Chapter 122
Her Sophia. Her precious daughter. Her heart's greatest treasure.
In Eleanor's eyes, Evelyn was nothing but a cold-blooded monster.
To Evelyn, those words cut deeper than any blade, carving fresh wounds into her already shattered heart.
No one could see the blood seeping through the cracks, but she felt it pooling inside her chest with every breath.
Her hands shook violently as she fought to keep her voice steady. "Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley, I swear I never harmed Sophia. I would never... Please, you must investigate properly. Don't let the real killer escape justice."
"Enough of your lies!" William slammed his fist against the table, making the china rattle. "The evidence speaks for itself! First you torment our Victoria, now you've taken our Sophia from us? Evelyn Sinclair, mark my words—you'll pay for this with your life!"
The venom in his voice sent Evelyn spiraling into darkness. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks unchecked. How ironic—he demanded to know why she hated them, when the truth was the exact opposite.
These were her parents. Her flesh and blood. The people she'd spent a lifetime yearning for.
Yet all she received was their contempt and condemnation.
The pain was unbearable. She'd known heartbreak from love, but this—this familial betrayal—cut deeper than anything before.
Her nails dug crescent moons into her palms as she struggled to breathe.
No.
She couldn't let Victoria continue deceiving them. Not when—
Eleanor suddenly gasped in pain.
William rushed to her side. "Your stitches! Eleanor, darling, we should listen to Victoria—no more visits. I promise you, this woman will rot in prison for what she's done to our Sophia!"
Evelyn opened her mouth, but the words turned to ash on her tongue. Seeing Eleanor's pained expression and William's protective fury, her courage failed.
She remembered Victoria's warning—Eleanor had a weak heart. Even if it was a lie, the shock of learning Evelyn was their true daughter might...
And with her own time running out...
Would it be kinder to let them believe the lie? To spare them the agony of losing another daughter?
The thought crushed what remained of her spirit.
Through blurred vision, Evelyn watched her parents walk away, their silhouettes growing smaller. Her fingers curled into fists so tight they trembled.
This might be the last time she ever saw them.
She'd never get to call them Mother and Father.
The longing burned like acid in her throat. She wanted so desperately to be their beloved daughter. To finally know what it felt like to have parents who cherished her.
Just as the door clicked shut, it swung open again.
Victoria swept in, her face the perfect mask of grief. "Mother! Father!" she cried, fresh tears glistening on her cheeks.