Believe Her?

The black baseball cap was pulled down low.

Black sunglasses obscured most of her face.

A black mask covered the rest.

A loose, oversized black jacket.

Her hands were shoved in her pockets.

She was completely bundled up.

One could barely tell she was a woman.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "It's you?"

The other woman nodded. "It's me."

Evelyn leaned forward. "The one who impersonated me to get the marriage certificate?"

The woman nodded again. "It's me."

Evelyn leaned back. "Who are you, really?"

The woman was silent for a moment. "Evelyn, I can't say. But please believe me, I mean no harm. Alexander must stay with you. Only he can protect you."

Evelyn scoffed. "I don't need protection."

"You do!" The woman suddenly became agitated, placing her hands on the table. "You have no idea how dangerous things are around you!"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous? I've lived over twenty years. The biggest danger was Linda's beatings."

The woman shook her head. "That was just the tip of the iceberg."

Evelyn stood up. "You, hiding your face, seem far more dangerous."

She made to leave.

The woman urgently grabbed her arm. "Evelyn!"

Evelyn turned back.

The woman seemed to reach a decision. She swiftly removed her sunglasses and mask.

Evelyn's pupils constricted.

She was looking at a face identical to her own.

Only it lacked the tear mole at the corner of the eye.

Evelyn's voice tightened. "You?"

The woman put her mask back on. "Now you should believe me."

Evelyn stared intently. "Who are you?"

The woman bit her lip. "I'm your twin sister."

Evelyn froze. "What?"

The woman pulled her into a private room, carefully closing the door.

She removed all her disguise again.

Long, dark hair cascaded down.

This face appeared softer than Evelyn's, her eyes filled with anxiety.

Evelyn frowned. "Mom only had me."

Tears slid down the woman's face. "No, we are twins. I wasn't breathing when I was born. William Ashcroft threw me away immediately. He hid it from Mom, afraid she'd be heartbroken."

Evelyn pressed. "Mom doesn't know?"

"She never knew." The woman choked up. "She also never knew you and Isabella were switched."

Evelyn found it odd. "No prenatal checkups during the pregnancy?"

The woman nodded. "Mom never had any prenatal checkups."

Evelyn's gaze turned sharp. "How do you know all this?"

The woman shook her head in panic. "I can't say. If I do, my child will be in danger."

Child...

Evelyn remembered last night's message.

The woman gripped her hand tightly. "Evelyn, I'm your biological sister. I would never harm you. Please believe me!"

Evelyn looked directly at her. "Swear on your child."

The woman didn't hesitate. "I swear on my child, I will never harm you! If I'm lying, may my child..."

She suddenly stopped, her eyes full of struggle.

Evelyn's heart softened. "Enough."

She asked softly, "Is your child a boy or a girl?"

A gentle smile appeared on the woman's face as she unlocked her phone. "This is my daughter's birthday."

The photo album showed a little girl, about two or three years old.

Her peach blossom eyes sparkled.

Evelyn's heart inexplicably trembled.

The bond of blood made her instantly soften.

She looked at the woman.

Her intuition told her this was real.

Evelyn had long suspected Sophia Ashcroft's secrets.

It was entirely possible she had no prenatal checkups back then.

Her sister being discarded, herself being switched... it was likely all William Ashcroft's doing.

Evelyn fell into thought.

The woman put her phone away, her eyes pleading. "Evelyn, do you believe me now? You must not get divorced..."

Evelyn gave a bitter smile.

It wasn't that she wanted a divorce.

But Alexander had already made his choice.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from Alexander Vance: 【City Hall at 2 PM.】

Her heart ached.

Her phone vibrated again.

A message from Sophia Ashcroft: 【Meeting the handsome older gentleman at Le Jardin Secret at noon. I'll go first. Come when you're free.】

Evelyn replied: 【Private room 8. Go in if you arrive first.】

A message from the handsome older gentleman followed immediately: 【Little friend, I'm in private room 8. When will you arrive?】

Evelyn quickly replied: 【My mother will be there first to entertain you.】

After handling all the messages, she turned her attention back to the sister before her.