Alexander Vance stared at the figure at the door.

She wore an oversized sweater, her silhouette indistinct.

But her gait made his heart skip a beat.

It was too familiar.

So familiar it stole his breath.

"Evelyn?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

The woman's eyelashes fluttered. Her voice was soft. "Do you know me?"

Alexander froze.

The woman looked down, timid. "I'm Grace. Evelyn Ross's high school classmate. I heard about what happened. I came to see Mrs. Ashcroft."

She deliberately softened her tone, imitating her sister's remembered cadence.

Alexander's eyes darkened.

He gave a self-mocking twist of his lips.

What was he thinking?

The DNA tests had been done again and again.

The results didn't lie.

His Evelyn would never be this timid and shrinking.

He clenched his fist, his voice low. "I was her husband."

Those two words were filled with blood and pain.

Evelyn felt a sharp sting in her chest.

She turned her face away, unable to look at his haggard profile.

"My condolences."

She walked quickly to the hospital bed.

The chart read 'stress-induced shock,' but no life-threatening danger.

Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief.

She leaned close to Mrs. Ashcroft's ear. Her voice was a whisper. "Mom, I'm alive. You need to be well. Wait for me to come back."

Mrs. Ashcroft's fingers twitched slightly.

Evelyn stood up and left.

She didn't look back.

She was afraid one more glance would make her lose control.

Not long after Evelyn left, William Ashcroft returned.

He looked calm, not as distraught as before.

Alexander spoke evenly. "Take care of yourself."

William nodded. "I will."

Alexander left the hospital room.

The moment the door closed, Mrs. Ashcroft sat up abruptly.

"Evelyn! Where is my Evelyn?"

William quickly held her. "Sophia, you just woke up. Don't get agitated."

Mrs. Ashcroft gripped his arm. "William, Evelyn isn't dead! She was just here. I heard her speak!"

William's expression was complicated. "Sophia, that was a dream..."

"It wasn't a dream!" Mrs. Ashcroft was emotional. "She was really here! She said she's still alive!"

William sighed, gently patting her back. "Alright, she's not dead. Our Evelyn isn't dead."

Mrs. Ashcroft gradually calmed down.

She insisted on checking the surveillance footage.

William had no choice. He called a nurse.

Half an hour later, the footage was sent to his phone.

The video fast-forwarded.

Alexander keeping vigil in the room.

William leaving to fetch water.

Then—

A girl in a baseball cap and mask slipped into the room.

Mrs. Ashcroft's tears fell instantly.

"It's Evelyn! She's really alive!"