**Audrey's POV**

"It's from Evelyn," she said. "During her final days, she dreamed about you often. After learning you existed, finding you became her greatest wish.11

My fingers trembled as I took the envelope. Inside was a letter written in shaky but careful handwriting:

*Dear Sister,

*By the time you read this, I'll be gone. Though we've never met,knowing someone shares my exact DNA brings me strange comfort.*

*I don't know what kind of life you've lived, but I hope it's been happier than mine. My life, though brief, was fulfilling -loving parents,a career I loved, and my precious Emma.*

*My only regret is missing her grow up. If possible, I hope you might care for her. This is just a dying woman's wish - you have every right to refuse.*

*Whatever you decide, I wish you happiness. Perhaps someday,you'll tell Emma that she has another mother who loves her, watching from above.*

*Forever loving you,*

*Evelyn Knox*

Tears blurred my vision as I finished reading. I felt connected to this sister I'd never met but was bound to by blood.

"She never wanted to use my brain to revive herself. did she?" I asked.looking up at Eleanor.

Her face shifted from sorrow to shock. "God, no! That was Adrian's desperate idea."

She grabbed my hand. "Evelyn only wanted you to be healthy and happy.maybe care for Emma. She never thought of sacrificing you."

I frowned."Then why did Adrian tell me - "

"Because he wanted to completely sever your connection to your past."

I turned to see a familiar white-haired man in the doorway.

"Dr. Clarke," Eleanor said, standing quickly. "What brings you here?"

"Checking on my patient." He walked in, studying me with interest."Recovery looks promising."

"It's been a while," I smiled.

Dr. Clarke nodded to Eleanor, who took the hint. "I'll get some tea," she said,quietly leaving.

Once we were alone, Dr. Clarke sat beside me. "Adrian did propose that brain transplant nonsense, but I refused immediately. I'm a doctor, not a mad scientist. Even if such a surgery were possible, who could guarantee the person who woke would be his wife?"

His expression softened. "Your sister was remarkably strong. When she learned about you, she just wanted to meet you, to give you a hug."

"And Adrian?" I asked.

"He's drowning in guilt, trying to atone through extreme measures.I stopped his initial plan, but he insisted on 'saving' you his way."

Dr. Clarke patted my shoulder before leaving. "The ravages that cancer has inflicted on your body have not completely subsided yet. Recover well, and you will return to the state of a healthy person."

I watched him go, finally understanding the complicated truth - Adrian's love for his wife, his guilt, and his concern for his daughter's future.

That night, Adrian slipped into my roomn. Despite his exhaustion, he carried himself with that same rigid control.

"Heard Clarke stopped by," he said, closing the door.

"He told me everything," I replied, watching him carefully.

Adrian walked to the window, his back to me. "I assume you hate me now.11

"Why the lies?" I asked. "The brain transplant story, the gun-what were you after?"

He turned, his face half in shadow.′′Ineeded to know if you were worth saving."

"Worthit?′′I sat up straighter. "Who made you judge of who deserves to live?"

"Evelyn deserved better!" His composure cracked briefly before he regained control. "And you had given up, ready to die."

He stepped closer. "My methods were extreme, yes. But I had to know if you had enough will to survive, if you deserved the second chance her

sacrifice gave you."

"So that's why you tested me so cruelly?"

"You passed," he said simply. "You chose to live for your friends. That told me Evelyn's organs weren't wasted."

The room fell silent except for occasional footsteps in the hallway.

"I need to go back," I finally said. "My friends need me."

Adrian nodded slightly. "I figured you'd say that. But you still need at least three more months to recover."

"Clarke says I can travel short distances in a month if I follow the treatment plan."

"You'll need regular follow-ups," he countered. "Recovery after major transplants is critical."

I looked down at my hands. "I'll come back for check-ups, but I won't stay.11

Then I met his gaze again. "If I return as Audrey Sinclair, it'll cause too many complications. I don't want anything to do with Blake Parker again."

An idea formed in my mind. "But if I go back as Evelyn Knox...things would be much simpler."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You want to impersonate Evelyn?"

"Yes. We're identical twins. No one would suspect I'm really Audrey."

"More importantly." I continued, gripping the sheets, "I don't want my old life back. Audrey's life was nothing but pain. Blake never truly loved me.l

lost our child..."

My voice shook slightly before I steadied it. "I want a fresh start. As Evelyn, I can help my friends without facing my past."

Adrian stayed silent. The door opened as Eleanor came in with tea. From her expression, she'd clearly heard me.

"Are you sure?" She set down the tea and approached. "This means completely abandoning who you were."

I nodded firmly. "Audrey is already 'dead.' Now I'm Evelyn Knox,jewelry designer from Australia, founder of Q-elegant."

I turned to Adrian. "I need to learn everything about her - her habits,design style, every detail."

He studied me for a moment. "If you take this path, you accept everything about Evelyn. Including her family responsibilities."

"Emma needs a mother," he added.

My expression softened. "Emma is a wonderful child."

I thought of my lost baby. "I once had a child too, though they left before they could be born. Maybe this is another chance to love a child."

I looked at Eleanor sincerely. "I'll take care of Emma. She'll never know her birth mother is gone. For her, I'll be her mom."

Eleanor's eyes wvelled up as she sat on the bed and took my hand. "We don't expect you to become Evelyn completely. We just want someone who can be there for Emma and for us."

Her kindness warmed me unexpectedly. "I understand."

I realized something then - even if they had their own reasons for helping me, they weren't bad people. They just wanted someone they loved to live on somehow.

And I was willing to use Evelyn's identity while finding a new perspective on life. I'd spent too many years fixated on Blake Parker,making myself miserable. Now that I had a second chance, I'd live for myself.

"From now on, I am Evelyn Knox, call me Evelyn," I said with newfound resolve. "I'll be Emma's mother, your daughter, and Adrian's... wife.Though just for show, obviously."

I directed that last part at Adrian with clear warning.

He laughed coldly, appraising me like a new acquisition.

"Dr. Clarke is hosting his eightieth birthday on Long Island in three months," he said abruptly. "We've been invited."

Eleanor frowned. "You're planning to go?"

"Of course we are." His tone left no room for argument. "The invitation includes my wife and daughter."

"You want to bring... Evelyn?" Eleanor looked concerned.

"Yes." Adrian nodded. "We need to establish her identity publicly. She'll be totally healthy by then."

His eyes turned cold as he looked at me. "All Clarke's former patients will be there."

"Including Blake Parker and Rachel Hayes."

Adrian stared directly at me. "Are you prepared for that?"