Chapter Two: A Veil of Deception

Evelyn knelt on the cold ground, her body aching from the punishment she had endured. Despite the pain, she lifted a trembling last finger —a silent signal only Rolan would understand. His heart clenched as he recognized its meaning. Pack your bag. Take my savings. Wait for me at the back of the city she pointed toward her father. "Please… go," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He clenched his fists, torn between obedience and fear. But he knew Evelyn wouldn’t give this signal unless she had no other choice. Rolan, coughing harshly, looked at her with eyes full of sorrow and pride. "My daughter is the smartest in the world," he murmured. "She will find her way." With a final glance at her, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, determined not to follow her unspoken command.

That night, Evelyn slipped away unnoticed, disappearing into the darkness. Her father took a different path so as not to be a burden to her, also hoping to mislead their pursuers. But in doing so, they lost each other.

Meanwhile, at the estate, Jeff knelt before the Logan, his voice urgent. "Please, go and beg for forgiveness."

Logan hesitated. "What about Evelyn? What about her?"

Jeff shook his head. "That is not what is important right now."

At the main estate, Logan’s mother sat stiffly across from his father, her voice laced with anger, as she said "On the day of his introduction, he was fooling around with a maid! Is that not reason enough for me to walk away? How long will we let him disgrace this family?"

Unbeknownst to them, Logan stood outside, listening. His hands curled into fists as he heard a truth he had never known. He was not their son.

Unable to stay silent, he pushed open the door. "I am not a foundling," he declared, his voice shaking. "I am your illegitimate son, am I not?"

His mother’s gaze was cold. "You are the child of a woman I loathed. I hated you, yet I still raised you as my own."

Logan swallowed hard. "I thought you cared about me… but you hated me all along. You should have told me sooner." His breath hitched, his voice barely above a whisper. "I wonder who I take after to be this way. No matter. I’ll leave the house at daybreak."

His father’s face darkened. "What are you saying?"

Logan lifted his chin. "You raised me well. I will never forget that."

His mother’s expression remained cold. "There is only one way forward. Leave. Never return. And never link your name to this family again. You do not exist to us."

Logan’s heart pounded. "Of course not," he said bitterly, turning on his heel.

Meanwhile, Evelyn’s mistress stood in her lavish chambers, seething with rage. "The government sent soldiers to search for Evelyn and her father," a maid reported, then she replied saying, “She’ll only be locked up for a while,” her voice cold and dismissive, as if her suffering was nothing more than an inconvenience.

The mistress scoffed. "That’s too soft of a punishment. Get a slave hunter from the market. Tell them to find her."

At the same time, Logan packed his belongings, ready to leave. But Jeff snatched the bag from his hands.

Logan sighed. "Judging by your expression, I take it you’re not here to see me off?"

"It is His Excellency’s order," Jeff replied. "He also asked me to give you money."

Logan exhaled sharply. "Gosh. Did he tell you to watch me?"

"No," Jeff said firmly. "He told me to take care of you."

Logan grabbed his coat. "I need to see Evelyn one last time."

Jeff hesitated. "You can’t." He pulled out a wanted poster. Evelyn’s face stared back at them.

Determined, Logan and Jeff made their way to the market, where they found the lead slave hunter. Logan tossed a heavy pouch of gold coins onto the table. "I’m paying you twice what they did. Don’t look for her."

The lead hunter frowned. "Why waste so much on a lowly slave girl?"

Logan met his gaze, unwavering. "Because she gave me my freedom. I want to help her get hers."

The hunter smirked. "Why not just bring her to you?"

Logan shook his head. "No. Let her rest in peace for once. If we’re meant to meet again, we will."

—

Far from the city, Evelyn wandered until she found a small restaurant and motel. Hunger gnawed at her stomach as she sat outside, hoping for a bit of kindness.

The owner, an older woman, Madam Grace, stepped out and scowled at her. "You look like a runaway slave," she remarked. She asked for her name, and Evelyn replied

Evelyn’s heart pounded. "Please," she pleaded. "I’ll work for food and a place to stay."

The woman sighed. "Come in, then."

Days turned into weeks, and Evelyn worked tirelessly. The owner grew fond of her, treating her like a daughter. One afternoon, a group of men tried to cheat the owner out of a shipment of fish, claiming it was spoiled.

Evelyn stepped forward. "You’re lying," she said sharply. "You switched the crates."

The men scoffed. "What do you know?"

Evelyn grabbed a knife from the counter and slammed it into the wooden table. "Enough to know thieves when I see them."

The owner smirked as the men backed away. "That’s my girl," she muttered.

As the days passed, the owner watched Evelyn closely. "I’m saving up so you can leave and live well," she admitted one evening.

Evelyn shook her head. "No. I’ll stay until my father comes for me."

The owner sighed. "It’s been months, child. Do you think he still believes you’re alive?"

One evening, a low-profile billionaire with her only daughter, Sarah arrived at the motel, staying for several days. They are quiet, and refined, and seem to be watching Evelyn with unreadable expressions.

The restaurant owner knelt on the wooden floor, her hands clasped together in desperation. "Take Evelyn with you. Give her a chance at a better life."

The low-profile billionaire stood in the dimly lit room, his face unreadable. He had seen countless pleas before, but something about the woman’s desperation made him pause.

Evelyn stood frozen near the doorway, her breath hitching. "I don’t need—"

The owner turned to her, eyes pleading. "You don’t understand, child. This world isn’t kind to people like us. If you stay, you’ll never be free." She looked back at the man. "I know you have no reason to listen to me, but I swear, she’s worth saving."

The billionaire exhaled, his sharp gaze shifting between the two women. Silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Finally, he spoke. "And if I refuse?"

Tears welled in the owner’s eyes, but her voice didn’t waver. "Then I’ll keep begging until you say yes."

The room fell deathly silent. The billionaire studied her, then turned his gaze to Evelyn. A decision weighed on his lips, but whether it would bring salvation or suffering remained to be seen. Then he accepted her. Evelyn stood before the mirror, her reflection almost unrecognizable. She was dressed in an elegant gown of deep sapphire, adorned with sparkling jewels, and with a ring resting on her slender finger, she looked… different. Almost like Sarah. The resemblance was uncanny, deliberate.

"You look beautiful," Sarah murmured, adjusting the final touches. The plan was in motion.

Tonight, they would be leaving Madam Grace’s motel.

The motel hummed with quiet opulence, the air thick with anticipation. But as the hour of departure neared, a new presence slithered into the night—one laced with malice.

A sudden crash shattered the silence.

Screams followed.

Masked men stormed into the grand halls, their blades glinting in the flickering light. The billionaire—their benefactor—barely had time to react before the cold steel of a dagger found his chest. His gasp was lost in the chaos, the life draining from his wide, disbelieving eyes.

Evelyn reached for Sarah, but Sarah moved first.

"Go," Sarah whispered, her grip tight on Evelyn’s wrist. Blood splattered the marble floor, the scent thick, suffocating. "You have to live."

"No," Evelyn choked out.

But Sarah had already stepped forward. A distraction. A sacrifice.

The moment stretched—too short, too cruel.

Then, the blade found her.

Evelyn’s world tilted as Sarah collapsed, her body crumpling like a doll whose strings had been cut. Run.

Evelyn collapsed after seeing all this.

1495 Words

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