Chapter 15 - THE MOMENT EVERYTHING SEEMED LOST

Before Arthur could raise the gun, a shot rang out. But it didn’t come from the officers.

It came from behind us.

Evelyn stood at the edge of the trees. She had been released earlier that day—cooperating with authorities, testifying against Arthur, her sentence suspended pending further evidence. She had come. Without telling anyone.

“Leave him alone,” she said, her voice ringing clear and steady through the fog.

Arthur turned, stunned. “Evelyn? How—”

“I told you,” she said, stepping forward. “If you touched a hair on his head… or Lily’s… I would destroy you.”

Arthur raised his gun toward her.

“Mother!” I shouted, lunging forward.

Arthur fired.

Evelyn staggered back. She clutched her chest. Blood bloomed dark across her coat.

“Evelyn!” Arthur froze, the gun slipping in his hand. For a single heartbeat, he looked horrified. “I didn’t mean—”

“Now you do,” Evelyn whispered. She collapsed to her knees, her eyes fixed on mine. “Adrian… tell Lily… tell her I am sorry. And tell her… Grace was right.”

“Evelyn!” I dropped beside her, pressing my hands against the wound, but the blood came fast and hot. She gripped my arm with surprising strength.

“Arthur… he will not stop,” she gasped. “Stop him. For Grace. For Lily. For all of us.”

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Behind us, the officers shouted, rushing forward. Arthur turned and ran—back into the trees, vanishing into the fog. But I didn’t chase him. I knelt there in the mud and the cold, holding Evelyn’s body, weeping as the woman who had hurt me so deeply… died saving my life.