Evelina's eyes practically dripped with venom. "Lemira, Orion never told you about this, did he?"

A violent shudder racked Lemira's body. She truly had no idea that Orion had taken Evelina away the night before.

That man had kept her entirely in the dark.

In that moment, she had no idea what was real or who to believe anymore.

Lemira looked at Evelina. "Why did he take you to see the Sinclairs?"

She remembered Orion mentioning that Amanda had been hospitalized. Did he do something last night?

Evelina scoffed. "To confront Amelia, obviously! He threatened her to keep her mouth shut about the Everhart family's involvement, or else he'd destroy them."

Lemira lowered her gaze as the horrifying realization set in. Was Amanda truly involved?

After all, Orion had been in high school back then; he couldn't have had any stake in a corporate bidding war.

The only logical mastermind was Amanda.

A bitter, self-deprecating smile touched Lemira's lips. Orion had never once mentioned being in the back seat of that car. Had he planned on erasing all evidence connecting his family to the crash from the very beginning?

Evelina's smile widened into a grotesque sneer. "Think about it, Lemira. Isn't it obvious? He's been using you this entire time, and today, your usefulness has officially expired."

Lemira dug her fingernails into her palms, but the physical sting was nothing compared to the suffocating agony in her chest.

"You're lying," Debby interrupted fiercely. "Mr. Everhart is not that kind of person."

"Then why isn't he here right now? Because Lemira is useless to him now! The Sinclairs already agreed not to expose the Everharts last night, so why would he bother showing up?"

Evelina's smile turned razor-sharp. "Lemira, Orion never loved you. He used you to cover up his mother's crimes."

Lemira looked absolutely broken. With every word, Evelina ruthlessly shredded her last remaining shreds of hope.

It all made sense. Why would a man like Orion ever work as a low-level high school doctor?

Why had he treated her with such overwhelming kindness from the very start?

If Orion had been in that car, all the puzzle pieces snapped violently into place.

That man had known exactly who she was. His motives for approaching her had been tainted from day one.

Lemira didn't even know how to react.

She wanted to pretend she was fine, but her face betrayed her utter devastation. Lemira turned to Lucian. "Did Orion really take Evelina away last night?"

Lucian nodded. "Yes. I assumed you knew. I didn't realize he did it behind your back and kept it a secret."

Hearing the confirmation, a heavy numbness spread through Lemira's chest.

Standing nearby, Asher glared at Evelina. "Then why didn't you say anything last night?"

Evelina raised an eyebrow. "Orion ordered me not to breathe a word of it to you, especially not to Lemira."

"If you were ordered to stay quiet, why are you blabbing now?"

Evelina's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Because I just couldn't bear to see Lemira kept in the dark. I'm doing a good deed. I'm doing this for her own good."

Lucian was livid. "You just want to see her suffer! You're jealous that she has someone as powerful as OrionTM backing her Isnt having Evander wrapped around your finger enough for you?"

Evander frowned, a deep sense of revulsion washing over him. The woman standing in front of him was entirely unrecognizable from the girl he had once loved. He had truly been blind to fall for her pathetic act.

Evelina clicked her tongue. "Man, telling the truth really makes you the villain these days. The Everhart

family is guilty. Do you minet

think you can take them down? You're better off pretending you don't know anything. It's safer for all

of you."

Lemira lifted her head, her eyes burning with unshed tears and pure fury. "No. Blood

for blood."