Female Novel"Did you just swipe my bag?"
"Swipe your bag? Look who's talking, Miss High-and-Mighty. Can't you see that? The Hawthornes areflat broke, and our mansion's getting gutted to cover debts.
I haven't seen a paycheck in two months, and it's a free-for-all with the stuff inside. I just grabbed acouple of purses, that's all. I didn't even fuss about them being second-hand. What more do you want?You want to play the lady of the manor? Square up my wages right now, and you can have yourprecious bags back, as if I care!"
With that said, Nora shrugged off Evelina with a fling of her arm and dragged her suitcase away,leaving Evelina trembling with rage. Nora rolled her eyes and walked off.
That moment, Elara and Kevin were also kicked out of the mansion.
Evelina rushed over, seizing Kevin by the arm with a face full of shock and fear.
"Dad, what's going on? How did the company tank all of a sudden? Couldn't we just pull in someinvestment, patch up the financial gaps, and get through this crisis?"
She was still brainstorming solutions, convinced that there had to be a way out.
But how did everything collapse so suddenly!
Evelina was so overwhelmed that she was unable to grasp the reality of their downfall.
Kevin turned around and stared back at Evelina with an ashen face.
Suddenly, his expression turned furious, and he slapped Evelina hard across the face.
"Ah!" Evelina stumbled back, holding her face in disbelief.
"Dad? You hit me?"
Since she returned to the Hawthorne fold, her parents had doted on her, being mindful of the hardshipsshe'd faced as a child.
But lately, Evelina had faced criticism and reprimands more than once.
"What did you do this time to infuriate Remington, to make him strike our family down like this? MyGod, how did the Hawthornes end up with such a curse!"
Kevin pointed at Evelina, his chest heaving with anger.
Evelina's face turned ghostly pale, and her expression went blank.
It was Remington.novelbin
So, it wasn't that Edith hadn't ratted her out; it was Remington who had moved against the Hawthornes.
A death blow.
The Hawthorne legacy was shattered, and she, the heiress, became a joke.
"Evelina, what exactly did you do? Why is all this happening? Did you provoke Lizetta again?" Elaraalso pressed Evelina for answers.
Evelina, her eyes reddened with anger, shook off Elara's hand forcefully.
"Why? How is it my fault?! Didn't you always say I was your own flesh and blood, that you'd alwayslove me the most? Now you're bringing up Lizetta again? Ha, I provoked Lizetta? Don't forget that itwasn't just me who had a spat with her at the diner the other day.
Lizetta's now Mrs. Dashiell. Regretting your decisions, are you? Thinking you should've never broughtyour own daughter back?
Ha, too bad, it's too late! But don't jump to conclusions just yet. What goes around comes around. Iwon't be outdone by Lizetta. The game is long, and I refuse to lose!"
After her outburst, Evelina turned and stormed off.
To her dismay, even the car she had driven there had been taken.
April stood there, panic-stricken, as Evelina's tears began to fall uncontrollably.
No, she wouldn't give up!
She still had one move to play. Evelina took out her phone; her hands were trembling as she dialed anumber.
The news of the Hawthorne's bankruptcy spread quickly, especially since Evelina had made quite ascene with Remington upon her return; it became somewhat of an internet sensation.
Yolanda, having seen the news online, had a field day gossiping about it with Lizetta.
Feeling curious, Yolanda asked Lizetta what was up with Remington, and how could he bear to treatEvelina so harshly.
Lizetta, wanting to spare Yolanda the worry, didn't mention the amniocentesis; instead, she deflected,briefly mentioning she had misunderstood something about Stella and Remington. She said she'dcontinue staying at Oakridge Heights for a few days before hanging up.
Lizetta spent a day at Oakridge Heights without any word from Remington.
That night, as Lizetta went to bed, there was still no sign of him.
She thought he wouldn't return, but the next morning, she woke to find the warmth of a man's chestagainst her back.
Lizetta stiffened slightly.
He was back. But what about Barbara?