Chapter 4

Evelyn couldn't reconcile the venomous woman hurling insults with the Victoria she knew.

From the moment she had been brought into the Montgomery household, Victoria had always appeared gracious, poised, and kind. But now...

"I'm furious! I spent weeks planning this—getting Alexander to drink that spiked wine, arranging for reporters to catch us together at dawn so Henry Blackwood would force him to marry me. And then I mixed up the damn room number and ended up with some filthy nobody while Evelyn got everything!"

So this was the truth. The sweet sister who had pleaded for mercy earlier was nothing but a viper.

Evelyn's pulse roared in her ears. A sickening hysteria clawed at her chest.

This was the woman Alexander adored—the gentle, refined Victoria everyone admired.

The sister Evelyn had respected all these years.

"You absolute fool! How could you mess up something so simple?" Margaret Dawson, Victoria's mother, snapped.

"I took the drugs too—I thought it would make it more fun! How was I supposed to know they'd hit me that hard?" Victoria's voice turned shrill. "What now? I can't stand her being Mrs. Blackwood for another second! Alexander is mine!"

"Relax," Richard Montgomery cut in smoothly. "Did you see how worried Alexander was just now? One word from you, and he'll divorce that gutter rat without hesitation."

Margaret chuckled. "Your father's right. Alexander only married her because Henry forced him. He loves you. The moment you ask, that title will be yours."

Victoria smirked. "Who does that trash think she is, daring to take what's mine? If her bone marrow hadn't matched mine, she'd still be rotting in that orphanage. Do you know how sick it makes me to call her my sister?"

Evelyn's vision darkened. Ice slithered up her spine.

The Montgomerys hadn't taken her in out of kindness. She was just a spare part for Victoria.

Five years of false sisterhood. Five years of being nothing when no one was watching.

Pathetic.

A bitter laugh lodged in Evelyn's throat. The truth was so ugly it made her stomach churn.

"Ugh! I staged this whole suicide scene to push Alexander into divorcing her, and then he just left for some emergency meeting!" Victoria whined.

Another act. Another manipulation.

And Alexander—sharp, ruthless Alexander—fell for it every time.

"Don't worry, darling," Margaret purred. "I'll call Alexander and tell him Evelyn came here to torment you, driving you to attempt suicide. He'll sign those papers before sunset."

Victoria brightened. "Perfect! Do it now!"

Evelyn's last shred of hope shattered.

With a cold smile, she pushed the door open. "Funny. Because as long as I'm breathing, Victoria, you'll never be Mrs. Blackwood."