At Asher’s words, a hollow, mocking laugh escaped Lemira’s lips.

No matter how much the world changed, the Langstons would always be exactly the

same.

Lucian quickly stepped in front of Asher. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you bringing that up right now?”

Asher fired back, “I’m doing this for her own good! Since we know Orion was just using her, why shouldn’t she use him right back?”

Lemira leveled a dead-eyed stare at the Langstons. “I don’t need your interference in my life. You better keep Evelina on a very tight leash, or the Sinclair family will take care of her for you.”

A jolt of fear shot through Evelina. “What can they possibly do to me? I already told the cops everything. Coming after me won’t change anything.”

“Do you honestly think the Sinclairs are that forgiving? They will absolutely retaliate. When you fall into their hands, how exactly do you think your story ends?”

Lemira’s icy stare sent a violent shudder down Evelina’s spine. It was true. The Sinclairs were famously vindictive, and she had no protection left.

Pure terror gripped her throat, and she shrank behind Evander, thoroughly silenced.

Lemira took a slow step toward Evelina. “Tell me the truth. When Orion took you to see the Sinclairs last night, what exactly was said?”

“I-I already told you everything,” Evelina stammered, her eyes darting nervously.

Lemira stared her down. “You’re lying.”

Evander shoved Evelina forward. “Tell the truth. The Langston family is the only protection you have left. If I catch you lying, I will throw you out onto the street myself.”

Evelina was genuinely terrified. If the Sinclairs came for her, she had zero means to defend herself.

She reluctantly confessed, “Mr. Everhart did it for his mother. He wanted Amanda to see Amelia’s true colors because Amelia was planning to drag both families down.”

She carefully withheld the rest of the truth.

She had no intention of admitting that Amelia was the one exclusively manipulating Amanda. If she said that, Lemira and Orion might actually reconcile.

She would take that secret to her grave.

Lemira’s eyes narrowed with deep suspicion. “Is that really all?”

“Yes, that’s it! Amelia has been leeching off Amanda for years, and Orion has always despised her.”

To make her story foolproof, Evelina peppered in some undeniable facts.

Lemira knew the internal dynamics

well. She knew Orion detested

Amelia’s behavior, but because Amelia was Amanda’s best friend, he had always held his tongue.

No wonder Amanda had collapsed and been hospitalized; she must have been entirely blindsided.

It all made sense now.

Without another word, Lemira turned and walked away. Lucian chased after her “Lemmy, where are you going? Come home with us ‘ll be safer.”

“No.”

Lemira’s rejection was absolute.

She climbed into her car, not giving the Langstons a single backward glance.

In the passenger seat, Debby spoke

up tentatively. “Ms. Langston, Mr. Everhart isn’t the villain they’re

making him out to be Please don’t take Evelina’s words as gospel There has to be a massive misunderstanding.”

Lemira wiped fiercely at her eyes, looking at Debby. “You knew about this, didn’t you?”

Debby’s gaze dropped to her lap, her silence a damning confirmation.

Lemira let out a broken, bitter laugh. What else was there to understand? “How long have you known?”

“For a while now. But I swear, Ms. Langston, Mr. Everhart didn’t approach you to cover up his family’s crimes. That’s absolutely not true.”

Lemira’s lips twisted in an agonizing smile. “If it wasn’t that, then what was it?”

She couldn’t think of a single other reason.

She glanced down at her phone, pulling up her chat with Orion.

She needed to hear the truth from his own mouth.