Chapter 97

The night grew darker, swallowing the last remnants of daylight.

Evelyn Sinclair froze mid-step when she heard those words. A cold numbness spread through her veins, as if her blood had turned to ice.

Tristan Whitmore's cruel words pierced Evelyn's heart like shards of glass, reopening wounds she'd fought so hard to heal.

All the scars she'd carefully concealed now lay exposed. The carefully constructed facade of indifference crumbled.

She'd tried desperately to erase those three years from her memory. Yet these people kept dragging her back, reminding her how worthless they'd made her feel.

Lucas Sterling's voice dripped with venom as he stepped forward. "Tristan Whitmore, have you no humanity left?"

He knew Evelyn had suffered during her marriage to the Blackwoods. The Sterling brothers had been forbidden from investigating, their father's orders absolute.

Now, seeing just a glimpse of Evelyn's torment, Lucas's hands clenched into fists. This was how they'd treated the woman his family cherished above all others?

Tristan remained silent for a beat. Protecting Vanessa Holloway had been Nathan's dying father's last request. That made Vanessa's life more valuable, didn't it?

"Are you really going to let her die?" Tristan pressed. "It's just blood. What's the big deal? Besides, you've done it before, haven't you, Evelyn?" Nathan's expression darkened.

Evelyn turned slowly, her lips curling into a smile that never reached her eyes. There was something terrifying in her gaze as she approached Vanessa's prone form.

"Just a little blood, Mr. Whitmore? How easily you say that." Tristan stiffened, unease creeping up his spine. Something about Evelyn had changed - something dangerous.

"A life hangs in the balance," Tristan argued weakly. "Surely you're not so heartless?"

Evelyn's laugh was brittle. "Compared to precious Vanessa, what's my blood worth? Should I be grateful for the opportunity to bleed for her?"

The smile vanished. In one swift motion, Evelyn lifted her foot and brought it down hard on Vanessa's wounded head.

The scream that tore from Vanessa's throat shattered the tense silence. Chaos erupted.

Tristan recoiled, pointing a shaking finger. "You—!" Nathan instinctively tightened his grip on Vanessa, shock rendering him speechless.

Natalie Beaumont moved to stand before Evelyn - not to restrain her, but to shield her from retaliation. Vanessa's wound had reopened, fresh blood mingling with the bruise now blooming across her forehead.

"Mr. Blackwood. Mr. Whitmore." Evelyn's voice cut through the commotion like steel. "Let me make myself perfectly clear. I'm not the compassionate fool I once was. Whether Vanessa Holloway lives or dies means nothing to me."

She took a step closer, her gaze locking onto Vanessa's terrified face. "But this I promise - not a single drop of my blood will ever flow through her veins again. Consider it mercy that I don't drain her dry right now."

Evelyn's words rang out, sharp and unyielding. "If either of you dare ask me again, I'll take back every ounce I ever gave her - with interest."

She smiled then, a cold, mirthless thing. "Moral blackmail? I'll burn my morals to the ground before I let you win."

Nathan remained silent, Tristan's words even making him flinch. What right did they have to demand this of Evelyn now?

Tristan paled beneath Evelyn's undisguised hatred. For the first time, he felt genuine fear of the woman he'd once dismissed as weak.

Evelyn's gaze returned to Vanessa. Her lips curved in a predator's smile.

"I may not have Vanessa's talent for manipulation," she murmured. "But I do hope you survive, Ms. Holloway. After all, dead women can't suffer."