Chapter 213

Evelyn gazed curiously into the stormy gray eyes before her. "What's wrong?"

"I need your help uncovering the truth," Alexander murmured, his deep voice laced with quiet desperation.

After listening to Alexander's unusual request, Evelyn's eyebrows lifted in surprise. She considered for a long moment before nodding slowly.

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Thank you." The gratitude in his voice was palpable.

For just a second, Evelyn thought she saw something flicker in Alexander's eyes - something warm and fleeting. She quickly dismissed the thought. The old Evelyn was gone forever.

Alexander escorted her to an exclusive salon. She watched as he showed a photograph to the stylist, who nodded in understanding.

Though Evelyn couldn't see the image, the transformation that followed left her breathless. An hour later, she barely recognized the woman in the mirror.

The sleek ebony hair framing her delicate features gave her an ethereal quality, as if she'd stepped out of another lifetime.

Next, Alexander took her to the Blackwood Estate.

Standing before the mansion that had once been their marital home, Evelyn felt a bitter smile twist her lips. The flood of emotions threatened to overwhelm her as she followed Alexander upstairs.

Three years.

Three years since she'd last set foot in this house, in the bedroom they'd once shared.

The familiar scent of sandalwood incense greeted her - a fragrance she'd created herself during happier days. Since her rebirth, Evelyn had discovered her heightened sense of smell had become both gift and curse.

She'd channeled this sensitivity into perfume creation, determined never to be that naive girl who'd sacrificed everything for love again.

Alexander led her to the walk-in closet. When he opened the doors, Evelyn's breath caught.

The perfectly preserved dresses from her past life hung undisturbed, as if waiting for her return. The entire room remained frozen in time.

"Miss Prescott, please choose something suitable to wear. I'll wait outside." With those words, Alexander exited, leaving her alone with her ghosts.

Evelyn trailed her fingers along the fabric, each garment awakening memories both sweet and painful. The delicate material felt foreign beneath her fingertips now - just as foreign as the scars that now marked her body.

'Alexander, no amount of atonement can erase what you did to me. I'll make sure you remember your sins for the rest of your life.'

"Mr. Blackwood, you may come in now."

Alexander stood motionless outside the door, lost in thought. At her call, he blinked back to awareness and entered.

Despite the gloomy weather outside, the room seemed to brighten when he saw Evelyn. The white sundress swayed gently as she turned, her dark hair cascading over one shoulder - the very image of his lost love.

The resemblance to their first meeting at university struck him painfully. That same radiant smile, that same innocent glow.

Evelyn...

His throat worked silently, swallowing her name unspoken.

She was dead.

Gone three years now.

This woman before him was merely an echo.

"Mr. Blackwood, do I look exactly like your late wife now?" Evelyn asked sweetly, her movements effortless and natural as she approached.

Alexander studied her carefully. "The resemblance is... uncanny."

His smile didn't reach his eyes. No matter how perfect the imitation, it would never be her.