Chapter 405

Evelyn hadn't anticipated Christopher bringing up her past. She shook her head slowly. "My memories are fragmented at best."

"Nothing concrete? Yet you remember that childhood piano piece perfectly," Christopher noted with narrowed eyes.

"I had a severe illness as a child." Evelyn's fingers absently traced the piano keys. "After the fever broke, my orphanage memories became... scattered."

She couldn't even picture Nathaniel's face clearly anymore - just fleeting impressions of piano duets and those elegant hands guiding hers.

Christopher knew the story well. When the Montgomery brothers first found Evelyn, their investigation had uncovered the truth. Margaret Dawson had confirmed it herself.

After being adopted by the Simmons family, Evelyn had nearly died from neglect-induced fever. Her miraculous recovery came with complete amnesia about the orphanage years.

"Evelyn," Christopher leaned against the grand piano, "do you recall having any close friends at the orphanage?"

Another head shake. "Why do you ask?" Evelyn's brow furrowed. "Are you suggesting I did?"

"Just curious." Christopher straightened abruptly. "You look exhausted. Rest now - we'll continue tomorrow."

He wasn't being entirely truthful. Since discovering Evelyn had been found in a different orphanage than Victoria claimed, doubts had festered.

Victoria's initial vague clues about Evelyn's whereabouts had sent Alexander Montgomery searching in wrong directions for years. The timing felt too convenient.

But with Evelyn's memories gone and Alexander finally cutting ties with Victoria, Christopher saw no reason to stir the past... unless Evelyn remembered on her own. Then Victoria would answer for everything.

In the following days, Evelyn divided her time between piano rehearsals and designing the concert hall decor.

Despite her packed schedule, she stole lunch hours to visit Eleanor Whitmore at the hospital. She'd promised frequent visits - breaking that promise might raise suspicions.

"Grandmother, you're looking stronger today," Evelyn greeted, setting down a fruit basket.

Eleanor, no longer ventilator-dependent, smiled weakly. "You're the one who looks worn thin, dear."

"Just end-of-term projects." Evelyn squeezed Eleanor's hand. "Nothing I can't handle."

"Remember you're caring for two now," Eleanor chided gently. "Don't neglect yourself."

After sharing lunch and light conversation, Evelyn departed. As she approached the elevators, a figure emerged from the emergency stairwell - Victoria Sinclair.

"Well if it isn't the Barrett family's little fraud," Victoria sneered. "Still sweet-talking your way into that old woman's will?"

Evelyn didn't flinch. "Bitterness ages you prematurely. Not a good strategy if you're still hoping to catch Nathaniel's eye."

Victoria's lips curled. "Enjoy your borrowed time. That hag won't live forever. Then we'll see who really belongs in the Whitmore family."

One elegant eyebrow arched. "Even if you paraded naked through Nathaniel's office, he'd still have security remove you. The canceled engagement should've been clue enough."