Weeks had passed, and I was finally calling myself Evelyn Gray. It wasn't easy—accepting someone else's face, someone else's life—but Dr. Victoria didn't give me much of a choice. Evelyn was her daughter, a famous supermodel, and now… she was me.
We planned everything. Dr. Victoria trained me to walk, talk, and act like Evelyn. It felt like I was stepping into a role I never auditioned for, but I kept going. Revenge was the only thing fueling me.
One day, while I was practicing my "graceful walk," Dr. Victoria's phone rang. She frowned at the screen and stepped out to take the call. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but her sharp tone caught my attention.
When she returned, her face was unreadable. "We've got an opportunity," she said.
"What kind of opportunity?" I asked.
"Jarkius is hosting an auction," she explained. "It's private. Very exclusive. My assistant, Sayid, managed to get us a VIP ticket. He's very close to me, I told him everything about you. You can trust him."
I shook my head slightly.
My stomach churned at the mention of his name. "And you want me to go."
"Yes," she said firmly. "You're Evelyn now. He won't ignore you."
The night of the auction, I stepped out of a sleek car in a glittering blue diamond gown. The dress hugged me perfectly, and my hair and makeup were flawless. I didn't feel like myself—I felt like a stranger in my own skin.
But I had to play the part.
As I entered the grand estate, whispers followed me. I ignored them, scanning the room. Then, I saw him.
Jarkius Montenegro.
He was standing near the center of the crowd, effortlessly charming a group of people. His sharp suit, perfectly styled hair, and smug smirk made my blood boil. For a moment, I felt my rage bubble over.
Then, his eyes met mine.
Shock flickered across his face before he masked it with confusion. I took a deep breath and walked straight toward him.
“E-Evelyn?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
I tilted my head, letting a sly smile play on my lips. "What's wrong, Jarkius? You look like you've seen a ghost."
He stared at me, his confidence shaken. "I… I didn't know you'd be here."
Before he could say anything else, my hand shot up, and I slapped him across the face.
HARD.
Good thing, nobody noticed us.
Gasps erupted around us. "That's for everything you've done," I said through gritted teeth.
His jaw clenched, but he stayed silent. The tension between us was suffocating. I turned and walked away, leaving him stunned.
When the auction started, I slipped away from the crowd. The buzz of conversation faded as I entered Jarkius’s private office. Dr. Victoria had told me there might be something there—something to expose him.
The office was quiet, dimly lit, and perfectly organized. I searched through drawers and cabinets, my hands trembling. There had to be something, anything—
Footsteps!
I froze, heart pounding, and ducked behind a curtain just as the door opened.
"You promised me she was dead!"
It was a woman’s voice. Sharp. Angry.
"You said Sierra was gone, Jarkius!" she hissed. "How is this possible? There’s no way she could’ve survived!"
I pressed myself closer to the wall, holding my breath.
"Lower your voice, Anitha, close the door," Jarkius snapped. "Do you want everyone to hear?”
Anitha? His assistant? Now, the woman he cheated on me with?!
“She should’ve died in that explosion!” Anitha hissed. “We planned everything perfectly. So why can’t they find her body?”
My blood ran cold.
“She’s dead,” Jarkius said dismissively.
“You better be right,” Anitha spat. “If anyone finds out—”
I couldn’t hear the rest. My ears were ringing. They had planned it. The explosion wasn’t an accident.
THEY TRIED TO KILL ME.
As they left, I stepped out from behind the curtain, my hands clenched into fists. My mind was clearer than ever.
“You’ll pay for this,” I whispered to myself.
The auction ended, and I slipped out before Jarkius could corner me. The night air was cool, but my skin burned with rage and adrenaline.
The black car idled at the curb, its engine humming softly. Sayid was supposed to pick me up, but I didn’t see him. I glanced around, frowning.
Something felt… off.
Before I could react, the screech of tires filled the air. A black van roared around the corner and skidded to a stop in front of me.
My heart leaped into my throat as the van doors slammed open.
“Get her!” a voice barked.
Men in black masks lunged out, rushing toward me.
I didn’t think—I just ran. My heels clicked against the pavement as I rushed down the street, my dress getting in the way.
“Stop her!”
Adrenaline surged through me as I turned into an alley. My chest heaved, my legs burning. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I couldn’t stop.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm, yanking me backward. I screamed, thrashing, but the grip was iron.
A rag was pressed against my face, and the sharp, sickly-sweet smell of chloroform filled my nose.
“No!” I gasped, fighting to stay conscious.
Darkness closed in, swallowing me whole.
When I woke up, my head throbbed, and the cold metal of a chair pressed against my skin. My wrists were tied behind me, and a single lightbulb swung overhead, casting eerie shadows across the room.
A figure stepped into the light, their silhouette familiar.
“You should’ve stayed dead.”
