Chapter 454

Eleanor's expression turned stormy as she snapped, "Vanessa, what were you thinking? We arranged a driver for you! Why would you risk driving yourself in your condition?"

The entire family had placed their future ambitions on this unborn child. Now, those hopes lay shattered.

Vincent's face mirrored her fury. "How did this accident happen? Ethan just regained consciousness, and now we've lost the baby. Can you imagine how heartbroken he'll be?"

Having just returned from abroad, Vincent clearly wasn't aware of the full situation.

In reality, Ethan wasn't grieving at all. If anything, he was probably relieved.

Vanessa's nails dug into her palms. After such a catastrophe, someone had to shoulder the blame. She couldn't let them pin everything on her.

Her position in the Caldwell family was already precarious. If she became known as the woman who couldn't even protect her own pregnancy, she'd be utterly humiliated.

Vanessa quickly seized the narrative. "It was Evelyn! She was jealous that I was carrying Ethan's child, so she deliberately crashed into me! You have to make her pay for this!"

Eleanor's expression darkened at the news of the threatened miscarriage. When she learned the car accident might have been orchestrated by Evelyn, her fury knew no bounds.

She stormed across the hospital room, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor.

Within moments, Vanessa clutched her abdomen, her face contorted in pain. "Mom… it hurts so much…"

After a battery of tests, the doctor sighed. "I'm afraid it's too late. The pregnancy can't be saved."

His tone was clinical. "Given the advanced stage, medication won't suffice. We'll need to perform surgery."

Vanessa was wheeled away, tears streaking her cheeks. "My baby…"

Eleanor's rage burned white-hot. "First, they break three of Ethan's ribs, and now this? What kind of monsters are they?"

Vincent turned to Richard. "Richard, they're both your daughters. What do you propose we do?"

Richard's face was unreadable, but his jaw clenched as he watched Vanessa disappear behind the operating room doors.

He knew Vanessa's place in the Hayes family was precarious. If he didn't act decisively now, her future would be—

Richard Hayes crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "We're all civilized people here. Naturally, I side with the victim in this situation."

"Evelyn has gone too far," Vincent Black interjected, his voice tight with anger. "Now that she has Alexander Whitmore backing her, she thinks she can act without consequences! How could she be so heartless toward her own stepsister?"

"A car accident!" Richard shook his head in disbelief. "We're talking about attempted murder here!"

With Richard's implicit approval, Vincent turned to Eleanor. "You need to call Evelyn. Now."

Just as Evelyn Carter stepped into the hospital lobby, her phone vibrated. Seeing Eleanor's name flash across the screen, her lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Evelyn! Vanessa lost the baby because of you!" Eleanor's shrill voice pierced through the receiver the moment Evelyn answered. "I swear to God, you won't get away with this!"

"Is this still about Ethan Caldwell?" Evelyn's voice dripped with icy amusement. "Are you really so obsessed with your son's ex that you'd blame me for your own family's misfortune? How pathetically transparent."

The venom in Eleanor's voice intensified. "You're just jealous Vanessa was carrying Ethan's child! No wonder he left you - you're a monster! This is exactly what you deserve!"

Alexander was at the admissions desk handling paperwork when Evelyn's fingers tightened around her phone. Her response came out in glacial syllables.

"Let me clarify something for you, Eleanor. It was Ethan who couldn't let go. Maybe you should ask yourself - was it really him who rejected me? Or was it me who threw him away like yesterday's trash?"

"Secondly, Vanessa lost her baby because of her own reckless behavior. As for your ridiculous accusation that I'm jealous of her—nothing could be further from the truth. I'm expecting my own child, after all."

Eleanor froze, her face paling as the words sank in.

"Whose child is it? Ethan's?"

Evelyn nearly rolled her eyes.

Do these people have no sense at all? Why does everyone assume it has to be Ethan's?

She scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Ethan? Please. Do you honestly think he's worthy?"

Eleanor's composure shattered. "Evelyn, you will come here immediately! We are settling this right now!"

A cold smirk curved Evelyn's lips. "And why would I ever obey you?"

Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison (Evelyn) novel