Chapter 32

Alexander's expression remained unreadable, but the prolonged silence spoke volumes.

"Mr. Knight? Mr. Knight?" Nathaniel called hesitantly.

Finally, Alexander's icy voice cut through the line. "Understood."

Nathaniel cleared his throat. "Do you have further instructions, sir?"

"I'll be occupied for the next two days. Ensure Alice is picked up and waiting outside Knight Manor by then." Alexander intended to use Alice as a shield against the parade of socialites his grandfather had arranged for him.

"Of course, sir. I'll end the call now," Nathaniel replied respectfully.

"Wait." Alexander's tone darkened.

"Keep an eye on her." There was an unmistakable edge to his words.

Nathaniel hesitated. "On... whom?" The moment the question left his lips, he mentally kicked himself. "Right away, sir. I'll tail Miss Carter immediately!"

After hanging up, Nathaniel discreetly followed Alice's movements. Her routine was simple—after leaving Margaret's hospital room, she stopped at a bakery for two large rolls. She ate them while waiting for the bus, then boarded it straight to Alexander's penthouse.

Nathaniel only left once she stepped into the elevator.

Alice wanted to inform Alexander about Margaret slapping Victoria earlier. She waited in the living room for hours, but he never returned. She didn’t dare enter his bedroom again.

When her calls went straight to voicemail, she gave up and went to bed alone.

The next morning, she visited Margaret as usual before heading to the construction site for her grueling shift.

The work was backbreaking. Though Alice was no stranger to hardship, pregnancy made every movement—hauling bricks, shoveling dirt—a cautious ordeal. By midday, exhaustion killed her appetite.

But she forced herself to eat. She needed energy for the afternoon.

As she sat on a stack of lumber with her lunch, Dominic appeared.

Alice wasn’t surprised.

The world was full of idle rich men, while she—a pregnant woman—had to labor just to survive.

Dominic didn’t interfere with her work. Instead, he conducted a stern inspection of the site. After an hour, he approached her.

"Take a break. Even the men rest when they’re exhausted."

Alice smiled faintly and sat down.

By nightfall, Dominic was still inspecting. Alice packed up and waited at the bus stop, but after an hour, no buses arrived. If this continued, she’d miss visiting hours at the hospital.

Her anxiety grew.

From his car, Dominic watched with an amused smirk.

The Pierce Group owned the surrounding real estate. One call from him, and the bus driver would reroute early, skipping this stop entirely.

Few passengers came this way anyway—sometimes none for days.

Alice didn’t know it, but no matter how long she waited, the bus wasn’t coming.