Chapter 124

Evelyn made a quick detour to the organic market before heading to the hospital. She carefully selected a premium fruit basket filled with exotic fruits.

The oncology ward was easy to find with Rosalind's precise directions. The sterile hospital smell hit her nostrils as she stepped off the elevator.

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn lightly rapped on the door marked 407. When no answer came, she cautiously pushed it open.

Six occupied beds lined the cramped room. Evelyn's eyes darted between the patients, unsure which one was Rosalind's father.

Suddenly, a petite woman with vintage cat-eye glasses appeared from behind a curtain, clutching a stainless steel water bottle.

Judging by her youthful appearance, Evelyn guessed this must be Rosalind. She offered a tentative smile. "Rosalind Fairchild?"

The woman froze, then nodded slowly. "That's me. And you are...?"

"I'm Evelyn Carter."

Rosalind's eyes widened as she studied Evelyn's face intently. Evelyn set the fruit basket on the bedside table, noticing the frail man sleeping in the adjacent bed.

Not wanting to disturb him, Evelyn gestured toward the hallway. "Shall we talk outside?"

Rosalind snapped out of her trance. She placed the water bottle down and adjusted the privacy curtains before following Evelyn out.

They stood by a large window overlooking the hospital gardens. After an awkward silence, Rosalind spoke first.

"What's this charade about? Do you really think pretending to have amnesia will make your debts disappear?" Her voice dripped with venom.

Evelyn sighed. "I know how this sounds, but I genuinely don't remember the past three years."

Rosalind adjusted her glasses with a scoff. "Did you get hit by a truck or something?"

"The doctors said I had extensive facial reconstruction," Evelyn explained.

Rosalind scrutinized her face skeptically. "Impossible! Your features look completely natural. The subtle changes - softer jawline, fuller cheeks - they make you look younger. Like you've mastered every current beauty trend."

Evelyn gave a tired smile. Despite her doubts, the DNA results confirmed she was Evelyn Carter.

Rosalind pulled out her phone, displaying transaction records. "See these? These are all the times you begged me for money."

"You took over $40,000 in transfers and another $20,000 in cash."

"I trusted our friendship. Didn't even ask for an IOU. If you have any decency left, start repaying me. Even small installments would help."

Evelyn's heart sank as she scrolled through the records. She handed the phone back with trembling fingers. "I'm so sorry, Rosalind. I was a terrible friend."

Rosalind's expression remained stony. When Evelyn reached for her purse, Rosalind watched warily as she asked, "How much are your father's medical bills?"

Rosalind hesitated. "$20,000 so far. He needs an operation that'll cost around $200,000."

"Plus we owe $300,000 to relatives who helped us."

"Let me make a call." Evelyn stepped away, leaning against the wall as she dialed. Her entire body tensed with nervous energy.

"Evelyn?" Liam's voice came through immediately, surprise evident in his tone.

"It's me," she whispered.

The line went silent for a beat too long. Evelyn broke the tension first. "Can we-"

"I'm swamped with work right now. The divorce papers will have to wait. We'll discuss this later," Liam said curtly before the line went dead.