Chapter 304

Evelyn's fingers tightened around her coffee cup until her knuckles turned white. The mention of Dominic from Margaret's lips made her blood boil.

"Your brother is behind bars. How exactly could he have orchestrated a hitman?" Evelyn's voice was ice cold as she stared daggers at Margaret.

She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "It was you, wasn't it?"

Margaret maintained her sickeningly sweet smile. "Evelyn darling, you shouldn't throw around such serious accusations! In Eldermere, murder carries the death penalty! Even hiring an assassin does!" She tilted her head mockingly. "Isn't that what you told me before? How could I possibly be involved in something so... messy?"

Her tone practically screamed: "I'm not stupid enough to admit it even if I did!"

The coffee trembled in Evelyn's grip as her hands shook with barely contained rage.

"Do you know why I wanted to meet you today?" Evelyn suddenly released the cup, letting it clatter against the saucer.

Margaret gave her a dismissive once-over. "Evelyn, your mother is dead. Harassing me won't change that. I said I didn't do it, so I didn't. Even if you kill me right now, I—"

Evelyn shot up from her chair so fast it toppled backward. She swallowed the bitter taste of grief and fury. "Of course. As long as you refuse to confess, the truth doesn't exist."

Then she moved with terrifying speed. Before Margaret could react, Evelyn had her by the hair, slamming her face-first into the café wall. A crimson splatter bloomed against the white paint.

Blood gushed from Margaret's perfectly sculpted nose.

"Jesus Christ!" Michael's voice cut through the chaos as he burst into the café. "Evelyn! Stop! You'll kill her!"

He fought through the stunned staff trying to intervene and wrapped his arms around Evelyn's waist. "Let go! For God's sake, let go!"

But Evelyn held on like a pitbull, her fingers tangled in Margaret's hair. "She murdered my mother! I'll make her pay!"

"Are you insane? You have children!" Michael roared, struggling to pull her away. "Lily and Henry need their mother! Is this how you want them to remember you?"

One quick-thinking barista rushed over with scissors and severed Margaret's hair at the roots. The sudden release sent Evelyn stumbling back.

She stared at the blonde locks in her hand before throwing them in Margaret's bleeding face. "This isn't over, Margaret. I swear on my mother's grave—you'll pay with your life."

Michael had never seen this side of Evelyn. The quiet, composed woman he knew had transformed into an avenging fury.

As staff helped a sobbing Margaret to the hospital, Michael finally released his grip on Evelyn.

He pulled out his wallet and addressed the shaken manager. "Calculate the damages. I'll pay triple."

The manager hesitated. "If that woman presses charges..."

"Then tell the police it was me," Michael interrupted. "I'll take full responsibility."

Evelyn grabbed his arm. "I don't need you to clean up my mess. Why aren't you with the kids?"

"Sophie's watching them." Michael exhaled sharply. "Thank God I followed you. Another five minutes and you'd be in handcuffs."

By 2 PM, Michael stood in the police station, chest puffed out. "Officer, I'm confessing. I assaulted that woman. Arrest me—Evelyn had nothing to do with it."

Evelyn's heart clenched at his loyalty, but this wasn't his battle to fight.

"Michael," she said coldly from her chair. "I'm counting to three. If you're still here when I finish, we're done."