Chapter 385

Evelyn gave a slight nod before strolling casually into the living room.

"Mr. Whitmore, Mrs. Blackwood, it's been some time," she greeted with a polite but distant smile.

Gregory's brow furrowed. 'Did she just call me Mr. Whitmore?' Aloud, he demanded, "What did you just call me, you ungrateful girl?"

Evelyn chose an armchair far from where the Whitmores sat. She deliberately sipped the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee the maid served before meeting his gaze. "Is there a problem with calling you Mr. Whitmore? That is your surname, isn't it?"

After discovering she shared no blood with Gregory, Evelyn couldn't—wouldn't—call him 'Father' anymore. He wasn't her biological parent, nor had he raised her. A man who'd abandoned her to the countryside didn't deserve that title.

Gregory glared at Evelyn, his irritation growing by the minute. "Evelyn Whitmore, don't think marrying into wealth means you can disown your family. And we all know exactly how you became Mrs. Grayson!"

Evelyn's eyebrow arched, though her fingers tightened around the cup. "You seem very certain about how I became Mrs. Grayson, Mr. Whitmore."

Before Gregory could respond, Cassandra interrupted sharply, "We all know! Mother and I too! Evelyn, secrets never stay buried forever. Confess your crime now, and I might show you mercy... stepsister."

A dry chuckle escaped Evelyn. "Mercy? Cassandra, what imaginary wrong have I done this time to require your... generosity?"

The phrase 'my house' struck Cassandra like a dagger. She bristled. "Your house? How dare you! This is clearly my home!"

Victoria leaned against Gregory, speaking softly. "Evelyn, confess while Cassandra's still willing to forgive. We know you stole her place in the Grayson marriage. There's no point denying it. Now be good—kneel and apologize to your father and sister."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "How exactly did you discover this?"

Her question sounded like admission to the Whitmores. Gregory's face purpled with rage. "Evelyn Whitmore! I didn't raise you to be this shameless! Have you no decency? Stealing your sister's fiancé? You've made us the laughingstock of our circle! I never should've brought you back from that village!"

The irony almost made Evelyn laugh. She'd earned her university scholarship through top exam scores—Gregory had done nothing. And his constant claims of raising her? Pure fiction.

Their motives became clear after Cassandra's harassment of Theodore. But how had they uncovered her marriage?

Cassandra sneered at Evelyn's silence. "Cat got your tongue? Feeling guilty now that we've exposed you?"

Evelyn lowered her head as if ashamed. "Since you know everything... I suppose the only question is... what punishment do you have in mind?"