Chapter three

Chapter 3.

Evelyn’s POV.

Walls of the hospital room felt like they were closing down on me. 

I felt like I was suffocating, unable to catch my breath. My fingers clutched the coarse fabric of my hospital gown, desperate to anchor myself. 

But my legs trembled beneath me, and a searing ache spread through my chest. It wasn't physical pain, but the crushing weight of betrayal, threatening to consume me whole.

I shouldn't be here, listening to their conversation but my legs couldn't move no matter how hard I tried. I pressed my back against the cold wall.

My heart pounded against my ribs as I heard their voices. Their tone was infuriatingly casual, utterly cruel, as if nothing ever happened.

Olivia's voice dripped with scorn and amusement. "She's more useless now than ever," she sneered. "Not only is she insane, but also barren. Our child will inherit everything.”

The moment I heard those words, I froze on the spot. A cold shivers run down my spine, spreading through my lips like ice.  

Barren. 

The words hit deep, ripping through the pain I already feel. I bite down on my lips so hard I taste blood, but I don't feel it. The pain in my chest is worse. 

The irony wasn't lost on me. Ethan had always been adamant that we shouldn't have children, citing it would rip off our youth. 

 Yet, he and Olivia didn't hesitate to call me barren. The word cut deep. 

“You think she's really lost her memory?” My husband's voice follows. He sounds amused, like this is all some games to him. 

“She is too weak to lie.” Olivia replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “She will sign whatever we put in front of her. By the time she realized, the law firm would’ve been in your name and that's all that mattered.” 

A wave of nausea washed over me, my stomach twisting into knots. My law firm? The very company my parents had poured their hearts and souls into, building it from the ground up? 

The only legacy they'd left me, their only child?

 The same law firm I had sacrificed everything for? My sweat, my tears. It all went into that firm. It was my dream, my life, and now they want to take it from me? They wanted me dead because of my firm. 

My head reeled, spinning with the crushing weight of my discovery. It wasn't just the betrayer. The realization that they had both betrayed me at once.

 I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the wall behind me. Trying to hold in the scream building in my throat. I can't break. Not now. Not in front of them. 

I swallowed my breath and breathe. Slowly, I forced myself to relax and I pretend. I need to approach them like I have no idea of what’s happening. 

So I step closer to them and their conversation cuts off. Olivia's eyes widened slightly before she could lose her expression. Plastering a fake smile on her face. My husband did the same. 

The same man I spent five years of my life with. He gave me a carefully measured look on me. 

What did Olivia have that I lacked? 

“Honey,” he whispered, stepping toward me like a loving husband. If I hadn't known the truth, I would have blushed. “Are you okay?” 

My gaze flickered between them. My body stiffened, as if I struggled to recall something. 

“I…I..guess so,” my words stumbled, as I tried to keep up with my pretence.

Olivia let out a soft, relieved laugh, stepping closer. 

“Don't worry,” she smiled, reaching for my hand like a concerned friend. “We are here for you.” 

Her Words feel like acid against my skin. I wanted to scream. To tear this room apart, to throw everything in their faces and watch their fake smiles shatter. But I couldn't.

A smile didn't reach my eyes and spread on my face. “Do I know you from anywhere?” I raised an eyebrow, my eyes piercing into her skin. 

She exchange a meaningful glance with Ethan before directing her gaze back to me. 

“Yes of course, I’m Olivia, your childhood friend,” she smiled and I nodded. I didn’t bother to press further.

“Let's take you back to your ward.” Ethan says. 

They both grabbed me by both said, gently leading me back to the ward with a smile. 

—

That evening, the doctor arrived to finalize my discharge. Following a brief discussion, I was finally cleared to head home.

A nurse handed me a file containing my medical records. As I took it, my husband - the man who had tried to kill me - placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch feigning gentleness and care.

 Meanwhile, Olivia's dagger-like glances sliced through me, her eyes flashing with malice every few seconds.

“We should go home now, honey,” he murmured trying to help me up but before he could get the chance, the door burst open. 

A tall man strides inside with two bodyguards. His presence is enough to make the world around him smaller. 

His dark suit is perfectly tailored, hugging is broad, framed like a second skin. His black hair falls slightly over his forehead but not enough to hide his sharp, dangerous features. 

His lips are curled into something close to amusement. But it was his emerald eyes that froze me in place.

Who was he? 

The moment his gaze flickered to mine, I felt a jolt of electricity. A slow, smirk tugged at his lips, like he's been waiting for this moment. 

He was terrifying yet attractive. 

"You're finally awake," he said, his low, deep voice sending shivers down my spine and butterflies fluttering in my stomach. 

 “Who the hell are you?” Ethan demanded. 

But the man ignored Ethan as he took a step closer, closing the distance between us. 

And he said; “I’m glad you’re awake now, my wife.”