A sudden, sharp pain stabbed through Evelyn's heart.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm.

Her hands reached out into the oppressive darkness surrounding her.

"Even a storage room must have a light switch," she whispered to herself.

Her fingers trailed along the cold wall, searching blindly.

Finally, they brushed against a small, plastic panel.

Relief washed over her as she flipped the switch.

Instantly, bright, harsh light flooded the small space.

Evelyn winced, her eyes struggling to adjust after the absolute blackness.

She blinked rapidly, taking in her new environment.

It was surprisingly tidy. Neatly stacked boxes lined the walls.

Not the damp, filthy dungeon she had feared the Sterlings would throw her into.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. The Sterlings were certainly cruel enough for that.

But here she was, finding humor in the situation. Perhaps a little hope was necessary.

She had to think of the baby now. Her own safety was secondary.

She needed to stay calm, for the child's sake.

Evelyn found a sturdy-looking crate and sat down.

Her mind began working, plotting a way out of this nightmare.

Amelia's evidence was a complete fabrication. Evelyn had never been near any lounge.

She hadn't even seen the necklace she was accused of stealing.

The security footage from the banquet hall was her only hope.

A wave of frustration hit her. "I suggested checking the cameras, but I never got to see them," she muttered.

Now she was trapped. The Sterlings could easily erase the truth before she could prove it.

She sighed, regret twisting inside her. If only she had been more careful.

Her thoughts turned to Jonathan Sterling.

The man who had so coldly ordered her imprisonment.

10:56

496 What A Scoundrel!

"What a complete scoundrel! He bumps into me, blames me for it, and then condemns me without a second thought. The Sterling siblings are truly cut from the same cloth."

If they were determined to frame her, she couldn't fight this alone.

She pressed her lips together firmly and reached for her phone.

A small stroke of luck—she still had it. It wasn't in her purse.

Her gaze fell on her message thread with Alexander.

Should she call him? He was away on business. He might not be able to help in time.

She hesitated, her thumb hovering over Charlotte's contact.

Charlotte had her own company, but she was no match for the powerful Sterling family.

Dragging her best friend into this mess was not an option.

Evelyn racked her brain, searching for another solution.

Then, a name surfaced in her mind with sudden clarity.

It seemed she had only one viable choice left.

She couldn't wage this war alone anymore. Not while carrying a child.

The baby's safety was paramount.

A sense of resolve settled over her. The decision was made.

She quickly typed out a concise message.

Her finger pressed 'send'.

At that exact moment, the door was flung open with a violent crash.

Evelyn jolted, her entire body tensing in alarm.

A smug, taunting voice filled the small room. "Evelyn, how does it feel to be locked away like an animal?"

She looked up.

Her eyes met Amelia Sterling's mocking gaze, dripping with malicious amusement.