Chapter 14 - Evelyn Without Power
Evelyn requested to see me next.
I almost refused.
Then I decided there was one question I wanted to ask.
She arrived wearing pearls.
Of course she did.
Even catastrophe could not persuade Evelyn Vance to abandon pearls.
She sat with perfect posture.
“You've destroyed my family.”
I smiled faintly.
“Hello to you too.”
“This amuses you?”
“No.”
“You always wanted Daniel separated from me.”
“I wanted Daniel to be an adult.”
Her eyes flashed.
There she was.
The woman from the note.
I placed a copy between us.
Let’s see who comes for you now.
“Why did you write this?”
For the first time, embarrassment crossed her face.
“I was angry.”
“You knew my parents were dead.”
“Yes.”
“You used that deliberately.”
She said nothing.
“Why?”
“Because you thought you were better than us.”
I stared.
“No, Evelyn. I thought I was allowed to say no.”
“To your husband.”
“Yes.”
“That is exactly the problem with your generation.”
I almost smiled.
Even now.
Even after everything.
She still believed obedience was morality.
“What happened with Rachel?”
Her expression changed.
“She was unstable.”
“That's not an answer.”
“She hated Daniel.”
“She filed for divorce.”
“Exactly.”
I waited.
Finally Evelyn sighed.
“Rachel discovered the accounts. She threatened to expose everything.”
“Did you cause her crash?”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
“Did Daniel?”
“No.”
“Vale?”
“I don't know.”
“Do you believe someone did?”
Evelyn looked genuinely tired.
“No. I believe Rachel was frightened, angry, driving too fast in bad weather, and tragedy happened.”
That might be true.
Or not.
There was no evidence allowing me to decide.
“What did you do after she died?”
Evelyn looked away.
“We destroyed documents.”
There it was.
Not murder.
But wrongdoing.
“You erased what she was trying to expose.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To protect Daniel.”
“And years later you helped him do it again.”
Silence.
“With me.”
“Yes.”
I looked at this woman who had spent years calling her behavior family loyalty.
“Was it worth it?”
Her composure finally cracked.
“My son may go to prison.”
“Sophie is afraid of him.”
Tears appeared in Evelyn’s eyes.
“My granddaughter won't speak to me.”
“Was it worth it?”
She couldn't answer.
I stood.
“Vanessa.”
I stopped.
“I am sorry.”
I looked at her.
Perhaps she meant it.
But remorse doesn't erase consequences.
May you like
“I hope someday Sophie believes you.”
Then I walked away.
