Chapter 90

Evelyn visited the hospital first thing in the morning before heading to T Corporation.

At noon, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Beatrice.

"Did you hear Dominic's in a terrible mood today?"

"Not my concern." Evelyn's fingers tightened around her phone. Even after all these years, Beatrice's voice still made her skin crawl.

The older woman's tone dropped to a whisper. "You need to understand what's at stake here."

"Breaking his heart would hurt him for months. But telling him the truth? That pain would last a lifetime."

Evelyn let out a bitter laugh. "I wonder if Dominic should feel grateful or cursed to have a mother like you."

She ended the call and slammed her phone onto the desk.

Abigail observed the interaction from her workstation, immediately recognizing Evelyn's dark mood.

Evelyn stood abruptly to print some documents.

As the printer hummed to life, her mind spiraled. How could Beatrice be her biological mother? Even the most heartless animals showed more compassion to their offspring.

There was a saying - even the most vicious tiger wouldn't eat its own cubs.

Beatrice wasn't trying to devour her, but forcing her to swallow this unbearable pain felt just as cruel.

No comfort. No support. Just cold warnings.

"Are you going to take those?" Abigail appeared beside her, eyeing the finished printouts. "You seem distracted."

"Bad night's sleep." Evelyn grabbed the papers without meeting her colleague's eyes.

She didn't care if Abigail believed her. Right now, work was the only thing keeping her from drowning in dark thoughts.

When lunch hour arrived, Evelyn gathered her things to return to the hospital.

Abigail suddenly called out, "Evelyn, wait! The executives need these documents immediately. Mr. Blackwood specifically requested them."

Evelyn didn't turn around. "Sorry, I have to get to the hospital. My father's doctor needs signatures."

Abigail hesitated. She couldn't argue with a medical emergency, but the thought of delivering bad news to Dominic made her stomach churn.

At the hospital entrance, Evelyn collided with an unexpected trio - Olivia, Patricia, and Sophia.

"Well, if it isn't my darling stepsister." Sophia clung to Patricia's arm despite showing no visible pregnancy. "Your father's still alive? I thought cancer would've finished him off by now."

With the house secured and a Blackwood heir in her belly, Sophia had shed all pretense of civility. She wanted to humiliate Evelyn publicly, knowing no one would let Evelyn retaliate here.

Evelyn regarded her with detached amusement. After everything she'd endured recently, Sophia's petty insults barely registered.

She leaned close, whispering just for Sophia's ears: "You should check on your mother's wellbeing when you have time. Wouldn't want my father receiving news about some whore's death."

"My mother?" Sophia's face went slack with shock.

Evelyn was already walking away when Sophia shrieked, "What did you mean by that? Come back here!"

"Disgraceful behavior," Patricia clucked, patting Sophia's arm. "Trash will always be trash."

Olivia, who'd only come to prevent Sophia from extorting more money from Patricia, smirked. "Evelyn's right though. Her father beat cancer once. Meanwhile, accidents happen suddenly..."

"Are you cursing my mother?" Sophia whirled on her.

"Don't fight," Patricia pleaded. "She's family!"

"Family my ass!" Sophia jabbed a finger at Olivia. "Take your friend's side all you want, but how dare you wish death on my mother?"

A sudden breeze swept through the hospital courtyard.

Olivia smiled sweetly. "Fine, since you insist - 'A gentle wind blows today, a mistress passes away.' There, I made it rhyme for you. Hope that satisfies your trashy standards."

Evelyn was already in the elevator when her grandfather encountered trouble back at their apartment.

Two scar-faced thugs cornered the old man carrying his birdcage. "You live around here, old timer?"

"My granddaughter rents the place," he answered nervously, not wanting to cause trouble.

One man nodded. "Lucky for you we're feeling generous. Your careless walking made me swerve and scratch my car. Pay us $1000 and we'll forget this happened."

"One thousand?" The old man paled. The beat-up car's paint had clearly been peeling for years.

When Evelyn's phone didn't answer, they checked his emergency contact card - where Dominic had wisely added his own number yesterday.

The thug dialed with growing interest as someone picked up.

"We've got your grandpa here. He damaged my car. How about you come settle this compensation in person?"