Chapter 468

Rosalind Baskins fell silent immediately. She stole a glance at Evelyn, hesitating before speaking. "Evelyn, are you truly alright?"

A faint smile played on Evelyn's lips. "What could possibly trouble me?" Though her heart ached from witnessing her grandmother's tragic demise, she had learned to endure the pain.

Her return to Aldenria wasn't solely for Liam Blackwood. He was merely one piece of the puzzle that brought her back.

She had family to locate, vengeance to fulfill for her grandmother. The Wright estate needed reclaiming, and her research career in Aldenria demanded attention.

But above all, protecting her unborn child and ensuring a safe delivery took precedence.

Every single one of these mattered more than matters of the heart.

Accompanied by Rosalind, Evelyn made her way to the cemetery.

Standing before her grandmother's grave, Evelyn gently cradled her belly.

Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, "Grandma, I've returned. Aldenria won't lose me again. I'll visit whenever possible." Her voice dropped lower. "Grandma... I'm carrying a child. Five months along, perfectly healthy."

Rosalind's jaw dropped. Her wide eyes fixated on Evelyn's abdomen, shock rendering her speechless. Noticing her assistant's reaction, Evelyn couldn't help but chuckle. "It's true. Would you like to feel?"

Approaching cautiously, Rosalind placed a tentative hand on Evelyn's belly. Though the bump appeared modest, the firmness beneath her palm startled her.

"Whose...?" Rosalind blurted before catching herself.

Evelyn's smile faded. The father's identity remained a secret she couldn't bring herself to reveal.

Meanwhile, in Miston, Aldenria...

A helicopter touched down on Royal Heights' private helipad, its blades whirring to stillness.

Liam Blackwood emerged, his crisp black military uniform accentuating his commanding presence. Ryan Sullivan and Victoria Hudson followed closely behind.

The trio strode purposefully toward the government building.

Victoria's curiosity got the better of her. "Why the urgent recall? Some national emergency?"

Liam's response came clipped. "No intel."

Ryan interjected, "I made inquiries. We're hosting a VIP delegation." He lowered his voice. "Highest protocol clearance. All key officials mandatory attendance."

Victoria, whose Foreign Ministry background left her unfamiliar with domestic protocols, pressed further. "Foreign dignitaries?"

"Classified delegation," Ryan emphasized. "No recordings permitted. Must be someone requiring extreme discretion."

Victoria frowned. "Precedent for this level?"

Ryan nodded. "Only once before - when we hosted the Father of the Atomic Bomb."

"Ah," Victoria conceded. "That explains the protocol."

The grand lobby stretched before them, national flags flanking the emblem. Portraits of past leaders lined the walls. A dozen of Aldenria's most powerful figures clustered at the center.

Liam lingered at the periphery, retrieving his phone. In his haste, he'd forgotten to surrender it to Ryan. His thumb hovered over the power button when Harrison Pierce's voice boomed:

"Ladies and gentlemen! It's my honor to introduce the researcher our nation has awaited." The president's voice swelled with pride. "After years of groundbreaking work abroad, she returns to serve Aldenria - the brilliant mind behind hydronium research, Evelyn Carter!"

Liam's heart stuttered. His grip on the powered-off phone turned white-knuckled. Surely he'd misheard. His head snapped up, scanning the room frantically.

The world narrowed to a single point. All sound faded. There she stood - the woman who haunted his dreams.

Evelyn moved with effortless grace in her long black coat, radiant as spring blossoms in full bloom. Her smile could light galaxies.

If longing had volume, his would shatter eardrums.

Veins stood out on his tensed hands. His pulse hammered so violently he forgot to breathe. This couldn't be real. His gaze burned into her, yet Evelyn's eyes swept past him as if he were invisible.