Chapter 137

Darkness surrounded her.

When Evelyn's eyelids fluttered open, Victoria's silhouette loomed above her, casting a long shadow across the cold concrete floor.

"Awake already? I was hoping you'd stay unconscious longer. It's more fun when you can feel everything."

Victoria's mocking voice dripped with venom as she crouched down, her manicured fingers digging into Evelyn's chin.

Those emerald eyes - still breathtaking despite the scars - made Victoria's blood boil with envy.

"Evelyn Sinclair," she spat the name like poison. "Even half-dead, you still manage to ensnare men." Her nails pressed into Evelyn's barely healed wounds. "How did you do it this time? Those pathetic puppy eyes of yours?"

The pieces clicked together in Evelyn's throbbing head.

Victoria knew. About Alexander spending the night. About everything.

A hoarse laugh tore from Evelyn's raw throat - equal parts bitter and triumphant. "Jealous much? If Alexander truly loved you, why would he crawl into another woman's bed?"

"You little—"

Victoria's grip turned vicious, reopening wounds until fresh blood trickled down Evelyn's neck. The crimson flow seemed to delight Victoria, her laughter echoing off the warehouse walls.

White-hot pain seared through Evelyn's body, yet she refused to scream. She wouldn't give Victoria that satisfaction.

Frustration twisted Victoria's features. A brutal kick to Evelyn's ribs finally elicited a choked gasp.

That was all the encouragement Victoria needed.

The blows came relentlessly - kicks, slaps, punches - each more vicious than the last. "Scream, damn you! You think you can steal Alexander from me? Refuse to sign those divorce papers?"

Through split lips, Evelyn managed a bloody smile. "I'll never... set him free. You'll always be... his dirty little secret."

Victoria's face darkened like a thundercloud. Those mesmerizing eyes - she couldn't stand them another second.

Grabbing fistfuls of Evelyn's hair, she yanked her head back. "Let's see how smug you are without these." A switchblade flashed in the dim light. "Alexander's taking me to Venice next month. Going to propose at sunset. Pity you won't see it."

Evelyn's fingers curled into fists. "Karma... will destroy you."

"My karma is Alexander's ring on my finger. Yours?" Victoria's smile turned feral as she produced a photograph. "Since you're dying anyway... meet the bastard Alexander drowned right after birth."

What?

Evelyn's heart stuttered. The photo fluttered downward, but before her trembling fingers could reach it, rough hands pinned her arms.

A needle pierced her skin.

The world blurred at the edges as Victoria's voice slithered into her fading consciousness: "Look closely, Evelyn. Your daughter's first and last photo."

Darkness swallowed her whole, Victoria's laughter the last thing she heard.