u/Feisty-Paramedic-708

Matthew Levine once said his mother, Amelia Levine, was a very difficult woman. So after eight years together, Evangeline Reyes had never met his parents. To win over Amelia, Evangeline pretended to be a staff member and staged a chance encounter. It worked. They hit it off and became unlikely friends despite the age gap. Just as she finally worked up the courage to tell the truth, Amelia suddenly said, "You know what? My son, who's been hopeless with women, is getting married." Evangeline's heart skipped a beat. She was about to speak when she saw a photo of Matthew with an unfamiliar woman. "Mattie insisted on marrying her," Amelia went on. "Said if it wasn't her, he'd never marry in this lifetime. "Take a look for me—what do you think of this girl?" In the photo, he tilted his head slightly, eyes full of affection as he looked at the girl in his arms. And the girl nestled against him, happiness written all over her face. They looked perfect together. Evangeline stared, disbelief flooding her face. Her fingers trembled. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Her mind flashed back to that very morning. Matthew had pulled her into his arms, nuzzling her neck, whispering against her ear. The next second, Amelia's voice pulled Evangeline back to reality. "I didn't agree at first. He'd never even dated before—then suddenly he brings someone home and says he's getting married. It shocked me." "But later I found out this Nicole and Mattie were high school classmates. He had a crush on her back then. But she was focused on her studies and went abroad after graduation. He refused to date all these years—he was waiting for her. "That silly boy flew abroad every single month just to see her. He kept it up for eight years and finally won her over. The moment he did, he brought her home, afraid she might regret it." Amelia swiped through more photos. Each one was hard proof that Matthew was seeing another. Evangeline's face went pale. She stepped back, no longer able to hold herself together. Memories surfaced from their eight years together. Matthew never posted her on Instagram and never introduced her to his family or friends. She couldn't even drop by his office without scheduling it in advance. She had complained and argued with him about it. But he always answered calmly, "I don't post much on Instagram. "As for my friends, you know my background. Most of them are spoiled rich kids. They mess around and don't respect women. I don't want you dealing with that. "And work has to stay professional. I don't want personal matters affecting the company." Eventually, Evangeline let it go. In the past two years, she had hinted more than once about marriage. But Matthew told her, "My mother is very strict. She's picky about who I marry. I don't want you getting hurt. Can you wait two more years?" So, she waited and waited. What she got instead was news that he was marrying someone else. Evangeline felt like a complete fool. She didn't hear anything else Amelia said, then made up an excuse and left. On the ride home, she opened Nicole Houston's Instagram account that Amelia had sent her. The very first post announced an upcoming wedding. The photo showed Matthew on one knee, slipping a ring onto Nicole's finger. The caption read, "So someone really would spend eight years waiting for me." Evangeline continued scrolling. Every post showed things Matthew had done with Nicole. Three months ago, on Evangeline's birthday, he had been with Nicole, taking in the view of the Alps. Six months ago, when Evangeline was hospitalized after a car accident, he had been in Santorini watching the sunset with Nicole. One year ago, while Evangeline poured everything into planning a proposal, Matthew was under the northern lights in Iceland, confessing his love to Nicole for the 999th time. Even earlier, they were caught in a shooting on the streets of London. Matthew had shielded Nicole with his body and taken a bullet for her. Evangeline still remembered when he was rushed back on a medical flight, his clothes stained with blood. She had been terrified. She stayed by his side day and night, crying and begging him not to work himself so hard. She had always believed he traveled abroad every month for work and that he missed important holidays because he was too busy. Now, it all seemed laughable. Her vision blurred with tears. Evangeline stepped out of the cab and looked at the home that once felt warm and safe. She pushed open the door. Matthew was in the kitchen cooking. Her favorite barbecue ribs sat on the table. "You're back, honey? Go wash your hands. Dinner's ready." Evangeline didn't move. Matthew came out carrying baked salmon and gently stroked her head. "What's wrong? Your eyes are red. Did someone upset you?" Evangeline opened the wedding photo. "Should I be congratulating you?" she asked. Chapter 2 The room fell completely silent. The moment Matthew saw the photo, his gaze turned cold. He pushed his glasses up and said in a flat tone, "So you know." Evangeline couldn't believe how calm he was. "You're not going to explain?" He pulled out a chair, sat down, and ladled himself a bowl of soup. "Well, as you can see, I'm getting married." He sounded like he was talking about the weather. Evangeline snapped. She slapped the bowl from his hand. "What about me? What do you take me for?" What about the eight years she'd given him? Seeing the tears welling in her eyes, he finally sighed and pulled her into his arms. "Evie, I wasn't planning to tell you. I knew you wouldn't accept it. "But this is how things are now. You don't really have a choice. "Don't worry. Even after I get married, nothing between us has to change. "I'll buy you a villa. You'll have the best staff, housekeeper, nanny, and driver. As long as you don't cause trouble in front of Nicole, you can do whatever you want." Matthew's tone stayed gentle, the same as always. Evangeline bit her lip hard. "You want me to be your mistress?" He frowned slightly and stroked her hair. "With me around, no one would dare call you that." Her heart turned cold. She placed a hand over her lower abdomen, voice hollow. "Do you know why I've been pushing so hard to get married?" He looked confused. Just as he was about to ask, his phone rang. The moment he answered, he jumped to his feet and rushed toward the door. "Where are you? I'm coming right now!" Matthew moved so fast that he knocked into Evangeline. Her already slender frame hit the floor hard, and shards of broken porcelain dug into her leg. He didn't even look back. He walked straight out. Blood seeped from the cut, but it hurt far less than her chest. Inside her coat pocket was her pregnancy test report. She was four weeks pregnant. She'd planned to surprise him. But now, there was no point. That night, Evangeline sat by the window until morning. Nicole's Instagram was updated again. She'd gotten into a road accident. Matthew rushed over to handle it and stayed with her all night. At dawn, Evangeline sent him a message. "Let's break up." Then, she started packing. They had lived in this place for five years. Every corner held memories. She took nothing except a few essentials. When she was about to leave, Amelia called. Amelia's voice was cheerful. "The weather's perfect today. Come shopping with me. That new mall I told you about just opened." When Evangeline heard Amelia's voice again, bitterness was all that remained in her heart. Their time together had been real. If she was leaving, she at least wanted to say goodbye properly. With that in mind, Evangeline replied, "Okay." When she arrived, she saw two people standing behind Amelia. They were Matthew and Nicole. Evangeline turned to leave, but Amelia called her back. She introduced them with bright enthusiasm. "This is Evie, the one I told you about. This is my son and his fiancée. Perfect timing. I'll introduce you all." Matthew's eyes landed on her, a clear warning in them. Evangeline ignored the dull ache in her chest and forced a small smile. "They're picking out a wedding dress today. You young people have better taste. Help them choose." Amelia pulled her toward the bridal boutique. A dull ache spread across her chest. Inside, Nicole stepped out in a wedding gown. Matthew changed into a suit. Standing together, they looked like something out of a fairy tale. Nicole smiled at Evangeline. "What do you think?" Evangeline swallowed the pain and nodded. "It's beautiful. "You look great together." Matthew frowned slightly. He studied Evangeline's face and saw nothing unusual. Then, he remembered the message she'd sent that morning, and irritation flared. He wrapped an arm around Nicole. Lowering his head, he deliberately brushed against her neck while adjusting her zipper. They stood very close. The intimacy was obvious. Even the sales associates covered their faces, blushing. Evangeline's face turned paler and paler. She couldn't watch anymore. Holding her chest, she rushed to the restroom. After a violent wave of dry heaving, someone grabbed her wrist. The familiar scent of pine closed in as Matthew forced her into the corner. "Why have you been secretly approaching my mother?" Chapter 3 Evangeline instinctively tried to pull away, but Matthew pinned her in place, forcing her to tilt her head back and meet his eyes. "Why have you been contacting my mother behind my back?" he pressed. Her eyes reddened. What could she say? That she wanted to marry him, so she shamelessly approached Amelia and did everything she could to become part of his family? It would sound pathetic. Evangeline bit her lip and refused to answer. He let out a short laugh, released her, and said, "You're the same as always. You shut down whenever you're upset." He stroked her head gently. "Don't overthink it. Even if I marry someone else, nothing between us will change. "But Nicole doesn't know who you are. Be more careful around her. Don't let her find out." Matthew was using the same gentle tone, but now it only made her feel cold all over. Nicole's voice came from behind them. "Mattie?" He immediately stepped back, putting distance between them, then walked away as if nothing had happened. Evangeline's stomach churned again. She braced herself against the sink and gagged. Nicole walked in. When she saw Evangeline vomiting, surprise flickered in her eyes, then disappeared. "Ms. Reyes, is it fun being the mistress?" Evangeline looked up in shock. Nicole's refined features tightened with faint disdain. "You really think I don't know about you and Mattie?" At that moment, a chill ran through Evangeline. She had thought Nicole might have been misled and might not even have known she existed. But now, it was clear Nicole knew everything. Evangeline forced a sarcastic smile. "If you know that much, you should know who the mistress really is, then." Nicole didn't care. She replied, "The one who isn't loved is the mistress. "Mattie is only killing time with you. I'm the one he truly loves. "I kept rejecting him, so he settled for you as my substitute. You're just a toy. "Now that I'm back, you're the mistress." Nicole spoke with complete confidence. Evangeline had no interest in arguing with someone like her and tried to leave. Nicole grabbed her arm. "If you don't believe me, let's find out who Mattie actually cares about more. You or me." At that, she pulled a lighter from her bag and set the hallway carpet on fire. Flames spread instantly. Evangeline stared at her. "You're insane!" Nicole's gaze dropped to her stomach, eyes dark with malice. "If I'm not mistaken, you're pregnant. "I'm not letting you keep that illegitimate child..." She suddenly shoved Evangeline toward the fiercest part of the flames. The flames surged toward Evangeline, and she let out a startled scream. The next second, Matthew burst in, grabbed her, and pulled her into his arms. Clutching her aching lower abdomen, she was about to speak. Just then, Nicole cried out behind her, "Mattie, save me!" Without hesitation, Matthew released Evangeline and rushed toward Nicole. "Nikki's health is fragile. You've always been strong. I'll save her first." Ignoring the danger, he picked Nicole up and ran for the exit. Smoke filled the air, quickly blocking everything from view. Evangeline struggled to breathe. Sharp pain kept stabbing her lower abdomen, and she felt warm blood slowly soaking through between her legs. She was so desperate that she couldn't even call for help. She didn't know how much time had passed before she woke up in a hospital bed. The doctor told her, "You lost the baby." Evangeline lay in bed as tears slipped silently down her face, grief tearing through her. Matthew sat beside the bed with dark circles under his eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? "And why would you do something like setting a fire and hurting yourself?" Evangeline stared at him in disbelief. "You think I started the fire?" He looked at her, disappointed. "The investigation is over. It was arson. "You and Nikki were the only ones there. "She told me you threatened her and demanded she leave me. When she refused, you set the fire. "Evangeline, how did you become like this?" He spoke as if deeply disappointed. Evangeline felt nothing but absurdity. "You believe her that easily?" Matthew replied firmly, "Nikki is kind. Her arm was burned, and she didn't even care. She kept speaking up for you and told me not to pursue it. "You've really disappointed me." At that, he turned and left. Evangeline lay there, staring blankly at his back as tears fell one by one. She should have understood long ago. When it came to life and death, the only person he cared about was Nicole. Of course, he wouldn't believe Evangeline. His heart had always belonged to Nicole. Evangeline placed a hand over her now-empty lower abdomen and finally broke down, sobbing. She had been wrong. She'd loved the wrong man. Chapter 4 Matthew never came again. The nurses noticed Evangeline was always alone. Their expressions softened with sympathy. Some whispered to each other, "Ms. Reyes came in the same day as the woman next door. Both were in the fire. The other patient's boyfriend shows up every day, brings different meals, and takes care of her with extreme care. "Ms. Reyes hasn't had a single visitor. Same situation, but totally different outcome." Evangeline listened as they talked about how attentive he was to Nicole, how careful he was, and how he treated her like something precious. The pain in her chest had long since gone numb. The day she was discharged, she moved out of the home she'd shared with him for five years. Then, she started wrapping up her remaining work. She had studied architecture for seven years. After graduating, she worked for two years at one of the top studios in the country. Now, she was an independent designer. To make a name for herself, she entered one of the industry's most prestigious architecture competitions. She had already reached the finals. All that remained was the final result, a closing chapter to years of effort. But when she opened the competition website, she saw Nicole's name under her design. Nicole had taken her work and won first place. Evangeline's mind went blank. She immediately called the competition organizers. The response was blunt. "We've verified it. The project titled 'Returning Home' was submitted by Ms. Houston. As for your entry, it's been flagged for plagiarism. After review, your qualification has been revoked, and you've been permanently banned from future competitions." She opened the industry forum. The entire thread was about her plagiarism scandal. A former colleague called her. "Evie, what's going on with those plagiarism accusations? You didn't actually copy someone, did you? "It's already spreading across the industry. If it's not true, you need to clear it up fast, or you won't be able to work in this field anymore." Evangeline's hand trembled as she gripped the phone. "Returning Home" was something she spent six full months drafting by hand at home. Matthew knew every sketch and every design detail. The only person who could've had the complete set of drawings was him. Her blood ran cold. She went to Matthew and confronted him. "Why did you give my work to someone else?" Matthew answered calmly, "Nicole just returned to the country. She needed this competition to build her reputation." He sounded like it was the most natural thing in the world. Evangeline bit her lip, voice trembling. "So you just used my work? "Matthew, that was my life's work! This competition meant everything to me! What you did is plagiarism!" The word made his expression turn cold. "The competition is over, and the official announcement is out. Saying this now won't change anything. "And besides, you nearly seriously injured Nicole when you set that fire. I only used a few of your drawings. Consider it your apology to her." Evangeline almost laughed in disbelief. "An apology? "I didn't start that fire. Why should I apologize? "I'm not letting this go." At that, she turned and walked away. Even if Matthew had all her original drawings, her unique vision for the project, the material she'd gathered during site research, and years of groundwork behind it weren't something anyone else could replicate. She would submit everything to the committee and demand a reinvestigation. She would clear her name. She was driving to the organizers' office when a vehicle suddenly sped toward her from the side. There was a loud crash. The impact threw her body upward. Her head slammed hard against the glass, and the world spun. Warm liquid ran over her eyelids, and everything turned red. In the last second before she lost consciousness, she looked through the window at the driver of the SUV that hit her. It was Nicole. Chapter 5 On the chaotic street, Nicole gripped the steering wheel, trembling uncontrollably as she called Matthew. "Mattie, I got into an accident. Come help me." Ten minutes later, he arrived. When he saw Evangeline trapped in the wrecked car, bleeding heavily, his pupils tightened. "Evie! "How did this happen? Call an ambulance now!" Nicole's hands trembled as she sobbed. "Mattie, I didn't mean to. I was just scared. I didn't mean to. Don't blame me. Please don't blame me..." He pulled her into his arms. "Don't be afraid. I'll handle everything," he said. Then, he glanced at Evangeline on the ground, guilt flickering in his eyes. When Evangeline woke up, a week had passed. She had multiple fractures and a head injury. After several surgeries, she was finally out of danger. Matthew sat beside her bed. Dark circles lined his eyes, and stubble shadowed his jaw. When he saw her awake, relief flooded his face. "Evie, you're finally awake. How do you feel?" He gripped her hand tightly, as if afraid she might disappear. The doctor came to check her. "Her vitals look good. As long as she rests, she should recover." Only then did Matthew ease up, gripping her hand as if afraid something might still happen. Evangeline pulled it away. "It was Nicole, wasn't it?" she asked. He fell silent. Her lips trembled as tears slid down her face. "Where's the evidence I was going to submit to the committee?" Pain flashed in Matthew's eyes. "Evie, you just woke up. Don't worry about that right now." Summoning what little strength she had left, Evangeline shoved him away. "She almost killed me, Matthew! "I could've died!" She looked at the man she had loved for eight years. Grief and resentment filled her eyes. "You gave her my work to build her career. Then, you let her run me off the road. "Matthew, how did I ever fall for you..." Evangeline cried silently, struggling to breathe. "I'm not letting this go. "The person who hurt me will pay for it." Matthew sighed, guilt in his expression, but his tone stayed firm. "Evie, it's useless. I won't let you hurt Nicole." When she saw the resolve in his eyes, something clicked. "What are you saying?" He replied, "I burned the evidence you collected. "The competition's over. The committee's already disbanded. The ownership of 'Returning Home' won't be disputed again. "As for the driver who hit you, the police have already arrested a drunk driver. The case is closed. The accident has nothing to do with Nicole. Even if you appeal after you're discharged, it won't change anything." Evangeline's eyes widened. Every word felt like it was cutting straight into her. Her blood seemed to turn cold. Tears fell, but she started laughing. She laughed so hard it hurt. "Matthew, you actually went this far for her." She had overestimated herself. Her tears soaked the pillow. The pain tore through her wounds, and the monitors beside the bed began beeping. Matthew snapped back to attention and hurried to comfort her. "Evie, I know you're upset, but Nicole didn't mean it. She was just scared. "I'll make it up to you. You like kids, don't you? You wanted a child, right? "I'll give you a child. We can go back to how things were, okay?" Evangeline said nothing. She simply closed her eyes, numb. She thought, "Matthew, nothing's the same anymore. "There's no going back." Chapter 6 After that, Matthew really did act like things had gone back to how they used to be. He cooked for her every day. He brought small gifts to the hospital to keep her entertained. Afraid she'd get bored, he downloaded her favorite shows onto a tablet and brought the books she liked. He even acted like a full-time caregiver. He wiped her down, helped with the bedpan, and accompanied her to physical therapy without complaint. Even the nurses praised him. "Your boyfriend treats you so well. I've worked here for years, and I've never seen a man this attentive." Evangeline just curled her lips in a faint, self-mocking smile. That day, after finishing rehab, she returned to the ward and immediately felt something was off. People in the hallway were looking at her strangely. Even the nurse who usually chatted with her now looked at her with open contempt. When it was time for her IV, the nurse jabbed the needle roughly and missed several times. Evangeline inhaled sharply in pain. "Maybe try the other hand?" The nurse sneered. "You got yourself beaten into the hospital for being the mistress, and you're worried about a little pain?" Evangeline stared at her, confused. "What mistress?" The nurse shoved her hand aside. "It's all over the internet. You're the homewrecker. "That guy who kept visiting you is your affair partner, right? He has a girlfriend, and you still tried to break them up. You're shameless!" The words stabbed into Evangeline's chest. She opened her phone with her trembling hands. The top trending topic was about her. "Rising designer caught in plagiarism scandal, then exposed for breaking up someone else's relationship." The internet was flooded with insults. Someone had even leaked her phone number and home address. In just minutes, her phone was flooded with calls. Evangeline accidentally answered one call. The moment it connected, she was met with vicious insults. Then, her younger sister, Cindy Reyes, called, sobbing uncontrollably. "Evie, what's going on online? Why are they saying you're the mistress? "Someone came to our house. Dad saw everything and had a heart attack. Come back now!" Her head rang, and the world spun. Ignoring her still-healing body, she grabbed her crutch and took a cab to the hospital, where her father, Darren Reyes, was. When she saw him lying pale on the bed, hair completely white, her chest tightened in pain. How had things turned out like this? Evangeline's eyes reddened, and she trembled, barely daring to reach out. Cindy choked back tears. "Evie, what's happening? Weren't you with Mattie for eight years? How did you suddenly become the mistress?" Evangeline bit her lip hard as tears fell. She knew exactly who did it. It must be Nicole. She turned and left, found Nicole, and slapped her hard. The next second, Matthew appeared and pulled Nicole behind him. "Evangeline, what are you doing?" Evangeline's eyes were red, voice hoarse. "Do you know what she's done?" He frowned. He had heard about the rumors online. He had also just learned about Darren's heart attack, too. But so what? "Your father's situation was caused by internet trolls. It has nothing to do with Nicole. She didn't expect this to happen either. "I'll arrange the best doctors for him, but that's not a reason for you to hit her. "Apologize to Nikki now!" Evangeline laughed like she'd heard the most ridiculous joke. "You want me to apologize to her? "If she hadn't spread those lies online, my father wouldn't have had a heart attack. "If anything happens to him, she's responsible. And you want me to apologize to her?" Matthew's expression darkened. "Your dad isn't dead, is he? "And Nicole only posted a few things online because she was jealous. Do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?" He grabbed Evangeline's arm, forcing her to bow toward Nicole. "Get on your knees and apologize. If you do, I'll let this go." Evangeline bit her lip stubbornly and refused. Nicole spoke softly, pretending to be generous. "It's fine, Mattie. Ms. Reyes probably acted on impulse. I don't blame her." Hearing that only made Matthew angrier. He shoved Evangeline away, and she hit the ground hard. "Fine. You won't apologize, right? "Evangeline, you'd better stay this stubborn forever!" After saying that, he turned and left. She lay on the ground, pain shooting through her leg, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her chest. When she returned to the hospital, Darren was still unconscious. The doctor said all they could do now was wait and see. Evangeline finally broke down, collapsing beside the bed and sobbing. The next day, when she tried to pay the hospital bill, the doctor said, "This card's frozen. Do you have another one?" She froze. The card belonged to Darren. How could it be frozen? She used her own card to pay, then prepared to make some calls when Darren's friend, Caleb Blevins, called. "Evie, did your dad offend someone? The company's been shut down. I asked around. It looks like the Levine Group is behind it. "What happened? How did he anger someone that powerful?" Evangeline's face went pale. It was Matthew. He had shut down Darren's company. After her mother died, Darren raised Cindy and her alone, surviving on that small renovation business. Now the company was sealed, and all assets under Darren's name were frozen. Cindy was still in school, and Darren needed expensive treatment. Only then did Evangeline understand what Matthew meant when he left. He was driving her into a dead end. Chapter 7 Her phone chimed. It was a video. Evangeline tapped it open, and the moment she realized what she was seeing, her hands started trembling. It was a video of Cindy being held hostage. The world tilted. She forced herself to stay standing and immediately called Matthew. "Let Cindy go. Please. "I'll do anything. Just let her go. She's still a minor." In that moment, nothing else mattered. She let go of her pride and dignity. She only wanted Cindy to be safe. But the voice on the other end was Nicole. "Ms. Reyes, an apology should be sincere. Saying a few words over the phone doesn't count. You should come in person." Evangeline understood. She hung up and rushed to the address Nicole gave her. Only when she arrived did she realize there was a party going on. Matthew stood with Nicole in his arms, looking at her coldly. "Do you admit your mistakes?" Evangeline lowered her head, biting her lip until it hurt. "Yes." Evangeline dropped to her knees. "I shouldn't have hit her. It was my fault. Please let Cindy go." Rain lashed her face, but Evangeline ignored the way she looked and the whispers around her. She shuffled forward on her knees, throwing away every shred of dignity as she begged him, "Please. Let Cindy go. She's still a student. She's not even an adult yet." Something flickered in Matthew's eyes, and he was about to speak. Nicole curled her lips into a smile. "If you want my forgiveness, it's simple. Kneel here all night. "There's a party inside tonight, and there are a lot of people. If anyone asks why you're kneeling here, you have to admit you shamelessly acted as a mistress and came to make amends. "Can you do that?" Her voice carried through the video still playing on the tablet. On the other end, her bound sister suddenly shouted, "Evie, don't listen to her! You didn't do anything wrong! Don't admit it!" The video cut off. Evangeline panicked. "I'll do it. I'll do whatever you want! Just let my sister go." The rain kept getting heavier. The party inside went on while she knelt alone in the courtyard. At first, some people tried to help. They offered umbrellas and tried to pull her up. But each time, she repeated mechanically, "I broke up someone's relationship. I'm the mistress. I deserve this. I'm here to make amends." Eventually, no one tried anymore. Instead, people started secretly taking photos. Some even recorded videos. Evangeline knew what would happen after tonight. She would become the woman everyone condemned. Wherever she went, people would recognize her from the videos and call her a shameless homewrecker. But she didn't care. She only wanted Cindy to be safe. By morning, her legs were completely numb. Only then did Matthew finally give her an address. Ignoring the pain in her injured legs, she rushed to the outskirts by cab. When she arrived at the abandoned factory, she saw torn clothing scattered across the floor. Cindy lay on the ground, barely breathing. In that moment, Evangeline nearly broke. By the time she got Cindy to the hospital, she felt like a walking shell. The doctor spoke gravely, "The patient was assaulted by multiple individuals. She has a pelvic fracture, extensive bruising, internal tearing, and severe bleeding..." Evangeline's ears rang. She felt the world spinning, and she almost passed out. But she couldn't fall. She was all Cindy had left. She had to take good care of Cindy. Clinging to that thought, she forced herself to keep going. When she returned from the cafeteria with food, she saw blood all over the bed. Cindy had slit her wrists. Evangeline couldn't take it anymore and blacked out. When she woke, the doctor said softly, "I'm sorry. Your sister didn't make it." Evangeline lay numb on the hospital bed. It felt like a hole had been torn open in her chest, hollow and strangely painless. She couldn't even cry. Cindy, her sister, who had clung to her since childhood, and the one who always took her side no matter what happened, had been killed by a group of animals because of her. Suddenly, Evangeline struggled to breathe. She hated herself so much that she felt like she might suffocate. The heart monitor beside her bed started beeping. The doctor rushed in and injected a sedative. He said gently, "I know you're devastated about your sister, but you have to stay strong. Your father still needs you. "He's awake now, but he needs someone to care for him. If you collapse, what will he do?" Evangeline turned toward the ward next door, grief filling her eyes. Just as the doctor said, Darren had regained consciousness. But the heart attack had left him partially paralyzed. He couldn't even eat or drink without help. From the hospital bed, Darren slowly reached out and clumsily wiped the tears from her face. Then, he made a few slurred sounds. Evangeline understood. He was trying to comfort her and telling her to keep living. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She broke down and sobbed. A week later, Evangeline completed Darren's discharge paperwork. She held Cindy's funeral, packed everything up, and prepared to leave. Just before she left, her phone rang. It was a message from Matthew. "Done throwing your tantrum yet? It's been a week. What exactly are you trying to do?" "I just asked you to apologize. Is that really such a big deal?" Evangeline calmly turned off the phone. She wiped the data and tossed it into the river. With a dull splash, the phone carrying eight years of their relationship sank into the rushing water and disappeared. Evangeline pushed Darren's wheelchair into the airport. From this moment on, she wanted nothing more to do with Matthew. Next Chapter

I'm no longer his secret

Too late love means nothing