Chapter 123

Evelyn's phone vibrated with an unknown number. She hesitated before answering, greeted by a trembling female voice.

"Hello? Evelyn? It's Rosalind. Do you remember me?" The voice cracked with emotion.

"Rosalind?" Evelyn's confusion made Victoria stiffen nearby, her ears straining to catch every word.

"I'm sorry for calling out of the blue. Your mother gave me your number. I...I have nowhere else to turn." Rosalind's voice broke.

Before Evelyn could respond, her phone vanished from her grasp. She spun around to find Victoria clutching it with white knuckles.

Victoria's hand shook as she abruptly ended the call. "Forgive me, Evelyn," she whispered. "But Liam and I...we're meant to be together."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed at Victoria's bizarre behavior. Swallowing her anger, she extended her palm. "Give. It. Back."

Eleanor Blackwood frowned at the scene. "Victoria, what on earth? Evelyn was speaking with someone!"

Victoria forced a smile. "I-I just needed to apologize properly. Their marriage was never real since Liam chose—"

Disgust twisted Evelyn's features as she snatched her phone back. Victoria reached for it but stopped, realizing she couldn't prevent Rosalind from reaching out.

Phone secured, Evelyn stormed out of the Blackwood residence, desperate to escape Victoria's toxic presence.

Outside the gates, she immediately redialed. Rosalind answered with gut-wrenching sobs.

"Please Evelyn," she begged. "We've spent everything on Dad's cancer treatments. The medical bills...we're drowning. I need that money back."

Evelyn's heart ached at the raw pain in Rosalind's voice. Though the memories were gone, the anguish felt real.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember you. I lost my memories, but I want to—"

"How can you forget?" Rosalind's voice shattered like glass. "We were inseparable! I helped you through everything—homework, chores, even shared my allowance when you were broke!"

"Remember ninth grade when you dropped out? You got so sick working odd jobs. I nursed you back to health and gave you twenty thousand for hospital bills."

"In college, I worked three jobs to save another twenty thousand—all for you! And now when I need help, you pretend not to know me?"

Tears streamed down Evelyn's face. If Rosalind spoke truth, she deserved every ounce of this pain.

"Which hospital is your father at? I'll come immediately," Evelyn said urgently.

Though startled by the offer, Rosalind provided the address. Evelyn rushed back inside, changed clothes, and grabbed her purse with frantic energy.

Victoria watched her departure with ice in her veins. This meeting couldn't happen—she'd make sure of it.