Chapter 10 When Matthew pushed open the hospital room door , the sound of a child's intermittent crying and Haley's incessant scolding filled the air . " This is all Evelyn's fault ! She can't even take care of a child properly . Now she's just completely abandoned him ! Look at Kent , he's burning up ! " Haley held the feverish child , her expression grim . " Women like her , born low , are selfish to the core ! " Lila sat by the hospital bed , pale and fragile . When she saw Matthew enter , her eyes filled with silent tears . " Matthew , is Evelyn still angry with me ? She kidnapped me , I can understand that , but the baby ... he's so little . And she thinks he's her child . How could she treat him like this ? Does she hate our child too , just because of me ? " Matthew frowned , his gaze settling on Kent's flushed little face . A wave of irritation surged inside him . He reached out to touch the boy's forehead . The burning heat made his fingertips tremble , but his mind couldn't help conjuring the image of Evelyn's disappointed eyes . " Evelyn wouldn't hurt a child , " he said instinctively , defending her without thinking . Lila froze , then began to cry harder . " But the kidnapper clearly said she was the one who ordered it ... Matthew , do you think I'm lying ? " Matthew didn't answer . Instead , he turned toward the doctor . " How is the child ? " " His fever is stress - induced . We'll need to observe him overnight , " the doctor said , adjusting his glasses . " Try not to worry too much . " Haley scoffed and shoved the child back into Lila's arms . " Lila , you take care of Kent . Matthew , come with me . " At the end of the hallway , Haley lowered her voice , but her tone grew sharper . " How long are you going to drag this out ? Lila's already dying for you . She's given you a child . Are you really going to let her die without ever being your legal wife ? " Matthew's eyes turned cold . " I told you , I won't divorce Evelyn . " " What's so good about that woman ? " Haley trembled with rage . "She framed Lila , then kidnapped the child ! A vicious woman like that , what's the point of keeping her ? " " Enough ! " Matthew's voice rose sharply , a hint of menace in his eyes . " I know exactly what kind of Chapter 10 7.94 % person Evelyn is , better than you do . " Haley was stunned by his sudden outburst and fell silent . Just then , the hospital room door opened quietly . Lila stepped out , eyes red , and said tearfully , " Mrs. Roscente , please don't pressure Matthew anymore . It's my fault . I shouldn't expect anything . " She turned to Matthew , tears falling again . " Matthew , I just want ... before I die , to have a proper title . Even if it's just a sham divorce , you can remarry her after I'm gone ... ' } ) For the first time , Matthew pulled his hand away from her . " Lila , you're crossing the line , " he said , his eyes growing colder . " I agreed to stay by your side because you gave birth to my child . That doesn't give you the right to interfere in my marriage . " Lila's face turned deathly pale . Her nails dug into her palms . Matthew turned to leave , but Haley grabbed his arm . " What kind of attitude is that ? Lila is dying , can't you at least- " " I said no more talk about divorce . " Matthew cut her off , his voice like ice . " And another thing- whatever's going on with Lila and the child , no one is to breathe a word of it to Evelyn . " With that , he walked away without looking back . Behind him , Haley's curses and Lila's stifled sobs echoed through the hallway , but his mind had already drifted far away . Evelyn still hadn't replied to his messages . Her phone was off , her texts unanswered , and all her belongings were gone . At first , he thought she was just sulking , but now , that growing sense of dread gnawed at him . He got into his car , fingers drumming the steering wheel . Maybe ... maybe he had really wronged her this time . He thought of her silence , her distance these past few weeks , and the final thing she left behind- the infertility report . A heavy weight sank in his chest . " Evelyn , where are you ? " he muttered . He took a deep breath , started the engine , and drove off . He was determined to search every place she might have gone . She loved him so much . There was no way she would just leave , right ? Chapter 10 7.94 % She must be hiding somewhere , waiting for him to come and take her home . He had to find her . Chapter 10