Chapter 449

The silence stretched between them after that. Moments later, Richard returned, but what shocked everyone was the sight of Vanessa trailing behind him.

Margaret's face darkened the instant she spotted Vanessa.

"Richard, explain yourself. I asked you to come back so we could talk things through. Why did you bring her?"

Vanessa's eyes welled up as she gazed at Margaret with a wounded expression. She stepped forward, fingers curling gently around Margaret's sleeve.

"Mom... even if I'm not your real daughter, doesn't the love we shared all these years mean anything? Twenty years of calling you 'Mom'—was it all for nothing? How can you act like you don’t want to see me?"

She buried her face against Margaret’s shoulder, her quiet sobs trembling through her.

Margaret’s expression softened slightly. She could unleash her fury on Richard without hesitation, but when it came to Vanessa—especially now, with her pregnancy—she couldn’t bring herself to be cruel.

For two decades, Margaret had cherished Vanessa like a priceless treasure, loving her as fiercely as if she were her own flesh and blood.

The bond between them was real. The only reason Margaret had grown distant was the crushing realization that the daughter she’d raised had never truly been on her side.

"Evelyn Sinclair." My lips curled in disgust just saying her name. "I despise her as much as you do. That’s why I’m begging you—please don’t divorce Dad."

Margaret Hayes froze, completely unprepared for Vanessa Hart’s plea for reconciliation.

She had assumed that since Evelyn was Vanessa’s biological mother, her daughter would naturally side with her.

"Mom, no matter what happens, you’ll always be my mother." Vanessa’s voice trembled with emotion. "I could never turn my back on you. All I want is for you and Dad to be happy together."

It seemed Vanessa wasn’t as close to Evelyn as Margaret had feared.

After all, who would willingly embrace the truth that their birth mother was a homewrecker?

And now, with the scandal exposed, it was nothing but shameful.

Margaret’s expression remained cold. "Don’t think a few sweet words will make me forget everything. You’ve already taken everything from this family. The only thing left for me is to make things right for Evelyn."

Richard Hayes’ face darkened at her words.

"What has Vanessa ever done wrong?" His voice was sharp with frustration. "She was just a child back then. She had no part in this. If you want to blame someone, Margaret, blame Evelyn—not Vanessa! And she’s pregnant now. She can’t handle this kind of stress!"

The tension in the room thickened, suffocating.

Vanessa’s eyes welled with tears, her hands instinctively resting on her stomach.

Margaret’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t back down.

"Pregnancy doesn’t erase the past, Richard." Her voice was icy. "And it doesn’t change the fact that Evelyn is the one who deserves justice."

A heavy silence fell.

Vanessa swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Mom… please."

But Margaret had already turned away.

The battle lines were drawn.

And this time, there would be no forgiveness.

"You haven't shown her even an ounce of concern!" Margaret snapped, stepping protectively in front of Evelyn.

Her words struck Richard and Vanessa like a physical blow, their expressions freezing in shock.

Their eyes immediately dropped to Evelyn's stomach. "Evelyn... you're pregnant?"

Evelyn hadn't planned to share the news yet, but now that Margaret had revealed it, there was no point in denying it.

"Yes. It's still very early," she answered calmly.

A flicker of envy crossed Vanessa's face before she could hide it.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She had just discovered her own pregnancy, and now Evelyn was expecting too.

While Vanessa's relationship with Ethan was crumbling, Evelyn seemed to have everything—a stable marriage, a loving husband, and now a child on the way.

Margaret redirected the conversation sharply. "Richard, if you refuse to divorce, fine. But I have conditions."

Richard swallowed hard. "What conditions?"

Margaret had considered demanding he cut all contact with Evelyn Sinclair.

Margaret's fingers tightened around her purse strap as she considered her next move. The air between them crackled with tension.

After a brief pause that felt like an eternity, she revised her demand sharply. "Every penny you've wasted on Evelyn Sinclair during our marriage belongs to our joint assets. I want it all back—down to the last cent!"

Richard froze, his face draining of color. His mouth opened slightly but no words came out.

The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken accusations.

Margaret held her ground, her gaze unflinching. She could see the calculations running through his mind—the years of hidden expenses, the secret bank transfers, all laid bare now.

Across the room, a clock ticked loudly, marking the seconds of his stunned hesitation.

Then Richard's shoulders slumped in defeat. The truth was undeniable, and they both knew it.