maybach was parked outside the gates, and Gage stood with a group of security guards surrounding a lone figure. More than a dozen guards were engaged in combat with the man at the center.

Sienna jumped out of the car and ran toward the commotion, arriving just in time to see Alexander throw two guards to the ground. Despite his weakened condition, Alexander was holding his own remarkably well in the fight.

Gage rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alexander, you're quite impressive. Maybe we should keep you around as a bodyguard for Smith Villa."

Watching from the sidelines, Sienna couldn't fathom how someone as unreliable as Gage had managed to win over someone as brilliant as Amara.

Alexander caught sight of Sienna and actually smiled at her before diving back into the fray with renewed vigor.

But his stamina couldn't last forever, and soon he was overwhelmed and knocked to the ground.

Gage raised his hand to halt the guards and walked over to where Alexander lay. "Alexander, I treasured my daughter like a precious jewel, and what did you do? You married her but treated her like garbage, drove her out of the country, forced her to raise children alone, and abandoned Olivia in a hospital for four years. Do you have any idea how badly I want to kill you right now?"

The only thing stopping him from putting a bullet in Alexander's head was his reluctance to make his grandchildren fatherless.

"I know I was wrong—punish me however you see fit. But I can't be separated from Sienna, and I won't give up my three children. They're my entire life!" Alexander began coughing violently, and Sienna rushed to his side.

"Sienna? What are you doing here?" Gage asked in surprise.

Without answering, Sienna knelt beside Alexander to examine him, immediately feeling the fever burning through his skin. "You're running a high fever and you're out here fighting? Do you have a death wish?"

From the moment Alexander saw Sienna, his eyes never left her face. After another violent coughing fit, blood spilled from his lips, startling even Gage.

"Alexander, don't you dare die on Smith Villa's doorstep!"