Chapter 48

"Evelyn, you killed the old madam! Get your ass to the Valentine estate now!" Eleanor Langley's shrill voice pierced through the phone.

Evelyn jolted awake.

Her grip tightened around the phone. "Say that again."

"Stop playing dumb! You poisoned her medicine while scheming for her shares. Now she's in a coma and the transfer documents are missing. Get over here immediately!"

Evelyn's brow furrowed. She had clearly refused Beatrice's offer. How could this happen?

Only four people had been present that day.

Margaret Valentine had always coveted those shares. The missing documents had to be her doing.

"I'll be right there." Evelyn hung up and dialed Zachary.

"Miss Roland."

"Send a team to investigate the Valentine shares. Focus on Margaret and Adrian. Monitor the stock market closely. If 15% shares appear under their names, detain them immediately. Move fast and stay undercover."

"Understood."

Evelyn sent Gabrielle an encrypted message for covert action.

She washed up swiftly, prepared her medical kit, and had Sophia drive her to the Valentine mansion.

Twenty minutes later, Evelyn stepped through the gates.

The familiar villa made her pause. She hadn't expected to return so soon.

And under such humiliating circumstances.

Ice formed in her eyes. This time, she wouldn't hold back.

Adrian and Margaret stood in the grand hall. A trembling maid knelt on the floor.

Margaret's eyes gleamed with malice when she spotted Evelyn.

Evelyn met Adrian's gaze.

Those once-gentle eyes now cut like knives.

Her heart twisted violently.

Even knowing he wouldn't believe her, she'd still clung to hope.

"Evelyn, why would you hurt Grandmother?" Adrian's voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.

Pain lanced through Evelyn's chest. He'd condemned her without even asking?

"I won't take blame for something I didn't do."

"Still lying? Martha confessed you paid her two million to steal the documents and poison Grandmother's medicine. You're despicable."

Adrian clenched his fists. He wished it weren't true.

But the evidence was undeniable.

Remembering her betrayal months ago, he could believe this woman capable of anything.

Crack!

A brutal slap sent Evelyn reeling.

Darkness swam in her vision. Her ears rang.

Tears spilled over, but she lifted her chin defiantly.

This wasn't the first time he'd struck her. The last time had been when he'd returned drunk with Isabella, accusing her of betrayal.

"Boss!" Sophia roared, charging forward.