Chapter 35 Father Alexander Horton. Son Ethan Whitmore.
The next morning, Elsa went to work as usual.
Her emotions had been unstable for so long that she'd lost noticeable weight. Even makeup couldn't hide how tired she looked.
After assisting Professor Morris with a patient, Elsa was on her way to the therapy room when she ran into Julian again.
The Reyes Medical Group operated around the world. Julian wasn't employed by this hospital, but he often came in for specialist consultations on difficult cases, so Elsa encountered him regularly.
He noticed her exhaustion immediately. "Is working as Professor Morris's assistant that stressful?"
Elsa gave a polite answer, then hesitated.
"Julian, you know a lot of people. Do you happen to know anyone at an auction house?"
Julian adjusted his glasses with one knuckle. "Buying or selling?"
"Selling. I have a jewelry set and I'd like a reliable auction company to appraise it. If the price is right, I want to sell."
"I know a jewelry specialist at Sterling Auctions," Julian said. "I'm actually meeting him after work. Come with me. I'll introduce you."
Color returned to Elsa's face for the first time in days.
"Thank you. I'll meet you after work."
Having a concrete goal gave her new energy.
Once the jewelry was sold, she could repay Alexander, divorce him, and finally escape the life she was living.
She could have asked Violet or Lucas to help sell the jewelry.
But both were too close to Alexander.
Elsa didn't want him interfering before the sale was finished.
The moment her shift ended that evening, she left the outpatient building.
She didn't see Julian's car first.
She saw Alexander.
Standing at the top of the steps, Elsa watched him walk toward her, and the little warmth in her expression disappeared.
Alexander stopped in front of her.
His voice was low and unusually gentle.
"I booked your favorite restaurant. Tell your parents you'll be home later. I'll take you back after dinner."
At six-foot-three, dressed in an expensive suit, Alexander naturally drew attention wherever he stood. His handsome face and cold, commanding presence made people near the entrance turn to look.
Elsa moved a step to the side to create more distance between them.
"Alexander, I've already experienced being abandoned halfway through dinner because your first love called. Once was memorable enough for a lifetime."
His gaze tightened on her face.
He reached for her hand.
Elsa quietly stepped back, avoided him, and walked quickly to the car that had just pulled up.
Julian's car.
Alexander remained where he was and watched Elsa get into another man's vehicle.
His chest felt strangely heavy.
Behind him, Serena cautiously emerged from the outpatient entrance.
She walked toward him and noticed immediately how dark his expression had become.
"Alexander, maybe I should explain everything to your wife. We're both women. She may listen to me more easily."
Alexander finally looked at her.
"No. You don't understand her temper."
Serena didn't insist.
Instead, her voice became wounded. "I'm sorry, Alexander. I only wanted to forget the past and start over. If I were alone, I would rather die than come back and disturb your life. But I'm a mother now. My son is innocent. You understand that, don't you?"
Looking at Serena's helpless expression, Alexander softened his tone.
"I know you and your son have had a difficult life. You sacrificed a lot because of me and suffered for years. You were a victim."
He paused.
"But my wife is a victim now too. Your suffering wasn't caused by Elsa. Elsa's suffering is being caused by both of us."
Serena nodded repeatedly, tears falling. "I know. I know. My son and I have become a burden to you."
Alexander's voice turned firm. "Don't call yourself a burden in front of me. I owe you. But I'm repeating this again: without my permission, do not approach my wife."
Serena quickly nodded. "I understand. I'll do whatever you arrange."
Then she cautiously tested another subject.
"Alexander, since you've arranged a false paternity test and your family believes the child is yours... could you register him under your name? It would make school enrollment easier and remove your family's doubts."
Alexander's expression hardened.
"Serena, I feel guilty toward you. That doesn't mean I have no limits."
He left, visibly irritated.
Serena followed him to the car and watched him drive away without looking back.
His wife was already fighting him this fiercely, yet he still refused to divorce.
Apparently, their marriage had deeper roots than Serena had expected.
Six years ago, while they were dating, Serena had tried more than once to push their relationship further, but Alexander had never crossed that final line with her.
Now that she had returned, she had tested him several times again.
His boundaries remained intact.
She had been away for six years and had a son with her former husband. It was natural that Alexander's feelings toward her had faded somewhat.
But on the day she returned, one phone call had been enough to make him leave his wife and come to her.
He had then spent nearly a month taking care of Serena and her son without going home.
Even now, he rarely refused her requests.
Serena could still feel that some part of Alexander hadn't completely let her go.
Until his divorce, however, she couldn't reveal too much.
She needed patience.
Step back when necessary.
Use the child carefully.
As long as she didn't give up, she believed Alexander would eventually return to her.
The next afternoon, Elsa went back to the marital home while Alexander was away.
She had left the hospital in such a hurry earlier that she never collected her belongings.
She packed a suitcase and threw away the things she no longer needed.
In the bathroom, she found a shopping bag filled with new household items.
Matching toothbrushes in different colors.
Cups.
Towels.
Slippers.
Elsa placed everything back into the bag.
Alexander must have bought them before taking her to the family residence that night.
Then she had overheard what he said in the study, and afterward all they had done was fight about divorce.
He had never had the chance to put these things away.
A bitter smile touched Elsa's mouth.
She went into the study.
And saw a paternity report lying on Alexander's desk.
Father: Alexander Horton.
Son: Ethan Whitmore.
Probability of paternity: 99.999%.
Biological father-son relationship confirmed.
An official institutional seal appeared at the bottom.
Elsa held the paper in shaking hands.
It felt impossibly heavy.
Ethan Whitmore.
To her, even the child's name seemed like proof that he had been born from their love.
Elsa forced back her tears despite the tearing pain in her chest.
She took out her phone and photographed the report.
Then she removed the newly revised divorce agreement from her bag.
She placed it beside the paternity report on Alexander's desk.