Evelina looked at Evander with pleading eyes. "Evander, I really know I was wrong. Can't we just try to live a good life together from now on?"

Right now, Evander was the only one who could possibly save her.

Evander relished Evelina's desperation, only then turning his gaze to Asher. “Asher, Evelina only did what she did because her father threatened her. If you're looking for someone to blame, go after the Sinclair family. What's the point of targeting Evelina?"

Lemira scoffed as she walked over. "Evelina embezzled funds a huge amount. That alone is an offense that starts at ten years in prison. And on top of that, she covered up for a murderer. With both crimes combined, she's looking at more than a decade behind bars."

Evelina's face went white with fear. "Why do you have to push me to the edge?"

Lemira raised her hand and slapped her. "Because your whole family is despicable. You and your father got my parents killed, and after all these years living off the Langston family, you thought you could get away without ever paying a price?"

“But it wasn't like I begged to join the Langston family! You were the ones who brought me here. None of this is my fault!" Evelina protested bitterly. "What does all this have to do with me? I'm innocent!"

"Let's call the police. Whether you're innocent or not, the investigation will make it clear."

"No, you can't call the police!" Evelina clung to Evander, tears streaming down her face.

Evander shot Lemira a look. “Alright, it's not even your money that she took. Who are you to say anything?"

Lemira nodded. "Fair enough. You have a point."

She sat back on the sofa and stayed quiet.

Asher gave Evander a cold look. "Call the police."

“Asher, you are not calling the police."

"If we don't, are you going to make up for the missing money?" Asher pressed Evander. “You've lost your mind. I'll never let a woman as vicious as Evelina get anywhere near the Langston family again!"

At last, he could see through Evelina's true nature. After all these years, even he had been fooled by her.

"Asher, you still owe me for my leg. You're not turning Evelina in to the police!" Evander seized on this point and kept using it to pressure Asher.

Evelina immediately wrapped her arms tightly around Evander. "Evander, you're the only one who can save me now-you're my hero!" Her sobs intensified.

Evander's ego swelled at this. He stroked Evelina's head, assuring her, "Don't worry, Eve. As long as I'm here, no one will hurt you!"

Lemira couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed a glass of water from the table and threw it right at Evander.

Soaked through, Evander exploded: "Lemira, have you lost your damn mind?"

"I think you're the one who's

completely lost it!" Lemira shot back, pointing right at Evander. "Evelina the daughter of our parents'

l.not

enemies and you're still protecting her! How can you face Momand Dad?"

"Who I protect is none of your business!"

"Fine-you want to side with Evelina?

Then the

thiswo of you can get out of

this house! temira pointed toward the front door want you bath gone. Now!"

"Why should I leave? This is my home!"

"Have you forgotten? This villa belongs to me now." Lemira's cold reminder brought Evander crashing crashing back to reality. He argued, "But you promised you wouldn't kick us out!"

"That's right, I did promise. But do you really deserve to live here when you're holding on to the daughter of the people who destroyed our family?"

As she finished speaking, the new butler had someone bring in a black cabinet, topped with two black-framed photographs.

They were her parents' memorial portraits.

The moment Evelina saw them, her legs went weak and she collapsed to the floor, unable to look their way.