Then, Linda had come back into my life. She arrived out of nowhere, seemingly out of kindness. I hadn’t seen her in years—not since she’d left after her scandalous out-of-wedlock pregnancy. She’d always refused to say who the father was. It all made sense now. I just hadn’t connected the dots.
Linda had paid for Emily’s treatment, but it was too late. Emily slipped away before we could save her.
In my grief, I had trusted Linda’s suggestion to donate Emily’s organs. I thought it would give my daughter’s death meaning. But it had all been part of their sick, twisted plot.
Evelyn's POV
Years passed in a blur, each day heavier than the last. My life had crumbled, reduced to sweeping floors and scrubbing tiles in a mall that once felt beneath me. The years of struggle had hardened me, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw that day.
Bent over with a mop in hand, I heard a familiar laugh. My blood turned to ice as I slowly raised my head. There, just a few feet away, was William. He was supposed to be dead, yet there he stood, alive and well, looking almost exactly as he had years ago—smug, carefree, and untouched by the wreckage he'd left in his wake.
My breath caught in my throat, and before I knew it, I was walking towards him, my heart pounding in my chest. His eyes landed on me, widening slightly as he took me in. His lips curled into a sneer, and he let out a soft chuckle.
"Oh, it’s you," he said, giving me a slow, mocking once-over. "How did you end up like this? It’s so embarrassing."
The sting of his words cut deep, but before I could respond, a voice chimed in from behind him.
"Honey, who are you talking to?"
I froze. That voice… I’d know it anywhere.
Linda.
She appeared beside William, her arm slipping through his as she smiled sweetly at him. When her gaze shifted to me, the smile faltered for just a second—just long enough for the truth to flicker in her eyes. Then it was gone, replaced by the same patronizing smile I’d seen countless times before.
"Oh, Evelyn," Linda cooed, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "I thought you’d be long dead by now. Guess you're tougher than I gave you credit for."
Her words sank in like poison, and before I could speak, William pulled her closer. They stood there, entwined in each other’s arms, right in front of me. I felt my fury boil, but my body trembled, powerless.