Chapter 287
The room fell silent except for occasional footsteps in the hallway.
“I need to go back,” | 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 | can travel short distances in a month if | follow the treatment plan.”
“You'll need regular follow-ups,” he countered. “Recovery after major transplants is critical.”
| looked down at my hands. “I'll cback for check-ups, but | won't stay.”
Then | met his gaze again. “If | return as Audrey Sinclair, it'll cause too many complications. | don’t want
anything to do with Blake Parker again.”
An idea formed in my mind. “But if | 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,” | continued, gripping the sheets, “I don’t want my old life back. Audrey's life was nothing but
pain. Blake never truly loved me. | lost our child...”
My voice shook slightly before I steadied it. “I want a fresh start. As Evelyn, | can help my friends without facing
my past.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAdrian stayed silent. The door opened as Eleanor cin 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.”
| turned to Adrian. “I need to learn everything about her - her habits, design style, every detail.”
He studiedfor 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.”
| 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.”
| 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 welled up as she sat on the bed and took my hand. “We don’t expect you to becEvelyn
completely. We just want someone who can be there for Emma and for us.”
Her kindness warmedunexpectedly. “I understand.”
| 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.
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And | 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 | had a second chance, I'd live for myself.
“From now on, | am Evelyn Knox, callEvelyn,” | said with newfound resolve. “I'll be Emma’s mother, your
daughter, and Adrian's... wife. Though just for show, obviously.”
| directed that last part at Adrian with clear warning.
He laughed coldly, appraisinglike 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.”
drian stared directly at me. “Are you prepared for that?”
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