Chapter 25

Vanessa's face went rigid the moment Evelyn spoke. A flicker of guilt passed through her eyes before she could mask it.

Just as predicted, Margaret's expression darkened the instant Evelyn mentioned the scandal.

Margaret had always believed her obedient eldest daughter would never stoop to such disgraceful behavior.

But the televised reports had laid out every sordid detail, and she'd spent the entire morning wrestling with the humiliation.

Pressing her lips into a thin line, Margaret demanded, "Vanessa, tell me the truth. Did you and Ethan really—?"

Tears pooled in Vanessa's eyes before spilling over in perfect, practiced drops. "I'm so sorry, Mother. Ethan drank too much last night. He took me to the hotel, and I... I was too frightened to stop him."

Margaret's frown deepened. "That reckless boy! He's already engaged to Evelyn! How dare he force himself on you?"

Vanessa dabbed delicately at her reddened eyes. "He wasn't in his right mind, Mother. It wasn't entirely his fault. And poor Evelyn... she's suffering the most in all this."

Her voice cracked with just the right amount of remorse.

Margaret exhaled sharply, torn between fury and maternal instinct.

Evelyn watched the performance unfold, her fingers tightening around her teacup.

Vanessa had always been skilled at playing the victim.

But this time, Evelyn wouldn't let her get away with it.

The realization hit Evelyn like a cold splash of water—Margaret was still standing there, watching.

She knew how deeply Evelyn loved Ethan. The pain must be unbearable for her now.

But Margaret only scoffed. "If she couldn't even keep her man in check, whose fault is that? If Evelyn hadn't provoked Ethan that night, you wouldn’t have had to beg on her behalf and ruin your own reputation!"

Her sharp gaze then sliced toward Evelyn. "Look at the mess you've caused. Because of you, Vanessa had to sacrifice her dignity to Ethan, and now she’s the one paying the price."

Evelyn froze mid-step, her blood turning to ice. "You’re joking, right? They are the ones who betrayed me, and you’re blaming me?"

Sometimes, she truly questioned who the real daughter was in this family.

Why does everything always circle back to me?

Vanessa was predictable—she had always been desperate to steal Evelyn’s place and her parents' affection.

But her parents?

Were they truly this blind?

Couldn’t they see the truth?

It was humiliating. Disgusting.

And worst of all—it broke her heart all over again.

Vanessa's perfectly manicured eyebrow arched in mockery. "Did I drag them to that hotel room? Your favoritism is showing, Mother. Push me too far, and I'll leak everything to the press—how long they've been sneaking around, how Ethan Caldwell made her get rid of two babies! You want to play dirty? Let's burn it all down!"

Margaret gasped, clutching her chest. "How dare you! You're spouting nonsense!"

Without hesitation, Evelyn turned on her heel, slamming the door so hard the walls trembled. The sound echoed through the Hawthorne Estate, leaving Margaret and Vanessa in stunned silence.

It took Margaret a full minute to find her voice again. Her hands shook as she gripped Vanessa's arm. "Tell me it isn't true. You and Ethan? Abortions?"

Vanessa's face flickered—just for a second—before melting into wounded innocence. "Mother, Evelyn is desperate. She’s lashing out because she’s cornered. I would never betray her like that."

Margaret exhaled, shoulders sagging in relief. "Of course, darling. That girl was raised in chaos—lies come too easily to her. If only she had your grace."

Vanessa’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. "We should be patient with her. She was wronged today, after all."

"Wronged?" Margaret scoffed. "Her reputation is already—"

The words cut deeper than any knife. "This is Evelyn's fault, not Vanessa's. What does she have to complain about? Three years in prison and she's still the same troublemaker."

Margaret Hayes clenched her fists, her anger boiling over. "That girl is beyond redemption!"

Vanessa sniffled dramatically, dabbing at nonexistent tears. "After last night's scandal, I'll never be able to show my face in society again."

A migraine pulsed behind Margaret's temples, but she forced a comforting hand on her stepdaughter's shoulder. "This is entirely Ethan Caldwell's doing. Your father will demand answers from him. He's destroyed your reputation - he'll have to make this right."

Vanessa exhaled in quiet triumph. Ethan had always been putty in her hands. Soon, she'd be Mrs. Caldwell, just as planned.

Meanwhile, Evelyn Carter stormed out of Hawthorne Estate, her chest heaving. The crisp autumn air did little to cool her fury.

She remembered her naive sixteen-year-old self returning to this gilded cage with stars in her eyes. Now, every brick of the mansion made her skin crawl.

"Enough," Evelyn muttered, flagging down a taxi. The past couldn't chain her forever.

Forty minutes later, the cab pulled up to a sleek high-rise in downtown Cresthaven. Evelyn paid the driver with trembling hands, stepping into the shadow of the building where her new life waited.

The apartment complex stood in one of the most coveted districts, tucked away from the city's chaos yet conveniently close to subway stations and bus stops. Though the buildings weren't brand new—perhaps constructed a decade ago—the grounds were immaculate, and the security gates hummed with quiet efficiency.

Evelyn handed the cab driver a crisp bill and stepped onto the pavement, her heels clicking against the cobblestone walkway. The evening air carried the faint scent of jasmine from the landscaped gardens.

Just as the elevator doors slid open, her phone buzzed violently in her clutch.

She hesitated, fingers tightening around the device. The caller ID flashed—Vanessa Hart.

A cold prickle ran down her spine.

Vanessa never called without an agenda.

Evelyn exhaled sharply and swiped to answer.

"Where are you?" Vanessa's voice was sharp, laced with something brittle.

"Home," Evelyn replied, stepping into the elevator. The mirrored walls reflected her tense expression.

"You need to come to Willowbrook Apartments. Now."

The demand sent a jolt through her. Willowbrook—where Alexander had been staying since their last explosive argument.

"Why?" Evelyn's grip on the phone turned white-knuckled.

Vanessa's laugh was humorless. "Because your husband isn't who you think he is."

The elevator dinged, doors opening to her floor.

But Evelyn didn’t move.

Her pulse roared in her ears.

"What does that mean?" she demanded.

Vanessa's voice dropped to a whisper. "Just come. And bring your divorce lawyer."

The line went dead.

Evelyn stood frozen, the phone slipping from her fingers.

The polished marble floor beneath her suddenly felt like quicksand.