Chapter 265

Liam ushered them into the grand parlor where antique furniture gleamed under crystal chandeliers. The scent of fresh roses filled the air as they settled on the velvet sofa.

A maid served Earl Grey tea in delicate china cups. Evelyn absently stirred her tea, the silver spoon clinking softly. "Why did you summon us both this time?" she asked coldly, not meeting their eyes.

Her chest tightened painfully. The elderly couple before her were her grandparents, yet they were complete strangers. Their gazes held no recognition, only polite distance.

She glanced up to find Archibald's piercing stare still fixed on her face.

"I apologize, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffis," Evelyn murmured, her fingers trembling around the teacup.

Margaret scoffed, her diamond earrings catching the light. "Save your apologies for our real granddaughter."

Evelyn's throat constricted. She lowered her head, suddenly finding the Persian rug fascinating. "Understood."

The older woman's lips curled in disdain. "Are we done with this charade?"

"How have you both been?" Evelyn tried again, desperate to bridge the chasm between them.

Margaret's teacup clattered against its saucer. "Speak plainly, girl. We're not here for pleasantries."

Evelyn's fingers twisted the lace trim of her blouse. The rejection stung like salt in an open wound. She couldn't tell them. Not yet.

Liam's warm hand enveloped hers, his thumb tracing comforting circles on her wrist.

Archibald remained silent, but his watery blue eyes never left Evelyn's face.

"We're divorced," she whispered, the words tasting like ash.

Margaret's teacup froze midway to her lips. She looked sharply between them. "Is this true?"

Liam's jaw tightened. It killed him to see Evelyn debase herself like this, but he understood. These were the only family she had left.

Suddenly, Margaret's face lit up. She clapped her hands like a child receiving a present. "Why didn't you do this sooner?"

She nudged her husband. "Archibald, say something! Have you lost your tongue?"

The old man snapped out of his trance. "You foolish woman!" he thundered, making the china rattle.

Margaret's perfectly plucked eyebrows shot up. "What on earth are you shouting about?"

"I did this for Victoria!" Margaret hissed. "Now that Liam's free, we can finally put this nonsense behind us!"

Archibald trembled with suppressed emotion. His gaze burned into Evelyn before he wrenched it away.

Unperturbed, Margaret turned to Liam with a saccharine smile. "Now that you've delivered this wonderful news, what's next?"

Liam leaned back, his military posture never faltering. "That's not why we're here today, Mrs. Hoffis."

"Then why summon us?"

"To clear up the misunderstanding about Cassandra."

"Cassandra?" Margaret sneered, pointing a jeweled finger at Evelyn. "Isn't that what you call our Victoria?"

Liam massaged his temples. This meeting was proving more painful than he'd anticipated. The truth remained locked away, and Evelyn kept taking the blows.

The tension thickened like fog.

Evelyn schooled her features into calm composure. "Mr. and Mrs. Hoffis, I only wished to meet you and resolve any misunderstandings between us. I don't want you to resent—"

"Oh, my dear child," Archibald interrupted, his voice cracking. Tears glistened in his eyes. "How could we ever resent you? Just... take care of yourself, won't you?"

Liam's head snapped up, his eyes widening in shock at the old man's unexpected tenderness.