Chapter 42

The officer's question sent chills down Evelyn's spine. A horrifying realization dawned upon her.

This had been meticulously planned from the beginning. Everyone was involved.

All this suffering stemmed from loving a man she should have never met.

Evelyn clutched the cold prison bars desperately, sinking to her knees.

'Alexander Blackwood, if given another chance, I wish our paths had never crossed...'

Evelyn never expected to survive until her release day.

Perhaps the experimental medication Nathaniel arranged had miraculous effects on tumors.

Or maybe it was her burning desire to find the child stolen during her forced delivery. Somehow, she defied death.

Sunlight bathed the prison gates on her release day. Yet no warmth could melt the icy pain encasing her heart for three years.

The physical and emotional scars from those thousand nights remained etched across her body, permanent reminders of her torment.

Olivia rushed forward, gasping at Evelyn's emaciated frame. She pulled the hollow-eyed woman into a fierce embrace. "Eve, I've got you now. You'll never face anything alone again."

A fragile hope flickered in Evelyn's chest. Someone still cared.

Nathaniel's expression darkened seeing Evelyn's gaunt face. Guilt twisted his features.

He kept apologizing profusely. If only he hadn't been overseas during her trial, he could have protected her.

At least provided proper legal defense.

Evelyn shook her head at his remorse. "Nate, stop. You owe me nothing. Thank you for everything."

'The real debtors are that venomous snake Victoria Lancaster, and the heartless man I wasted twelve years loving.'

After settling in, Nathaniel took Evelyn to see Dr. Hayes for comprehensive tests.

Reviewing the results, Benjamin's eyebrows shot up. "I never expected my experimental treatment could halt tumor progression so effectively."

"Can she undergo surgery now?" Nathaniel pressed urgently, concern lacing every word.

Benjamin frowned. "Too risky currently. Continue medication while we monitor. We'll reassess."

Though disappointed, Evelyn felt grateful. "Thank you, Doctor. Thank you, Nate. Without you both, I wouldn't be here. Every extra day feels like a gift."

"Don't talk like that." Nathaniel gripped her shoulders firmly, intensity burning in his gaze. "Eve, I won't lose you."

His unspoken affection shimmered clearly in that moment.

Nathaniel was extraordinary - wealthy, handsome, kind-hearted.

Such a man deserved better than a divorced ex-convict with a death sentence.

She couldn't burden him.

Olivia insisted on taking Evelyn to a luxury salon afterward, declaring she needed "a fresh start transformation."

Too drained to protest, Evelyn complied.

Staring blankly at the mirror, she watched strands of her damaged hair fall away like her shattered illusions.

Each snip severed another memory of Alexander - their beachside promises, whispered dreams.

Everything ended when he authorized their child's kidnapping. No going back.

Hours later, Olivia gasped at Evelyn's transformation. "My God, Eve! You should be modeling, not wasting that face!"

Evelyn barely registered her reflection. The short-haired stranger staring back felt alien yet fitting - a visual representation of her rebirth.