Chapter 236

Penelope's voice trembled with anxiety. "I heard Alexander has been in constant contact with Isabella and the Sinclairs since Eleanor's accident."

Her fingers twisted the napkin. "Yesterday, someone spotted Alexander dining with Margaret Sinclair. Are they... reconnecting?"

Victoria's lips thinned. "There was never any connection to begin with." The word choice irritated her.

Seeing Penelope's distress, Victoria explained patiently. "Mrs. Whitmore shares a close bond with the Sinclairs. Alexander must maintain good relations with Isabella and her grandmother to ensure they keep visiting Eleanor."

"That way, Eleanor can't use her surgery as leverage to force Alexander to end things with me."

The realization struck Penelope like lightning. She hadn't considered this angle.

Since Eleanor's fall, both families had been banned from Whitmore Enterprises. For days, they'd lived in fear that Eleanor would demand Alexander and Victoria separate as her condition for surgery.

They'd dreaded Alexander might comply.

Now that the couple remained together, they'd assumed Alexander had persuaded Eleanor. But instead, he'd cleverly navigated through the Sinclairs.

Penelope exhaled in relief. "So the project... was that Alexander's way of thanking them?"

Victoria nodded. "A token of gratitude and a clear boundary marker."

Penelope couldn't help but admire him. "Alexander leaves no loose ends. No wonder his businesses thrive."

Just as satisfaction began to bloom, a dark thought clouded her features. "But if the Sinclairs already secured a deal with YodaVision..."

Her nails dug into her palms. "Their company's showing signs of recovery. If they take this Whitmore project too, won't they fully revive?"

Victoria's expression turned glacial. "They declined it."

"They what?"

Before Victoria could elaborate, Penelope pieced it together. "They want Alexander indebted, giving Isabella continued access to him." Her lips curled. "How cunning."

With Alexander and Isabella's divorce nearly finalized, Penelope wouldn't tolerate complications.

"We can't let them manipulate—"

Victoria remained unshaken. "Relax. Alexander has it handled."

Penelope recalled past events. Alexander had never failed them.

If he'd offered the project, he'd surely anticipated the Sinclairs' maneuvering.

That shrewd man must have countermeasures prepared.

Finally reassured, Penelope changed subjects. "Have you visited Mrs. Whitmore recently?"

Victoria shook her head. "No."

At Penelope's disappointed look, she explained, "Her recovery appears smooth. No complications."

Now wasn't the time for her presence.

Though Alexander had managed the Sinclairs and convinced Eleanor to undergo surgery, the post-operative period remained critical.

They still needed Isabella and Margaret's cooperation.

Victoria could wait.