Kneeling

Isabella's pupils constricted violently.

Her gaze was glued to the report, unable to look away.

Thomas strode into the hospital room and handed the report to Evelyn.

Evelyn glanced at the results.

As expected, it was not a match.

She raised an eyebrow and looked at Julian.

Julian sneered. "The report is out? Perfect, let everyone see the truth!"

Evelyn was about to hand over the report when a hand suddenly snatched it away.

Linda quickly opened the report, her face instantly turning deathly pale.

She looked at Isabella in shock.

Isabella avoided her gaze. "Aunt Linda, show everyone the report quickly... only then can we prove my innocence!"

Julian chimed in. "Yes, bring it here to prove Isabella's innocence, so my uncle and Evelyn can't slander her anymore!"

But Linda crumpled the report into a ball and stuffed it into her mouth.

Everyone was stunned.

Julian was dumbfounded. "What are you doing?"

Isabella said urgently, "Aunt Linda, spit it out..."

The more they urged her, the more determined Linda became to swallow it. "This report is fake! I can't let you see it! What if you use it as evidence to sue Evelyn?"

Julian was furious. "You...!"

A slight smile touched Isabella's lips.

She had called Linda here precisely for this moment.

But her triumph lasted less than three seconds before Evelyn's cool voice rang out. "It's just a report. We can print another one after you eat that. Thomas..."

Thomas smiled. "Alright, I'll go reprint it now."

He turned and left the room.

Linda glared viciously at Evelyn, then suddenly said to Julian, "Mr. Evans, why don't you go back first? Let me talk to Evelyn, convince her to confess..."

Julian snorted coldly. "She killed my child. Why should I give her a chance?"

Linda was speechless.

Isabella spoke up. "Julian, for the sake of our four years as classmates. I'm willing to give Evelyn a chance..."

Four years of university together...

Julian pressed his lips together, remembering the simple times when he had pursued Evelyn.

He looked at Evelyn, his heart softening for a moment. "Fine, Evelyn, I'll give you this chance. If you admit your mistake and accept your punishment, I can go easier on you. Otherwise, I won't let you off!"

He turned to leave.

Isabella said quickly, "I'll stay and try to persuade her too..."

"Fine."

After seeing Julian out, Isabella closed the hospital room door.

Shutting out all outside view.

She turned around sharply, her pretense gone. "Evelyn, you are not allowed to produce that report!"

Evelyn scoffed. "Why not?"

"No reason! You just can't!" Isabella stared at her fiercely. "If you produce it, you'll ruin me!"

Evelyn looked at her coldly. "You brought this on yourself. If you hadn't framed me, I wouldn't be pursuing this..."

"You...!"

Evelyn's expression was icy. "Isabella, don't mistake my restraint for weakness! This time, you're reaping what you sowed!"

Isabella clenched her fists.

Linda suddenly gasped. "Isabella, if this child isn't Mr. Evans's, then whose is it?"

Isabella frowned in disgust. "It's none of your business whose it is! The Evans family must never find out, or I'm finished!"

If she were cast out by the Evans family because of this, even with the backing of the New York Ashcrofts, she would never marry into a good family!

Linda nodded repeatedly. "Right, right, they mustn't know!"

She turned to Evelyn. "You wretched girl, you are not to say a word! Do you hear me?! Keep your mouth shut, and go convince Alexander to keep quiet too! If Isabella is cast out by the Evans family, I'll make you pay!"

Evelyn said calmly, "Suit yourself."

"You...!"

Linda pointed at her, trembling with anger.

But looking at the taller Evelyn and remembering her skills, she knew she was no match for her anymore.

A ruthless glint flashed in Linda's eyes.

Thud!

Isabella suddenly knelt straight down in front of Evelyn.

Linda was stunned and rushed over to pull her up. "Isabella, you're the young lady, how can you kneel to her? Get up quickly..."

Isabella pushed Linda away, her face unusually calm. "Evelyn, I'm begging you, let me off this time."

Evelyn looked down at her.

Her vision blurred.

There was a time when she was always Isabella's follower.

As a child, Isabella often made her kneel...

She knelt to put shoes on Isabella's feet...

She knelt to let Isabella step on her to mount a horse...

She knelt on the floor scrubbing the Ashcroft mansion...

She knelt in front of Isabella to receive lectures...

It wasn't until middle school that she regained her dignity and never knelt again.

She never imagined that one day Isabella would be kneeling before her?!

She felt no thrill of revenge, only how pitiful her younger self had been!

Evelyn spoke slowly. "I told you, you framed me first. That report is the only evidence of my innocence."

Isabella cried out urgently. "It doesn't matter! I'll tell everyone I won't hold it against you, I'll help prove it wasn't intentional... and the New York Ashcrofts, I'll plead for you too! Evelyn, the New York Ashcrofts have more power than the Evans family! Do you think Alexander can really intimidate Third Master Ashcroft? If Third Master Ashcroft gets angry, Alexander can't protect you! But I can..."

Isabella tried to tempt her first. Seeing Evelyn unmoved, she immediately threatened her. "Of course, if I'm cast out by the Evans family, I will beg Third Master Ashcroft to destroy you! If you just take a step back and admit your mistake, I'll make everyone forgive you. It's a win-win... what do you say?"

Evelyn lowered her eyes. "There's one thing I don't understand."

"What?"

"Why did you abort this child."

As she finished speaking, Evelyn secretly reached into her pocket and pressed the record button.

No one noticed her small movement.

Isabella's eyes were fierce, speaking without hesitation.

"Because this child was an obstacle to my happiness! As long as it existed, it was a threat! What if it was born and didn't look like Julian? Leaving it would cause endless trouble! It's just a child, I'm young, I can have as many as I want..."

To gain Evelyn's trust, Isabella laid bare her heart for the first time. "I must marry into the Evans family and live a superior life! Evelyn, you don't understand, this is my obsession! For this, I can sacrifice anything!!"