Amelia Sterling exited the boutique.

The polite smile she had maintained for the sales staff vanished instantly from her face.

A dark, venomous scowl took its place.

That wretched Evelyn.

Always one step ahead.

Always in her way.

She needed to be dealt with. Permanently.

"Miss Sterling, shall we continue shopping?" A bodyguard behind her asked cautiously.

Amelia whirled around, her eyes flashing with fury.

"You fool! Do I look like I'm in the mood for shopping? We're going home!"

She needed to think. To devise a flawless plan to eliminate the threat of Evelyn's pregnancy.

The bodyguard flinched and immediately lowered his head. "Yes, Miss Sterling."

He had served the Sterling family for years.

Her parents were models of grace and decorum.

Her brother, Jonathan, was always measured and polite.

But Amelia? She was a spoiled, volatile tempest.

Even after her outburst, rage continued to simmer inside her.

Her expression icy, she strode purposefully towards the elevator.

A movement in her peripheral vision made her stop.

A shadowy figure was watching her from a distance.

"Who's there?" She spun around, her voice sharp and commanding.

The figure flinched and tried to melt back into the crowd.

Amelia's eyes narrowed dangerously.

How dare someone follow her?

"Grab that rat," she ordered, her tone low and threatening.

"Yes, Miss Sterling!" The bodyguards sprang into action.

They quickly apprehended Miriam Croft, who had been trying to slip away unnoticed.

"I'm sorry..." Miriam's heart hammered against her ribs. She never expected to see her biological daughter this close again, and certainly not under these circumstances.

She kept her head bowed, avoiding Amelia's direct gaze.

Looking into those eyes would make it impossible to keep her secret.

But she had no choice. Time was running out. She couldn't let anyone destroy the comfortable life her daughter now enjoyed.

Amelia's brow furrowed as she scrutinized the woman's shabby clothing. Her gaze then lifted to the pale, frightened face.

A flicker of pure disdain crossed Amelia's features.

"Who are you? Why are you following me? Looking for trouble?"

She wrinkled her nose and took a subtle step backward, as if repulsed by the scent of poverty clinging to Miriam.

Miriam's eyes widened in terror. She shook her head frantically.

"No! No, Miss Sterling! I wasn't following you!"

Amelia's sharp eyes narrowed. "You know my name? How interesting. It seems you know more than you should."

She shot a cold glance at her bodyguard.

Understanding the silent command, the guard delivered a sharp kick to the back of Miriam's knees.

With a painful thud, Miriam collapsed onto the hard floor. Agony shot through her legs, draining all color from her face.

"Miss Sterling!" she gasped, barely suppressing a cry. "I swear, I wasn't following you..."

She had only lingered after seeing Amelia about to leave, unable to resist one last look. She never thought she'd be caught.

Desperate to explain, the words tumbled out. "I was following Evelyn."

Amelia arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Oh? And why would you do that? Do you know her?"