Chapter 116

Evelyn watched with trembling lips as William carefully fastened the heirloom necklace around Victoria's slender neck. Tears glistened in Victoria's eyes, her expression radiating pure joy.

"What a blessing - our family's treasure has finally returned to our beloved daughter," Eleanor murmured, her voice thick with emotion. Her gaze overflowed with maternal warmth as she admired Victoria.

The scene carved a fresh wound in Evelyn's chest. She stepped forward, her voice breaking. "I didn't steal that necklace. My grandfather Henry left it to—"

"Evelyn Sinclair!" Margaret cut her off sharply, gripping Evelyn's shoulder with bruising force. "Get out immediately! Don't you dare think you can manipulate our Victoria!"

Margaret dragged Evelyn away from the intimate family moment.

Evelyn wanted to resist, but her weakened body betrayed her. The world blurred as she watched William and Eleanor embrace Victoria with such tenderness.

She longed desperately for Eleanor to look at her just once. When Eleanor finally turned, her eyes held nothing but contempt.

Eleanor despised her.

The mere sight of Evelyn filled Eleanor with revulsion.

Evelyn's heart shattered like glass, the shards cutting deeper with every breath. The pain was unbearable - like rubbing salt into an open wound.

She'd never understood why Eleanor's opinion mattered so much, why she craved the woman's affection. Now the truth dawned on her, but she couldn't bear to acknowledge it.

Lost in thought, Evelyn didn't see Margaret's shove coming. She crashed onto the cold marble floor.

"Disappear!" Margaret spat, her face twisted with malice. "Mark my words - if you approach Victoria again, you'll regret it!"

With that final threat, Margaret stormed back inside.

Evelyn tried to stop her tears, but the tumor's relentless pain left her gasping on the floor. As she prayed for help, a wheelchair rolled into view.

Her heart leapt when she recognized Eleanor.

Hope flickered in Evelyn's chest - until Eleanor hurled the pink carnation Evelyn had given her directly at Evelyn's face.

"Stay away from my family, Evelyn. If you harass my precious daughter again, you'll face consequences you can't imagine!" Eleanor warned coldly before turning to Victoria. "Darling, take me inside now."

"Of course, Mother," Victoria replied sweetly, pushing the wheelchair toward the elevator.

Left alone on the freezing floor, Evelyn saw Victoria glance back, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Evelyn's eyes locked onto the necklace around Victoria's throat. Suddenly, her grandfather's mysterious death made terrible sense.

When the coast was clear, Evelyn slipped into Eleanor's room. She snatched the used toothbrush from the bathroom and fled.

At the DNA testing center, Evelyn's hands shook as she accepted the envelope two days later. The truth weighed heavily in her hands, yet she couldn't bring herself to open it.

She'd barely stepped outside when a rough hand clamped around her wrist like a vise.