Chapter 5

Evelyn's face was pale, her eyes rimmed red, swirling with emotions even she couldn't put a name to.

Vera's chest tightened just looking at her. She opened her mouth, wanting to say all the words she'd prepared, but nothing came out.

She ended up softly asking, "Are you feeling any better?"

Evelyn didn't answer.

She lifted the blanket and got out of bed barefoot, stepping toward her mom.

Her gaze never wavered, as if she was trying to memorize this face down to every detail.

"Mom." Evelyn threw herself into her arms. "I'm sorry. I scared you."

Vera froze.

Evelyn had started changing ever since Nathaniel showed up.

She'd gotten sharp, stubborn, always on edge—like any warmth from the family was some kind of threat.

But right now, she could feel Evelyn's frail trembling.

"As long as you're okay..."

She hugged her back tightly.

Vera didn't know what her daughter had been through. Honestly, it didn't matter. All that mattered was that Evelyn was finally letting herself lean on her again.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. Mom's here."

That ball of worry that had been sitting in Vera's chest finally loosened, only to be replaced by a deep ache.

Her daughter had been cherished all her life, never even scraped her knee, let alone something like this.

A car crash, days unconscious, and now she looked so... fragile.

The thought made Vera's anger toward Lillian bubble up again.

She gently held Evelyn's shoulders, her voice serious. "Evelyn, tell me the truth—was the accident really just an accident? I've said it before and I'll say it again, Nathaniel and Lillian getting close to you, it's not that simple!"

In the past, Evelyn would've snapped back the minute her mom questioned her fiancé and best friend.

But this time, she just stood quietly, listening, her eyes calm and steady.

It was the beginning of the end in her last life—cutting ties with her family to chase love that turned out to be poison.

With no Mitchell family behind her, she had been nothing more than a pawn, trapped between Lillian's sweetness and Nathaniel's manipulation.

"Mom," Evelyn said, tightening her grip on Vera's hand, "I hear you."

She paused, like trying to get a handle on the storm churning inside her, choosing her words slowly.

"The accident... made me think a lot. I used to be blinded by fake kindness.

"I know you've always just wanted to protect me.

"As for the engagement with Nathaniel... I'm going to rethink it."

Those words hit Vera right in the heart.

"I'm so glad to hear that, Evelyn!" She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "You have no idea how scared I was when I found out about the crash."

She blinked quickly, trying to push back the sting in her eyes.

Evelyn saw the relief on her mother's face and felt a wave of guilt crash over her.

She added softly, "I'm also going to reach out to Alexander. I owe him an apology."

"Alexander's such a good kid." Vera's tone softened at the mention of him. "He's always treated you sincerely. If you're willing to reconsider... Mom really thinks you two might have a future."

She didn't finish the sentence, but her eyes said it all.

The Grays had always been close family friends, and she'd watched Alexander grow up.

His character, his abilities, his family—everything was on point. Most of all, he truly cared for Evelyn.

If her daughter could find her way back to him, it would be everything Vera could hope for.

Evelyn just gave a small nod, but didn't agree right away. "Mom, there's no rush with all this. I'll deal with it."

"Alright, just get more rest. I'll go grab something for you to eat and regain some strength."

Seeing her daughter finally soften a bit, Vera looked pretty relieved.

As her mom walked out with a cheerful expression, the calm mask on Evelyn's face quietly slipped away.

She took a deep breath, sat back on the bed, and closed her eyes, trying to hold back the wave of emotions brewing inside.

But Vera had barely left when hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.

"Evie, I heard Vera was here—are you okay?"

Lillian's voice came before she did.

She pushed open the not-quite-closed door, her face plastered with her usual soft expression.

Striding over to the bed, she naturally reached out to grab Evelyn's hand.

Evelyn, without a word, tucked her hand back under the blanket before Lillian could touch her.

"Lillian, what brought you here?"

She looked up, her gaze steady and unreadable.

Lillian's heart skipped a beat.

Something felt... off.

Normally, Evelyn would've been a mess after an argument with her family, desperate for someone to lean on.

Lillian quickly smothered that uneasy feeling. "As soon as I heard you woke up, I came rushing over. Just saw Vera downstairs; she didn't look too happy. Evie... did she pressure you about Alexander again?"

"No," Evelyn cut her off, "She just came to check on me, that's all.

"Oh, and I've decided—I'm not ready to go through with the engagement with Nathaniel."

"What?" Lillian blurted out. "Evie, did your mom say something to make you change your mind? You and Nathaniel have been together so long, he's been looking forward to this. How can you just... drop it like that?"

Seeing how anxious she looked, Evelyn gave a cold, almost amused smile.

She remembered her past life all too well—to that fake concerned face that had steered her right into disaster, again and again.

It was like she could see Lillian standing at the edge of a cliff again, twisted with jealousy and spite.

"I mean, does it really need to be such a big deal?" Evelyn raised a brow. "Oh, and... I heard you and Nathaniel have been spending quite a bit of time together?"

Lillian stiffened, eyes flickering as she faltered.

"That's nonsense! Who told you that?" she blurted. "You know I only see him as a big brother! Don't you believe those stupid rumors."

She even lifted a hand like she was solemnly swearing.

Evelyn almost wanted to applaud the performance.

"Relax," she said coolly. "I'm not accusing you of anything. But where there's smoke, there's usually fire. And I care about this.

"Getting engaged—this isn't something to rush. If Nathaniel really cares, he'll wait while I figure things out, right?"

Lillian froze, completely thrown off by Evelyn's calm refusal to play along.

Everything she was about to say just dried up in her throat.

Meeting Evelyn's indifferent gaze, a chill crept up from her toes to her spine.

If Evelyn slipped out of her control now, everything she'd worked for would fall apart!

"Evie, I..."

"I'm tired, Lillian." Evelyn closed her eyes, her voice tinged with weariness. "I just woke up from a damn car crash. I've seen a lot of people today, talked even more. My head's still spinning. Let's talk later, once I've rested."

The message couldn't be clearer—door's that way.

Lillian stood frozen, her nails digging deep into her palms.

Evelyn was acting weird. Way too weird.

She couldn't read her at all right now.

Had someone told her something?

She couldn't just leave like this.

A flood of thoughts sped through Lillian's head as she stood there, rooted in place, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.