When the Backup Wife Disappears Chapter 08
Evelyn’s POV
My heart nearly stopped.
The hospital room door pushed open slowly. My father and mother walked in.
They’d aged. Dad’s hair had gone almost completely white. Mom had deep lines around her eyes. They stood in the doorway, looking at me, eyes welling up.
“Evelyn…” Mom’s voice broke. “My baby…”
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Struggled out of bed and threw myself at them.
“Mom… Dad…” I sobbed. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Mom held me tight, tears streaming down her face.
“Silly girl, don’t cry… Mama’s here…” She stroked my hair over and over.
Dad stood beside us, eyes red. He reached out, gently patting my back.
“You’re home. That’s all that matters. Dad doesn’t blame you.”
After we’d all calmed down, Mom held my hand,
looking at me with heartbreak written all over her face.
“How did you get so thin? How the hell was that bastard taking care of you?”
Dad’s expression went dark immediately.
“Alexander Green.” He said the name like it tasted
bitter. “I told you from the start–that man was no good.”
“Dad…”
“Don’t.” He raised a hand to stop me. “Chloe told us
everything. Cancer. Stage four. Evelyn, you’re our only daughter. We raised you like precious china. And for what? So you could suffer after marrying him?”
His voice shook.
Mom’s jaw clenched. “That bastard! Who the hell does he think he is?”
“Mom, please… it’s over. I messed up too. I was too blind, believed too much in love…”
“You didn’t mess up ANYTHING!” Mom’s voice rose.
These five years, we’ve been watching you from the
shadows. Everything you did for him–we SAW it. HE failed you!”
She squeezed my hand tight.
“From now on, we’re with you. Treatment, starting
over–whatever you need. We’re here.”
I leaned my head on Mom’s shoulder, tears falling again.
In the days that followed, with my parents by my side,
I started treatment and recovery.
Taking meds on schedule. Regular checkups. My body slowly improved. The cancer stabilized.
Three months later, I was discharged.
My parents moved me into the Carter family estate in central London. A Victorian mansion with sprawling gardens and a sun–filled conservatory.
Mom said she’d prepared it especially for me.
“This is your home now.” She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Stay as long as you want.”
One weekend afternoon, my parents and I walked through Hyde Park.
Sunlight–rare for London–broke through the clouds, dancing on the lake. I stood at the water’s edge. feeding pigeons while my parents sat on a bench, watching me with soft smiles.
“Evelyn?”
A familiar voice cut through.
My body went rigid. I turned slowly-
Alexander stood a few feet away, looking wrecked. Unshaven, eyes bloodshot.
We locked eyes.
“I… I finally found you.” His voice came out hoarse, desperate. “I’ve been searching everywhere.”
I stared at him coldly. Said nothing.
Alexander took a few steps closer. “Evelyn, I’ve been
looking for months. I know I screwed up. I cut things off with Maya. I want to–”
Dad strode over and shoved Alexander back hard.
“You dare show your face here? GET LOST!”
Mom came to my side, glaring at him. “Don’t you DARE contaminate my daughter’s sight!”
Alexander looked at me, eyes full of pain and pleading.
“Evelyn, please… just one chance. I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you-”
Dad laughed coldly. “You think you DESERVE that?”
Mom spoke up, voice like ice. “Alexander Green, do you even know who my daughter IS?”
Alexander froze.
“She’s a Carter!” Mom’s voice climbed. “For YOU, she gave up a multi–billion dollar inheritance! She cut us off just to start from nothing with you!”
Alexander’s face drained of color. He swayed on his feet.
“And what did YOU give her?” Dad’s voice dripped with contempt. “Pain. Betrayal. And a body full of disease!”
Mom looked at Alexander with pure disgust. “Starting today, the Carter family will show you what happens when you hurt our daughter.”
Dad clapped his hands. Several security guards appeared from the distance.
“Get him out of here.”
“NO! Evelyn! Please, just listen to me!” Alexander
struggled.
The guards dragged him away. He looked back at me, eyes drowning in desperation.
But I turned away. Didn’t look back.
Over the next few days, Alexander showed up outside. the estate every single day.
He’d stand there for hours–no food, no water–just staring at the mansion.
Mom wanted to call the cops. Dad stopped her.
“Let him stand there.” His voice was cold. “He wants to humiliate himself, let him.”
Meanwhile, the Carter family went to work.
Investors suddenly pulled out. Projects shut down. Banks refused loans.
Alexander’s company collapsed in a matter of days.
On the third night, he finally gave out. Collapsed on the street. An ambulance took him away.
I stood at the window, watching the red lights fade into the distance.
Felt nothing.
few more days passed.
That afternoon, I was reading in the garden.
Suddenly heard shouting from outside the estate gates.
Chloe ran over, looking conflicted. “Evelyn, Maya’s here. She’s demanding money from Alexander.”
1 set down my book, smirking. “Let her.”
Maya’s shrill voice carried over: “ALEXANDER! Where‘
s my money?! You PROMISED me!”
Then Alexander’s exhausted voice: “I don’t… I have
nothing left. The company went under. I…”
“WHAT?!” Maya’s voice went even higher. “You LIED to me?!”
Then chaos.
That evening, Chloe walked into the living room with her phone.
“Evelyn, look at this.”
I took the phone. A local news headline: ” Businessman Alexander Green Stabbed to Death, Suspect in Custody.”
The article showed Alexander’s photo, and another of Maya being led away in handcuffs.
According to reports, Maya and her boyfriend got into a fight with Alexander on the street over money. During the struggle, the boyfriend pulled a knife and stabbed Alexander.
Alexander died on the scene.
I stared at the screen, expression calm.
Chloe looked at me, surprised. “You’re… not upset?”
I shook my head, looking out at the garden. My parents were taking an evening walk, sunset washing
over them–warm and beautiful.
I smiled.
“I cried when it was time to be sad.
I handed the phone back to Chloe.
“Now? I just want to live.“
Outside the window, pigeons soared freely through
the sky. The sun felt warm.
Life was starting again.
END