Chapter 49

What would Victor say next? And why did Diana’s small act of kindness feel like a lifeline in a storm?

Evelyn stood in the Cardiac Surgery Department, her fingers tightening around the edge of the desk as Victor’s words sliced through the air.

"Lila is offering you an assistant position as a favor. With your skills, tell me—what hospital would even consider hiring you?"

A bitter smile curled Evelyn’s lips. Of course. In Victor’s eyes, only Lila’s achievements mattered. Had he ever truly seen her? When she had brought home a flawless report card, he had barely glanced at it before dismissing her, too engrossed in his work to care.

During university, her grades hadn’t matched Lila’s—but not because she lacked ability. No, she had realized early on that every time she outshone Lila, her sister’s congratulations came with a strained smile. Grace had advised her to step back, to let Lila shine. "She’s always been kind to you," Grace had said. So Evelyn had held back, scraping by with just enough to pass. And Lila? She had brightened, even offering to tutor her.

Now, looking back, Evelyn wondered how she had been so naive.

"I already have a job," she said coolly.

Victor scoffed. "What kind of job? Some back-alley clinic with no future? Quit and take Lila’s offer at Grand Oaks General. Don’t be ungrateful." His tone was sharp, final.

Evelyn opened her mouth to retort, but Diana cut in.

"Enough. If Evelyn has a job, let her keep it. She doesn’t need to follow Lila everywhere. She has her own path."

A warmth flickered in Evelyn’s chest.

Lila sighed, playing the peacemaker. "Dad, if Evelyn doesn’t want to come to Grand Oaks, we shouldn’t force her."

Victor’s jaw tightened. "Fine. Do as you please, Evelyn. But I’d love to see which hospital was desperate enough to hire you."

With that, he turned away, dismissing her entirely. Evelyn barely flinched.

After dinner, she retreated to the Black family estate. Stepping into the bedroom, she froze.

Two beds.

The spacious room, once solely hers, now held a second bed—undoubtedly Nathan’s doing. She exhaled, too tired to dwell on it. After a quick shower, she slipped beneath the covers, eager for rest before her shift tomorrow.

Just as her eyes closed, the door creaked open.

Nathan stepped inside, and in an instant, Dylan’s words echoed in her mind. "He’s always loved Serena."

Her chest tightened. She shot him a frosty glare before turning away. Nathan ignored it, and silence settled over the room like a suffocating blanket.

Evelyn fell into a fitful sleep—only to jerk awake hours later, gasping, her skin slick with sweat.

A nightmare.

In it, Victor, Grace, even Nathan—they had all conspired to kill her. Grace’s dagger had been inches from her heart when she woke, her pulse racing.

Why would she dream something so cruel about the people closest to her?

Shaking, she slipped out of bed and onto the balcony. Curling into the swing chair, she hugged her knees to her chest, the night air doing little to calm the storm inside her.