Chapter 282

Ethan's presence forced Eleanor to swallow her rising fury.

"Vivian." Ethan looked up with an uncharacteristic smile gracing his youthful features.

Evelyn returned the smile warmly. "Ethan, how are you?"

Eleanor's expression darkened instantly. "Ethan! What did you just call her? Since when do you know this wicked woman?"

"Vivian isn't wicked." Ethan's smile faded as quickly as it appeared, his brows knitting together in distress.

"She absolutely is!" Eleanor spat, her voice rising. "She's the reason your mother is lying in a hospital bed!" Her glare could have melted steel as she turned back to Evelyn. "Vivian Prescott, stay away from my family. I'll make you pay for what you did to Victoria!"

"Pretty Grandma, why are you shouting at Mommy?" Amelia's cotton-soft voice cut through the tension.

Eleanor's attention snapped to the tiny girl beside Evelyn. She'd been ready to unleash her wrath, but the sight of those enormous eyes and porcelain doll features stopped her cold.

The resemblance was uncanny.

She looked exactly like Victoria had at that age.

"See something interesting, Mrs. Kingsley?" Evelyn's voice held a dangerous calm.

Eleanor pointed a shaking finger. "This...this is your daughter?"

Evelyn nodded. "Is that a problem?"

Eleanor's eyes darted between them, her expression shifting through a dozen emotions before settling on contempt. "So the viper has offspring of her own now. Tell me, Vivian, how would you feel if someone hurt your precious child? Did you think my daughter has no one to fight for her?"

Beneath the venom, Evelyn heard the raw pain of a mother's love.

"I'd destroy anyone who harmed Amelia," Evelyn said evenly. "But Mrs. Kingsley, are you certain you truly love your daughter?"

"What nonsense is this?" Eleanor bristled. "Trying to turn me against my own child now?"

Evelyn met her gaze steadily. "What I said on the rooftop was true. Margaret admitted it herself - your biological daughter with Mr. Kingsley died three years ago."

"Lies!" Eleanor's denial came too quickly, too forcefully.

Evelyn watched the flicker of doubt cross Eleanor's face and pressed her advantage. "Time will prove me right. But tell me - did anyone close to you die three years ago?"

The color drained from Eleanor's face.

Evelyn Sinclair had died three years ago.

"Amelia, say goodbye to Ethan. It's time to go home."

"Okay, Mommy!" Amelia waved cheerfully at Ethan.

Evelyn's heart ached at the longing in Ethan's eyes as he watched them. "We'll see each other soon, Ethan."

"Vivian!" Ethan broke free from Eleanor's grasp and ran to Evelyn. "I made this for you." He pressed a simple crystal bracelet into her palm, the sunlight setting the beads ablaze. "In art class. Please wear it always."

The lump in Evelyn's throat made speech impossible. "Ethan—"

"Ethan Blackwood! Get back here this instant!" Eleanor yanked him away without a backward glance.

Evelyn clutched the bracelet like a lifeline all the way home. That night, she fastened it carefully around her wrist - a child's gift more precious than any jewel.

Her hatred for Alexander and Victoria burned as fiercely as ever, but Ethan's innocent affection left ashes of guilt in its wake.

When vengeance came, would this sweet boy learn to hate her too?

Dawn found Evelyn already dressed, determined to find Ethan the perfect gift in return. But as she stepped outside, a black sedan screeched to a halt.

Two masked figures emerged. The chloroform-soaked cloth was over her mouth before she could scream.