Chapter 4

Clara held her quickly, gently rubbing her back. "Eve, what's wrong?" she asked softly.

That one question cracked open the floodgates of Evelyn's memory.

In her previous life, she had woken up after the accident way later than now.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Lillian crying dramatically at her bedside.

"Eve, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't felt sick, you wouldn't have rushed out like that," Lillian clutched her hand, tears streaming down, voice trembling like she really meant every word. "Yell at me if you want, hit me even—but please, don't be mad anymore..."

And what did Evelyn do back then?

She actually comforted her.

"It's not your fault, Lil. I should've braked sooner. I'm fine now, really."

She didn't suspect a thing.

But why had the brakes suddenly failed during that downhill drive?

That so-called "accident" was Lillian's carefully planned trap.

Clara, just like now, had come running with a worried face to warn her.

She'd found proof that Lillian might've tampered with the car, noticed how close Lillian and Nathaniel were behind her back.

But Evelyn, completely blinded, had thought Clara was just being petty, trying to stir up trouble.

To protect those two snakes, Evelyn had gone off on Clara—her oldest friend—accusing her of being jealous and mean.

Clara was heartbroken and stopped interfering after that.

Then Nathaniel had swooped in while she was upset, wrapping his arm around her. His voice, which she used to find so gentle, whispered, "Eve, I've only ever seen Lil as a sister. She's had a rough life—it's only right we look after her."

"And Clara and the others... maybe they just come from a different world. Not everyone gets us."

That speech made Evelyn even more determined to marry him.

She wanted to prove their love was real, that she didn't care about anyone else's judgment.

So she went straight home and announced, without hesitation, "I'm getting engaged to Nathaniel. I won't marry anyone else."

Her dad exploded, her mom broke down in tears, and her brothers were furious.

"That Nathaniel guy is shady. He's clearly just after the Mitchell family's money."

"Eve, wake up! What's wrong with Alexander? He actually loves you..."

But Evelyn was too deep in her delusion.

She felt like everyone was trying to keep her from being happy.

"If you don't accept it, I'll leave this house and never come back!"

She could still see her mom's face—ashen, trying to grab her hand, but too devastated to hold on.

And she left without looking back.

Soon after, she moved into the place Nathaniel prepared for her and barely spoke to her family.

Then Alexander found her.

The guy she had pushed away again and again, but who never gave up on her.

With a tired look and a rough voice, he asked, "Eve... does it really have to be him? What about me?"

But she was too busy trying to push him toward Lillian.

After all, Lillian had once told her, eyes glittering with fake shyness, "Alex is amazing... If only he'd notice me. Eve, you know he cares about you the most. Can you help me?"

So Evelyn had actually said to him, "Alexander, you're a good guy, but we're not right for each other.

"Don't waste your time on me. Lil really likes you—go after her. Please."

She still remembered how Alexander looked at her then—staring like his heart had just been ripped out, lost and in disbelief.

Alexander didn't say another word—just turned around and left in silence.

And after that, like she had asked for it, he really started to keep his distance from her.

Meanwhile, she kept sinking deeper into Nathaniel's made-up tenderness, getting more and more lost in that fake warmth. One by one, she pushed away the ones who truly cared about her, until in the end, she was left with nothing. She'd dragged the whole Mitchell family and herself down a dead-end road...

"Evelyn! Evelyn, hey! Are you okay? Don't scare me like that!"

Clara's anxious voice yanked her out of memories she didn't want to revisit.

That's when Evelyn realized—her face was already soaked with tears.

Her whole body was trembling from regret.

She looked at Clara, who was staring at her with pure concern, and guilt overwhelmed her.

Evelyn suddenly leaned forward and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry, Clara... I'm sorry."

Clara blinked in surprise, but quickly returned the hug, whispering, "It's alright. You're okay now, that's all that matters.

"Did you have a nightmare or are you feeling unwell?"

"No," Evelyn shook her head, "I just... realized I was wrong. You've all been right all along.

"Lillian and Nathaniel, they're not who I thought they were.

"I didn't trust you... even fought with you about them..."

She looked up, her tear-streaked face showing an unfamiliar kind of clarity.

Clara's heart ached, but she was also a little confused.

She didn't get what had caused this sudden change, but she could tell Evelyn meant every word.

Clara sighed, then gently dabbed away Evelyn's tears with a tissue.

"Silly girl, it's not too late to see things clearly now," she said gently. "As long as you're alright and finally see those two for who they really are, that's all that matters. You really don't owe me anything."

"Clara..." Evelyn choked up again. "Thank you, for never giving up on me."

Clara held her hand and smiled softly. "Come on, don't be silly. We're best friends, right?"

And in that moment, warmth started to seep into Evelyn's frozen heart.

She was alive again, and she still had the chance to make things right.

They kept chatting for a bit, and eventually Clara reminded her to get some rest.

Evelyn promised, a rare softness in her voice that Clara couldn't help but comment on.

"Wow, Evelyn, you've really changed, huh?"

Evelyn gave a small laugh but didn't say anything back.

After Clara left, the room went quiet again.

Evelyn sat at the edge of the bed, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

Heaven must've given her another shot at this life...

But Alexander—his image in those final moments, when he died holding her, refused to fade.

Just thinking about him made her chest tighten with a sharp, stabbing pain.

That idiot.

Even after everything she'd done—pushing him away again and again—he still gave up everything for her. He didn't even hesitate in the end.

Her voice shook as she whispered, "Alexander, this time... I won't let you down."

As she sat lost in thought, a voice floated up from downstairs—some maid announcing, "Good afternoon, madam."

Evelyn froze. Then her heart leaped.

Mom?

In her past life, her mother had come to see her not long after she woke up.

But back then, she'd been full of resentment toward her family.

She hadn't even bothered to get up—actually told her mother to leave.

She still remembered how disappointed her mom had looked when she walked away.

At the time, it had felt satisfying. Now, she just felt ashamed.

Evelyn's gaze snapped to the door.

It creaked open, and an elegant figure stepped in.

Vera Drake was dressed in a well-fitted coat, her hair neatly pinned up.

Their eyes met.

Vera looked a little surprised that her daughter wasn't reacting like before.

"Evelyn, I heard you woke up, so I came to see you."