Chapter 5

When Evelyn opened her eyes again, she was already back at the Blackwood residence. She tried to sit up, but a loud crash erupted from the living room. Howard slammed a vase onto the floor, causing shards to scatter everywhere. "I don't care what it costs. Find every single one of those bastards. My wife was assaulted, and if anyone dares to spread this, I'll make sure they pay with their life!" Anne leaned against his shoulder, gently rubbing his back. "Howard, what if Ms. Shaw was a victim too?" At Evelyn's name, Howard's expression turned dark. He slammed his fist onto the glass coffee table. "Whether she's a victim or not, it's already done. How could I ever accept a wife who's been defiled? She's no different from her sister." Huddled in the corner, Evelyn curled her trembling hands into tight fists. His words sliced through her like a knife to the heart, leaving her gasping and consumed by pain. He hadn't even asked her what happened. He simply decided she was tainted. The next morning, Evelyn went to the memorial service Howard had arranged for her mother and Layla. In the memorial room, her mother and sister, who had been alive and smiling just a month ago, were now nothing more than black‑and‑white portraits placed on the altar. Kneeling on a small mat, Evelyn lit candle after candle, as if the flickering flames could piece her shattered heart back together. From 8:00 am until noon, not a single person showed up to pay their respects. Even Howard, who had sworn to give her mother and Layla a dignified farewell, never showed up. When Evelyn checked the time and saw that the burial hour was approaching, she looked at the empty room, then quietly gathered the urns containing her mother's and Layla's ashes and carried them outside. As soon as she stepped out of the memorial hall, a swarm of reporters closed in around her. "Ms. Shaw, we heard you were assaulted by several men in an alley last night. Does Mr. Blackwood know?" "Ms. Shaw, were you really attacked, or did you go along with it? In the video, you don't look like you resisted. Are you really just as loose as your sister?" "Ms. Shaw, your mother faked an accident and died, your sister disgraced herself with men and took her own life, and now you've been assaulted. Is this just how your whole family is?" Each cruel question stabbed at Evelyn like a thousand needles, digging deep into her bones. Her eyes burned red with fury as she glared at them. "Shut up! You have no right to judge my family when you can't even tell right from wrong!" She turned to leave, but someone yanked her back hard. "What's the matter, Ms. Shaw? Are you feeling guilty now? Your little rendezvous with those men is already all over Nordia. You're just as cheap as your sister. Aren't you worried that the Blackwoods will kick you out?" Evelyn stumbled and fell to the ground. The urns slipped from her hands. In the chaos, someone stepped on them, and a moment later, one was kicked open. Ash spilled across the pavement. With a strangled cry, Evelyn crawled forward on her knees, shaking as she scooped the ashes into her palms. "Get away! All of you, get away from them!" However, the crowd seemed to deliberately trample over her mother's and Layla's ashes. Evelyn's entire body shook with despair and helplessness. "Stop! Don't step on my mom and Layla's ashes! Please, don't!" The reporters paid no attention to her pleas, aiming every camera at her and recording every humiliating moment. Evelyn tried to stand, but someone shoved her hard, sending her sprawling backward. A sharp pain flared at the back of her head. Then, from the crowd, a terrified voice shouted, "She's bleeding!" Within seconds, a convoy of Bentleys rolled up. Before the cars had even stopped, Howard had flung open a door and charged out. "What's going on here?" Howard's eyes landed on Evelyn, lying in a pool of blood. He moved to scoop her into his arms but froze mid-step, turning to his assistant, Daniel Dillon. "Get Mrs. Blackwood to the hospital," he ordered. Daniel hesitated, glancing at him nervously. "Mr. Blackwood, it's better if you carry Mrs. Blackwood yourself." Howard turned away, refusing to glance at Evelyn. "I'm not touching her. She's tainted." The words hit Evelyn like a boulder crushing her chest, leaving her stunned and broken.