Chapter 22 She Really Didn’t Need It Anymore Yvonne felt like the world had just crashed around her.
In those pictures–it wasn’t Evelyn at all. It was Alice with Seth.
The photos were clear as day, and half the neighborhood had seen them.
There was no way to deny it now. The truth hit like a punch to the gut.
Losing control. Yvonne charged at Seth and grabbed him by the neck. “Why would you do this to Alice? Why would you do this to her?!”
Seth choked, gasping for air as he fought to break free.
He finally pulled away, coughing hard and holding his throat. Still out of breath, he stammered, “Wh–what? Alice? What are you even talking about? It was Evelyn! I was with Evelyn last night!”
That was when Evelyn stepped forward, her tone calm and steady. “We broke up a long time ago,” she said. “Why would I have anything to do with you now? You tried to force me into marrying you by pulling this stunt, and in the end, you didn’t even get the right person. You dragged Alice into it instead.”
The truth was out.
Everyone saw it for what it was. Seth had made up the whole thing himself.
Evelyn had already walked away from him, but he tried to stir up a scandal to trap her. And in the mess, he ended up pulling the wrong girl into it. Now he stood there like a fool, thinking he’d won something.
“What’s wrong with him? Someone call the cops already!”
Seth’s heart dropped.
He hadn’t thought this through.
He figured people would gossip if they found out he tricked Evelyn, but that was it. Perhaps some dirty looks and a few
rumors.
But now, with this mess involving both girls, things had gotten out of hand.
Zaid was furious. Not saying a word, he ripped off his belt, tied Seth’s hands, and shoved him into the Jeep without hesitation.
The car sped off with a loud screech.
Yvonne stood there like a statue, still holding the camera. Her face was blank, and her voice trembled as she mumbled, “N- no… This can’t be real….
She couldn’t figure out what went wrong. The plan was supposed to be flawless. Why did everything fall apart?
By the time she came to her senses and turned around, Evelyn was already gone.
Of course, she had left.
She wasn’t about to stay behind and deal with Yvonne alone.
A person who’s lost control is dangerous. Evelyn knew that.
While Yvonne stood there in shock, Evelyn had already slipped through the crowd, disappearing without anyone noticing.
She felt lighter than ever. All that bitterness and pain from her previous life had finally been tossed aside.
Back then, Yvonne and Alice had ruined her, using her until she was nothing.
But this time? They never saw it coming.
From the moment Alice gave her that red dress to wear at the graduation party, claiming it was a peace offering, Evelyn had
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Chapter 22 She Really Didn’t Need It Anymore
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known something was off
It was their final group dinner before graduation. Every girl wanted to look their best that night.
Wearing that bright red dress, Evelyn turned heads the second she walked in. People kept handing her drinks, complimenting her, and toasting her over and over.
But Evelyn wasn’t good at drinking. She barely made it halfway through the evening before sneaking off to throw up. Then she had some hangover cure to clear her head and came back acting tipsy.
That was when Seth attacked, shoving a cloth soaked with ether over her face.
The kind he used would knock someone out in seconds.
But Evelyn didn’t breathe it in. She faked it.
Then, while Seth was off cleaning his shirt, she knocked Alice out cold and switched outfits with her, letting them dig their own graves.
It was such a simple plan. But they actually thought they’d outsmarted me. What a joke.
Evelyn had long suspected Alice’s motives for giving her the dress–no one would suddenly change like that without a reason.
And she was right.
This time, Evelyn had flipped their plan on them, turning their trap into her own win.
Now, all she had to do was wait and let everything else crash down around them.
With that thought, she headed for the old, abandoned factory.
The sun was shining that day. Warm golden light streamed through cracks in the old walls, soft and gentle.
As she climbed the stairs, she heard laughter coming from inside. It was Marvin and Rachel, talking and laughing like the air wasn’t heavy anymore.
The place didn’t feel as gloomy as it used to.
When Marvin saw Evelyn walk in. he jumped up excitedly. “Dr. Schmidt! I caught a few fish by the canal and grilled them. Want to try?”
Evelyn followed his gaze and spotted the fish over the fire..
The skin had been cleaned and gutted, and it sizzled with oil, giving off a tempting aroma.
It actually looked pretty good.
But the fish were small, probably meant for Rachel.
Evelyn smiled and waved it off. “I’ve got visitors coming by later, so I’ll be eating at home.”
Marvin didn’t insist after that.
He turned the topic back to Rachel’s recovery.
Three days ago, her wounds had finally started to scab.
And earlier that morning, fresh pink skin had started showing. It was clean and soft, clearly healing.
Marvin was beyond grateful.
He never thought that after burning through all their savings and begging every doctor they could find, it’d be Evelyn who would turn things around.
That medicine of yours,” he said, eyes full of hope. “It’s amazing. No wonder it’s used by the military. Thank God you had the right connections, Dr. Schmidt… Without you, we’d still be lost.”
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Chapter 22 She Really Didn’t Need It Anymore
Evelyn gave him a calm smile. “She’s healing now. No need to look back.”
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Marvin hesitated a second, then brought something up. “My mom’s almost out of that medicine. But she’s still got a few patches that haven’t healed yet. Could you get us a little more?”
Evelyn shook her head. “There’s no more left. But she’ll be fine from here.”
Marvin stiffened.
He thought she just didn’t want to share it.
Military supplies weren’t easy to get, after all.
“I can pay for it,” he said quickly. “If I have to sell my blood, I’ll do it. Just please help us one more time.”
He’d finally started to feel like things might be okay again. If the medicine stopped and things went back to how they were
He didn’t care how hard it would be.
He just couldn’t watch his mother suffer like that again.
But Evelyn didn’t respond. Instead, she turned to Rachel and asked gently, “Do you still feel like you need it?”
Rachel shook her head. “No. I’m good now.”
Marvin froze up. He couldn’t process it.
“Mom, it’s okay. You don’t have to hold back. If you still need it, just say so. I’ll find a way to get it. I’m not worried about money
But it had nothing to do with money.
The truth was that she really didn’t need it anymore.
Evelyn and Rachel looked at each other. Then Evelyn encouraged her softly. “I’m sure you know what’s going on already. Why don’t you explain it to him?”
“Explain what?” Marvin was totally confused. He looked from one to the other, clearly worried.
He had no idea what they were hiding.
All he wanted was for his mother to really get better.
That anxiety and desperation were written all over his face.
Rachel saw it too.
She reached out and gently touched his cheek. Her eyes filled with warmth and love.
These years, I’ve just been weighing you down,” she said, her voice quiet and sad. “If I’d figured things out earlier, maybe your life wouldn’t have gotten so messed up.”
After that, she began telling him the truth, and Marvin stood frozen, completely stunned by what she said..
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