Chapter 2

The next morning, I walked downstairs to a scene of domestic bliss.

David was seated at the breakfast table, laughing at something Sarah said as he placed a piece of bacon on her plate. Ethan sat beside them, beaming, looking happier than I had ever seen him.

They looked like a perfect family. A family I was not a part of.

The moment I entered the dining room, the laughter stopped. The air went still.

David looked up, his expression suddenly awkward.

"Evelyn, you' re awake. We, uh, didn' t want to wake you."

Sarah put on her sweetest, most concerned face. It was a performance I now saw with sickening clarity.

"Evelyn, you poor thing. Ethan told me you weren' t feeling well last night. Don' t worry about the school sports day today, I told him I' d go with David to cheer him on."

My heart twisted, but I kept my face blank.

"That' s probably for the best," I said, my voice calm. "My presence would only embarrass him."

I saw Ethan' s shoulders subtly relax. The relief on his face was another cut to my soul.

Then, my eyes caught something glinting on Sarah' s neck. A jade pendant.

My jade pendant.

It was a family heirloom from my adoptive grandfather, the last thing he gave me before he died. He had told me it would protect me.

"Why are you wearing my pendant?" I demanded, my voice losing its calm.

David sighed, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum.

"Evelyn, don' t be like this. You were in prison, someone had to inherit the family heirloom. My parents agreed that Sarah was the rightful person to have it."

He even had the audacity to add, "If you want one, I' ll buy you a new one. A better one."

"A new one?" I was shaking with rage. "That was from my grandfather! It' s the only thing I have left of him!"

Sarah' s eyes immediately filled with tears. She clutched the pendant, her voice trembling.

"I' m so sorry, Evelyn. I didn' t know… David, maybe I should just give it back."

David instantly pulled her into a protective embrace, glaring at me.

"Stop it, Evelyn! You always do this! You can' t stand to see Sarah have anything nice! Why must you always want what' s hers?"

Ethan stepped forward, trying to play the peacemaker. "Mom, don' t be mad. Dad didn' t mean it."

But I wasn' t looking at him. I was looking at David, at how easily he held Sarah, how naturally he protected her. I realized that since my release, he and Ethan had never been physically affectionate with me in public. They always said it was to protect me from gossip, to avoid drawing attention to my "convict" status.

The truth was, they were ashamed of me. They were distancing themselves.

Ethan, seeing the tense atmosphere, quickly changed the subject.

"Mom, my other grandparents are hosting a charity gala tonight. You should come! Maybe if they see you, they' ll forgive you."

My biological parents. The ones who had disowned me.

David and Sarah exchanged a look. A knowing smile passed between them.

"That' s a wonderful idea, Ethan," David said, his tone suddenly warm again. "Evelyn, you should go. It' s time to mend those bridges."

Against my better judgment, I agreed. A part of me, a small, foolish part, still hoped.

Later that evening, I came downstairs wearing a pale pink gown David had bought for me. It was beautiful.

As I descended the staircase, I saw David and Sarah watching me. They were both smiling, that same knowing, secretive smile. I should have understood then.

The gala was held at a grand, old hotel. But as my taxi pulled up, I knew something was wrong. Everyone entering the hall was dressed in black and white.

It wasn' t a charity gala. It was a memorial event.

My bright pink dress stood out like a sore thumb. People stared and whispered. As I tried to enter, a security guard roughly pushed me.

"Hey, watch it!"

I stumbled, falling into a large puddle of grimy water by the curb. My beautiful dress was ruined, soaked and stained.

Just then, a sleek black car pulled up. David, Sarah, and Ethan stepped out, all dressed in elegant black attire. They walked right past me, not even glancing in my direction as I struggled to my feet.

"David!" I cried out, my voice desperate.

He paused, but before he could turn, another man appeared. My biological father.

He stared at me with pure disgust.

"You are a disgrace," he hissed, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "How dare you show your face here, dressed like that? You bring shame to this family!"

He raised his hand and slapped me across the face. The force of it sent me staggering back, falling to the hard, wet pavement.

"I am publicly disowning you, Evelyn Reed," he declared to the crowd of onlookers. "You are not my daughter! And your marriage to David is invalid. That union was always meant for my true daughter, Sarah!"

Rain began to fall, cold and heavy, plastering my ruined dress to my skin.

"I am your daughter!" I screamed, my voice raw with pain and fury. "I am the surgeon! I am David' s wife! Sarah is the thief! She stole everything from me!"

My father slapped me again, harder this time.

"Shut your mouth, you monster!"