Chapter 250

Evelyn disconnected the call with trembling fingers.

Her phone immediately lit up like a Christmas tree, buzzing violently against the marble countertop. Despite the security protocols at Royal Heights, someone had clearly leaked her private number.

Within minutes, her device was flooded with calls and texts. Evelyn's breathing turned shallow as panic clawed at her throat.

She slammed the power button, her breakfast suddenly tasting like ash. Pressing her palms against her temples, she felt the beginnings of a migraine creeping in.

The thought of how this scandal might affect Liam made her stomach churn.

"Madam, are you unwell?" The maid's voice held genuine concern.

Evelyn could only shake her head mutely.

"Don't fret, Madam. Mr. Blackwood has everything handled," the maid reassured. After a beat of silence, Evelyn snatched her phone and stormed upstairs.

She locked herself in the master suite, powering on the device with shaky hands. Dominic answered on the first ring. "Well, well. My dear sister finally calls."

Evelyn swallowed the lump in her throat. "What's your endgame, Dominic?"

"Wasn't I crystal clear? Eighty million. One lump sum." His voice dripped with mock sweetness.

Evelyn's nails bit into her palms. "I don't have that kind of money."

"But you're the famous Isabella Grayson!" Dominic sneered. "Sell a few paintings. Or better yet - ask your billionaire husband. That's pocket change for Liam Blackwood."

His voice turned venomous. "You parade around as this perfect couple while abandoning your own flesh and blood? Disgusting."

After his tirade, Dominic's tone turned triumphant. "I went to the border hoping for a position, and what did your precious husband do? Treated me like gutter trash. Well, now the whole world will know what kind of people you really are!"

Evelyn's jaw clenched. "So you put our parents on national television, destroyed my reputation, and now you're leaking my number to the press?"

"You left me no choice," Dominic spat.

Evelyn stepped onto the balcony, gripping the railing until her knuckles turned white. "Who's really behind this, Dominic?"

A beat of silence. Then: "What are you implying?"

Evelyn's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I may not be as cunning as you, but remember - I'm not fighting alone. I'm Liam Blackwood's wife."

Dominic's laughter was cruel. "Your precious husband? Please. I've got the entire media machine behind me. Do you really think I'm scared of him?"

"Check the news," Evelyn said coldly before ending the call.

She powered off the device and collapsed into a patio chair, staring blankly at the manicured gardens below. The weight of her fractured memories pressed down on her like a physical force.

More than anything, she wished she could remember her past - to finally break free from the Carters' toxic grip.

Liam was handling business elsewhere. She trusted him implicitly to resolve this, even if it meant the complete destruction of her so-called family. For now, she would wait.

Night fell without Liam's return. Evelyn avoided her phone, dreading the inevitable media storm. She didn't inquire about Liam's whereabouts, choosing instead to wait in agonizing silence until sleep finally claimed her.

On the third morning, a frantic maid burst into her room. "Madam! Your mother is kneeling outside the gates with some sort of protest sign! You need to see this!"