Chapter 445

Evelyn had prepared herself to face them all.

Yet when her eyes met the silver-haired Henry Blackwood, her heart clenched painfully. Still, she maintained her composed gaze.

"Grandfather, you're right. I'm Evelyn."

The admission slipped past her lips at last. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, hot and insistent.

"Grandfather, thank you for believing in me all those years. You were the only one in this family who ever showed me kindness. I'll never forget that."

The old man shuffled forward with the aid of his cane, his aged hands trembling slightly. His clouded eyes softened as they settled on her face, filled with warmth and understanding.

"My dear child... you've finally come back to us. This old heart is glad."

The tenderness in his voice made guilt twist sharply in Evelyn's chest. "I'm sorry, Grandfather. I fear I may disappoint you again."

"Never." His cold fingers wrapped around hers, squeezing gently. "I see the woman you've become, and I couldn't be prouder. Alexander wronged you terribly. No fortune or title is worth a human life. But by God's grace, you survived."

"Grandfather—"

"My support has always been yours. That will never change."

His words carved straight through her defenses.

Just then, Sebastian's call interrupted them. With a final farewell, Evelyn took her leave.

The moment the door closed behind her, Margaret Blackwood collapsed into a chair, her face ashen. "She's alive. All this time... she was right under our noses! This is revenge—she's here to destroy us!"

Her fingers shook as she dialed Alexander's number repeatedly, only to be met with silence.

Panic clawed at her throat. "I can't just wait for her to strike first!"

"And what exactly do you intend to do?" Henry's bushy white eyebrows drew together in disapproval.

"Father! You heard her—that's Evelyn Sinclair! The girl we buried three years ago! Do you think she's returned out of forgiveness? With her new status and connections, she's more dangerous than ever!"

"So it was acceptable to torment her when she was powerless, but now that she's formidable, you tremble? Have you ever considered your own actions? What kind of mother-in-law does that make you?"

"But Father, I—"

"I warned you about Victoria's true nature, yet you pushed Evelyn away at every turn. Have you truly never noticed your own son has loved her from the beginning?"

Margaret's mouth fell open. "W-what?"

Alexander... loved Evelyn?

That couldn't be.

After leaving Blackwood Estate, Evelyn drove Alexander's car to an upscale bistro downtown.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights glittered like scattered diamonds. The scene should have been peaceful, beautiful.

She raised her wine glass. The rich burgundy liquid burned a path down her throat, its sweetness undercut by a lingering bitterness.

"You don't seem happy."

Evelyn shook her head. "I am. It's just... I hate disappointing Grandfather."

Sebastian's expression darkened at the mention of Henry.

She remembered his story—his deep-seated resentment toward the Blackwoods, especially the patriarch.

Before she could redirect the conversation, her phone buzzed.

The name on the screen made her breath catch.

Eleanor Kingsley.