d open, only to be struck hard across the cheek. Heat ex

gaze landed on Joanna and Tessa,

by the Wright family's bodyguards had already swept through Uclard, and the shame was too much for her fragile pride. No

sa's gaze was slick with gloating satisfaction, daring Evelina to react. Joanna, meanwhile, regard

Albin's furious voice cut throug

t all before. Insults and accusations slid off

t be too harsh, Dad. Shouldn't we at least wait for proof before blaming E

ern. "Mom got some pregnancy tests for you, Evelina. You

her face a mask of cold indifference, refusin

n his mind, she'd already disgraced the family twice over-first by sleeping with a stranger, then by getting

ate your father any further. Go take the test. We've provided for you all the

er shown her a bit of kindness. And she knew better-J

tched two test sticks from the tab

rying to steady her shaking hands as she waited for the results. Suddenly, a wav

d positive. She was, u

aken precautions. Yet fate, it s

down, but nothing could have prepared

derly man was already waiting in the living room. His hair was wispy, thin gray stran

ng to her feet. "Mr. Wade, this is my sister, Evelina. Isn't

But the prickling at the back of her neck told her otherwise, especially when she

lded, rapping Tessa's forehead with mock aff

ina saw the dark scheme

est sticks down onto the coffee table, letting

, but with Percy Wade present, he forced his anger

and signed with brisk f

nowing smirk. The result was

itter regret. "You are such a disappointment! I have only

o Uclard's old-money elite, but his two coal mines put him in a different league-rich, brash, and

agnetic about her-a delicate, almost ethereal beauty, with wide eyes t

a-blue dress that seemed made to showcase her luminous skin and grace

dubious remedies and hollow promises, nothing had

barely restraining his sexual desir

oice thick with anticipation. "Is

raving smoldering just beneath the surface. "

ed across the table, his resentment for Evelina glaring in hi

k. He'd been married three times, dallied with countless wo

him and his vigor fading, the hope f

young woman could finall

f, eyes flicking over Evelina with undisguised hunger. "It's just a baby, isn't it? If Miss Quinn agrees to

broad, obsequious grin. "You really don

ns. Powerless to protest, she stood trembling, mute and hollo

urning crimson. "I'd ra

ped to her sides, drained. She didn't bother to look at anyone's reaction. Instead, she

his through. If not for us, Lambert wouldn't have made it this far. T

uldn't even remember how she managed to leave the

er palm, the screen flashing with a familiar name. Evelina's puls

ry. Evelina's breath hitched, her anxiety mounting. She frantically t

almost never called unless s

ak, they mostly kept in to

ve happened to Lambert sent her reeling. She tried to spe

lled to let me go. She even wired me this month's wages already. And

Evelina, leaving he

tal bed-both legs gone, his mind

he could let them