At the press conference.

Flashes went off in a frenzy, blinding, almost swallowing her whole.

Reporters packed the place, shoulder to shoulder. Strangers had even come just to support Evelyn, holding up their phones and shouting.

"Ms. Whitmore, don't be afraid! We're all on your side!"

Evelyn sat at the microphone in a simple white dress, Nathan's carefully scripted lines repeating in her mind, lines he had revised countless times overnight.

The more tragic the childhood sounded, the more sympathy it would earn, making everything that followed seem justified.

That was what Nathan had taught her.

Evelyn faced the cameras and spoke about the cold leftover food she had eaten, the endless piles of laundry in the winter, and the old dog that used to curl around her at night and keep her company through the darkness.

Last night, when Nathan forced her to relive those memories, every word had felt like it was tearing her apart.

But now, she finished recounting it all calmly, without a trace of emotion on her face.

After a brief pause, she followed Nathan's instructions. Her tone turned cold, almost obsessive, as she spoke into the microphone, word by word.

"So I hated her. I hated that Annelise took the life that should have been mine, took my parents, took everything from me. I ruined every dress she owned. Her fiancé, Nathan, I got him drunk and dragged him into my bed. Her identity, her life, her man… all of it should have been mine! But even after marriage, Nathan only loved Annelise. I was jealous. I hated her for taking my love, so I faked those photos to smear her, to scare her. It wasn't until a lawyer warned me that I realized how wrong I was. Today, I'm here to say this… to Annelise, and to everyone… I'm sorry."

The entire room erupted.

Flashes exploded again, blinding and relentless.

"So she's the real homewrecker!"

"She staged the whole thing herself. Disgusting!"

The livestream audience exploded. Some broke past security and rushed into the venue, hurling vegetables and eggs at Evelyn. Filth splattered across her white dress.

Bodyguards rushed in, shielding her as they hurried her out.

Inside the car, Nathan closed the livestream and smiled in satisfaction. "Evelyn, you did great. Perfect. The narrative's flipped. Annelise is safe now."

Richard and Margaret stepped forward as well, patting her shoulder, smiling warmly. "Good girl. This is all thanks to you. Once the company stabilizes, Annelise will take over, and we'll transfer twenty percent of the shares to you. You'll be taken care of for life."

Relief flickered in Annelise's eyes. "Evelyn, thank you."

Everyone was smiling. Everyone looked relieved. Evelyn forced a smile along with them.

For the next two days, she left early and returned late, avoiding everyone on purpose.

She went to the mall and picked out farewell gifts for them.

Late that night, when she returned home, she found Nathan sitting on the couch, his shirt disheveled, his eyes bloodshot. "Evelyn, I underestimated you."

"Why would you frame your own sister? Why would you hire someone to smash her hand?"

Nathan shot to his feet, fury radiating off him like something that could swallow a person whole.

The gift box slipped from his hand, its contents scattering across the floor.

Evelyn took a step back, confusion written all over her face. "I didn't… I've been busy these past few days. I didn't even know she was hurt."

"And you still dare to deny it?" Nathan let out a sharp, humorless laugh.

"Last time you stepped forward at the press conference, I thought you'd finally changed. Turns out you're even more vicious behind the scenes."

He threw a stack of documents in front of her.

Papers scattered across the floor, chat logs and transaction records laid out clearly, all pointing to her paying someone to injure Annelise's hand.

"The evidence is right here. And you still say it wasn't you?"

Evelyn stared blankly at the evidence on the floor, her blood running cold.

"I didn't do it! This wasn't me!" Her eyes reddened as she stared at Nathan. "Photos can be faked! We've been married for three years, don't you know what I'm like? How could I ever hurt Annelise?"

Nathan frowned slightly. He stepped forward, snatched her phone without a word, and unlocked it with her fingerprint before opening the messaging app.

The top contact matched the documents exactly, down to the timestamps and the amounts transferred.

"And you're still lying to me!" Nathan snapped, completely losing control. He turned to the bodyguards. "Take her to the police."

Two tall bodyguards stepped forward immediately, grabbing her arms and dragging her out.

"I'm not lying! It really wasn't me!"

Evelyn shoved them away with all her strength and bolted for the door.

She had to make Annelise believe her.

She stumbled all the way to the hospital and pushed the door open. Annelise was sitting on the bed, her right hand wrapped in thick bandages.

"Annelise!" Evelyn rushed forward, dropping to her bedside. "You have to believe me. I didn't hurt you. Those records are fake. Someone set me up…"

Annelise looked at her, her eyes calm, almost cold.

She gently pulled her hand away, cutting her off. "I know. It wasn't you."

Evelyn froze, relief just beginning to rise before the next words fell.

"Because I planned it myself."

"Why…" Evelyn's body went rigid, her breathing turning shallow.

She took a step back, as if unable to believe it.

"You're lying… aren't you?"

Annelise's lips slowly curved into a twisted, venomous smile. "Why? You're asking me why? I grew up in the Whitmore family, with the best of everything. My parents loved me, Nathan loved me. My life was perfect. And then you had to show up. I felt guilty. I pitied you. I gave you everything that should have been yours. But the company is something I built with my own hands, and now the parents who once favored me want to give you thirty percent of the shares! I'm the one who's supposed to inherit it all, yet you get everything without doing a thing!"

"I don't want the shares. I can give them all to you. I never wanted to compete with you…" Evelyn murmured.

She had never wanted anything from the Whitmore family. In just two days, she would be gone.

Before she could finish, Annelise raised her hand and slapped her hard. Evelyn's head snapped to the side, a trace of blood appearing at the corner of her lips.

"That pathetic look again! Then why did you come back? Wouldn't it have been better if you'd just stayed there and died in that miserable little village, never showing up at all?"

Evelyn walked out of the hospital in a daze, the sting of the slap still burning on her face.

She hadn't gone far when two rough hands suddenly clamped over her mouth and nose from behind.

When she came to, she was tied to a chair.

Not far away, Annelise was bound as well, her face ashen.

Footsteps approached from the distance.

Nathan rushed in, his suit disheveled. "Annelise! Evelyn!"

Behind him, a man in a silver mask stepped out slowly, idly twirling a sharp knife in his hand. "Mr. Langford, long time no see."

Nathan clenched his fists. "Who are you? Name your price. Just let them go!"

The masked man let out a low chuckle and strolled over behind Annelise.

"Money? I'm not interested." He paused. "Today, only one of them walks out alive. Nathan, your wife… or your sister-in-law. Pick one."

The air froze.

"Don't you dare!" Nathan's eyes burned with fury. "Let them go now while you still can. Once I find out who you are, I won't let you off."

The masked man sneered and pressed the blade against Annelise's throat.

Annelise screamed, her voice breaking. "Nathan! Save me!"

"I'll ask one last time," the masked man said, his voice turning cold. "Who do you choose?"

Nathan's fists tightened as his gaze shifted between Evelyn and Annelise.

In the end, he closed his eyes. "I choose… Annelise."

Three simple words, yet they landed like a crushing weight on Evelyn's chest.

She had expected it, yet it still hurt so much she could barely breathe.

The masked man let out a scoff and shoved Annelise forward.

Nathan pulled her into his arms, soothing her over and over. "It's okay, Annelise. You're safe. I'm here."

He never looked at Evelyn once.

The masked man raised a remote and pressed it, pointing straight at Evelyn.

"No!" Nathan turned back in alarm at the sound.

A red light blinked on. The countdown began.

Seeing the blood on Annelise, Nathan gritted his teeth and carried her toward the exit.

Evelyn closed her eyes, a tear slipping down silently.

But the explosion never came.

A warm, steady hand caught her wrist and pulled her toward the back exit.

Only when they reached safety did he stop and remove the mask.

It revealed a face she didn't recognize, calm and gentle.

Evelyn struggled to catch her breath, her body going weak. "You…"

The man looked at her seriously. "What you said at the press conference… none of it was true, was it?"

Evelyn froze, her pupils shrinking. "How do you know…"

"I found your application for the remote teaching program." His voice was quiet. "And your eyes. I've seen that look too many times."

In that moment, Evelyn finally broke.

In front of a complete stranger, every layer of her composure collapsed.

Tears fell uncontrollably, one after another.

He reached out and gently wiped the tears from her face, his touch almost impossibly gentle.

"Don't cry." He took a plane ticket from his pocket and held it out to her.

The destination was exactly where she had planned to go.

"I bought your ticket. Come on. Leave this place. Go where you really want to be."