Chapter 246

"You have two choices," Rosalind said firmly. "Either quietly divorce Liam by denying the marriage, or reveal your true identity to the world."

Evelyn slumped against the sofa, pressing trembling fingers to her temples as tears welled up. "I made a promise to Liam. I can't bring up divorce."

"Then you must prove you're not Evelyn Carter," Rosalind insisted. "Show them you're someone else entirely."

Shaking her head, Evelyn wiped at her damp cheeks. "I can't. Not until I uncover who's behind this conspiracy and learn my real identity. It's too dangerous to expose myself now."

Rosalind threw up her hands. "Then what's your plan?"

Drawing a shuddering breath, Evelyn squared her shoulders. "I'm telling Liam everything. He'll believe me. He's the only one who can fix this."

"Is he even home?" Rosalind asked.

Evelyn's shoulders slumped. "No. He's stationed at the border outpost."

"Then wait until he returns. And be careful going out - you might get ambushed," Rosalind warned.

"I will," Evelyn promised.

As she ended the call and reached to dial Liam's number, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Dominic. Her hand shook as she answered, fury making her voice unsteady.

"Well, little sister," Dominic's smug voice dripped through the speaker. "Did you catch your starring role on the noon broadcast? Quite the ratings grabber, wasn't it?"

Evelyn's fingers twisted in the fabric of her blouse. "Have you lost your mind? Why would you do this? How could you—"

Dominic's laugh cut her off. "Your reputation's in tatters. Scared yet?"

Evelyn had never feared for herself. Her terror was for Liam - how this sordid history attached to her false identity could destroy his career. The thought of dragging him down terrified her.

"Aren't you afraid of consequences?" she ground out between clenched teeth.

Dominic's sneer was audible. "Why should I be? The whole world knows we're connected to the General now. If anything happens to us after spilling your secrets on live TV, suspicion falls right on him."

Evelyn trembled with suppressed rage, hot tears burning behind her eyes. Facing such shameless blackmailers left her feeling helpless.

Then Dominic's tone shifted, turning almost coaxing. "Listen, sis... maybe we can work something out. A little financial incentive could make these scandals disappear. What do you say?"

Evelyn let out a bitter laugh.

"Don't get too comfortable," Dominic taunted. "We've got so much more dirt to share. Our new social media accounts already have fifty thousand followers."

"People can't wait to hear more juicy details about the General's scandalous wife!" His cackle made her skin crawl. "Pay up or we'll monetize the traffic ourselves."

Furious, Evelyn ended the call and checked trending topics. The results made her stomach churn - a flood of vicious rumors mixing truth and fiction, all designed to destroy her.

Her personal details and photos were everywhere, along with her identity as the philanthropic artist Isabella Grayson. The relentless online assault left her feeling hollow.

Her phone buzzed with messages from the Blackwood family group chat.

Eleanor wrote: "Evelyn, what's happening with your family? Have they gone completely mad?"

Richard demanded: "This is absurd. Come home with Liam immediately."

Cassandra chimed in: "Are you seeing this? Get Liam involved now! If this continues, it won't just hurt him - our entire family will suffer because of you."