Chapter 7

The moment Ethan Caldwell witnessed Evelyn Carter reveal her scar to the crowd, something twisted deep within him.

Her indifference cut like a blade.

For years, Evelyn had loved him unconditionally, devoted every part of herself to him. He had grown accustomed to it—had taken her devotion for granted.

"Evelyn, please stop. If it means so much to you, I'll step aside." Vanessa Hart's voice trembled as she pressed a hand to her forehead. "This is all my fault. I never should have stayed with the Hayes family. I should have died the day I was taken three years ago."

"But your suffering in prison—that wasn't my doing, nor our parents'. Prisons are full of monsters. You were hurt because you ended up there."

Vanessa's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her composure barely holding.

"Ethan, you shouldn’t have saved me. Death would have been kinder."

With those words, she absolved herself of any responsibility for Evelyn’s torment.

Evelyn's stare was glacial. "People who truly want to die don’t just talk about it."

"Evelyn!"

Ethan’s jaw tightened as he shielded Vanessa, squeezing her hand before turning back to Evelyn. "I warned you to behave. Do you understand the consequences of what you’ve done today?"

A bitter laugh escaped Evelyn’s lips.

She had exposed her deepest wound, and to him, it was nothing more than a tantrum.

"Yes, I’m making a scene. But you’re my fiancé. Shouldn’t you stand by me? Ethan, how can you defend another woman in front of me?"

Her words struck like lightning, forcing the crowd to reassess everything.

From the start, Ethan had been Vanessa’s shield.

For three years, whispers had circulated—hints of something improper.

Lately, whenever Horizon Enterprises bid on a project, Hawthorne Estate’s proposals mysteriously appeared, with Vanessa spearheading them.

In business, coincidences happened—but this frequency was no accident.

Since Vanessa and Evelyn were sisters, society dismissed the implications. Appearances mattered more than scandalous truths.

But Evelyn’s accusation made the pieces click.

The idea of Ethan and Vanessa’s betrayal—straight out of a tawdry drama—was exactly the kind of salacious intrigue the elite thrived on.

Among the wealthy, gossip was currency, and this was a rare, priceless scandal.

Evelyn gave Vanessa a mocking smile. "I’m already a Hayes by blood. Do I really need you to gift me the title?"

Her voice cracked, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

Then, something inside her snapped.

She strode to the decanter, snatched it up, and challenged, "So you think I drugged you?"

Tilting it back, she swallowed a harsh gulp, liquor spilling down her chin and staining her dress. "Fine. If I did it, I’ll drink it myself. Happy now?"

The burn seared her throat.

She took another swig before hurling the decanter at Vanessa.

Glass shattered.

Shards scattered like broken promises.

And in that moment—Evelyn shattered too.