Chapter 376

Richard Hayes was already in a difficult position. He hadn't planned to see Evelyn Sinclair at such a crucial moment, but when he heard she was on the brink of death, he couldn’t just walk away.

A group of aggressive internet trolls had stormed into her apartment, attacking her under the guise of confronting the "other woman."

The injuries weren’t life-threatening, but in the chaos, Evelyn had lost her footing—her head slamming against the sharp edge of a coffee table.

Richard rushed her to the hospital without hesitation.

From a distance, Evelyn Carter watched them with a bitter smirk. How touching.

She strode forward, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. "My mother is taking a stroll just outside this hospital. Are you seriously still refusing to sign the divorce papers? And yet here you are, tangled up with her again?"

Richard froze at the sight of his daughter, guilt flashing across his face as if he’d been caught red-handed.

"Evelyn, she was hurt. I just brought her here. There’s nothing between us—don’t mention this to your mother!"

"Evelyn?"

Her laugh was cold, dripping with disdain.

"Evelyn Carter!"

"Vanessa, you're absolutely vile."

Evelyn Sinclair seethed with anger. "I am Vanessa's real mother. What's wrong with him showing concern for me? Clearly, Beatrice didn’t raise you properly. You have no manners!"

"Who do you think you are? Don’t call me Evelyn. We aren’t acquainted. My respect is reserved for decent people, not shameless harlots."

"What did you just call me? A harlot?" Evelyn Sinclair’s temper flared instantly.

"I was being generous. Maybe you don’t even deserve that."

"You—!"

Already incensed after someone had stormed into her home and injured her, Evelyn Sinclair hadn’t anticipated being humiliated at the hospital too.

Her fury burned hotter than ever.

"Richard," she whimpered, turning tearful eyes toward him, desperate for his sympathy.

He frowned, thinking Evelyn Carter’s words had been unnecessarily cruel.

"Evelyn, what’s gotten into you? Evelyn Sinclair is your elder."

"Apologize to her? Who do you think you are to demand that of me?" Evelyn scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "The whole world knows I've cut ties with you, Richard. Are you still living in some delusional fantasy?"

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode away, her posture rigid with defiance.

The bitterness toward Evelyn Sinclair ran deep. Over two decades ago, it was because of her that Evelyn had been cast out, replaced by Vanessa Hart.

Yet here she was, acting as if she had any right to lecture her. The audacity was almost laughable.

"Richard, is she truly your flesh and blood?" Evelyn Sinclair gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. "Vanessa has always been so respectful and obedient. This—this is unacceptable!"

Richard Hayes' expression darkened. Evelyn's blatant disregard for him in front of Evelyn Sinclair was a slap to his pride.

When he reached out to stop her, she sidestepped him effortlessly, her movements sharp and deliberate.

Evelyn Sinclair couldn't resist fanning the flames. "Evelyn, you are beyond rude! How dare you treat your own father with such disrespect? After everything he's done for you—"

Her shrill voice grated on Evelyn's nerves. In one swift motion, Evelyn seized her jaw, her fingers tightening with calculated precision.

A sharp crack echoed through the air.

Evelyn Sinclair's eyes widened in shock as a searing pain shot through her face. Her hands flew to her jaw, only to realize—it wouldn't close.

Dislocated.

Just like that.

Evelyn smirked, releasing her grip. "Now that was impolite."

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