Chapter 306

The waiter arrived just then, setting down their meals with practiced elegance.

Margaret picked up the silver spoon, her hands trembling slightly as she ladled a generous portion of clam chowder into Evelyn’s bowl. She pushed it toward her daughter with a hesitant smile.

"I remember how obsessed you were with this soup as a child," Margaret murmured, nostalgia softening her voice. "You’d finish an entire bowl every single day after school."

Cresthaven Hotel was known for its exclusivity, serving only the rarest ingredients to its elite clientele.

The menu boasted delicacies from around the world, yet something as humble as clam chowder wasn’t listed.

Evelyn hadn’t seen it when she ordered.

But now, the familiar scent wafted toward her, stirring memories she’d tried to bury. She met Margaret’s hopeful gaze, hesitated, then finally sank back into her seat.

Margaret exhaled in quiet relief, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction.

For a fleeting moment, regret flickered in her chest.

Three years ago, Evelyn’s words still haunted her: "It was all Vanessa’s doing. She set me up."

But back then, Margaret hadn’t listened.

Now, she wondered if it was too late to make amends.

"Whether you believe me or not doesn't matter. I'll find the proof to clear my name," Evelyn had declared through tears back then.

At the time, no one had trusted her. No one had given her the chance to prove her innocence before they locked her away.

Three years had passed since that night, yet doubts still gnawed at Margaret's conscience.

Vanessa's recent erratic behavior made Margaret wonder—had she been wrong all along?

The thought chilled her. If so, how broken must Evelyn have been during those three years?

Surrounded by those who should have stood by her, yet abandoned by everyone. Suffering alone behind bars.

Dinner passed in tense silence. Margaret's emotions churned so violently she couldn't even meet Evelyn's eyes by the meal's end.

Richard attempted several times to engage Alexander in business talk. But after their earlier confrontation with Evelyn, approaching the younger man now felt beneath his dignity.

The patriarch hated playing supplicant. He kept shooting Margaret meaningful glances, willing her to bridge the awkward gap between them. But Margaret—

Evelyn seemed lost in thought, paying Richard no attention.

Oliver kicked Richard under the table—a clear signal for him to apologize to Evelyn for his earlier behavior.

Richard stayed silent. His polished black shoes now bore scuff marks from Oliver’s kick, yet his expression remained stubbornly unrepentant.

Oliver wanted to snap at him, but he held back. He couldn’t risk Alexander thinking the Hayes family lacked manners, that their children were disrespectful to their elders. That would reflect poorly on Evelyn.

After dinner, Alexander excused himself to greet a business associate, disappearing into a private room for drinks.

Richard and Oliver headed toward the restrooms.

Margaret, seeing her chance, approached Evelyn immediately.

“Evelyn, can we talk?” Margaret’s eyes were red-rimmed, her fingers clutching the bracelet Evelyn had gifted her years ago.

At the sight of it, Evelyn finally looked up. “About what?”

Margaret swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “When I spoke to you before…” Her words trailed off, heavy with regret.

The words hung heavy in the air between them. Margaret Hayes studied her daughter, Evelyn Carter, searching for any sign of softening.

Earlier, it hadn’t just been an act. She truly wanted to repair what had been broken between them.

But Evelyn’s expression remained unreadable, her gaze as cold as winter frost.

A knot of unease twisted in Margaret’s stomach. There were too many unknowns—too many secrets between Richard and Vanessa Hart that she didn’t understand.

With no one else to turn to, she had come to Evelyn. Her own daughter.

Perhaps only Evelyn could truly grasp the depth of her regret.

"Evelyn," Margaret began, her voice trembling slightly. "I’ll do anything to earn your forgiveness. Anything." She hesitated, then plunged forward. "I think… I think there might be something going on between your father and Vanessa."

Evelyn’s lips curled into a bitter smile.

"Now you want to fix things?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. "After all this time? After everything you’ve done?"

She crossed her arms, her posture rigid with defiance.

"Do you really think one apology is enough to erase the past?"

Margaret flinched, but Evelyn wasn’t finished.

"Why should I forgive you?"

The question lingered, heavy and unanswered.