Chapter 7 When Evelyn awoke , the sky outside the hospital window had already dimmed . She moved her fingers slightly , and pain shot through her back , sharp and immediate . She couldn't stop the groan that escaped her lips . " Evelyn ! " Matthew's voice came from her side , laced with tension . He rushed to hold her hand , brows knitted tightly . " Are you alright ? Does it still hurt ? " Evelyn slowly pulled her hand back . She didn't say a word . Matthew sighed , his tone full of resignation . " Why are you so stubborn ? You could've just apologized . " I didn't frame her , " she said hoarsely . Matthew's expression froze . A beat passed , then disappointment clouded his face . " I won't blame you , but you can't keep refusing to admit your mistakes . " Evelyn closed her eyes and stopped replying . She knew now , no matter what she said , he would never believe her . Matthew stood there for a while longer , then left the room without another word . Over the next few days , Matthew never came back to the hospital . Evelyn stayed silent as she healed . Every day , she stared blankly at the clouds outside the window . Nurses came and went , sometimes hesitating like they wanted to say something , but they always left quietly . When she was finally well enough , the doctor gave her permission to leave . She signed the discharge papers herself , took her small suitcase , and stepped out of the hospital . The early autumn breeze carried a chill . She wrapped her coat tighter and raised her hand to hail a cab . Suddenly , a white cloth covered her mouth from behind . The sharp scent of chemicals filled her nose in an instant . She struggled fiercely , but her limbs grew heavy , and her vision began to blur . Chapter 7 1 1996 5.56 % When she opened her eyes again , she was hanging in the air . Her wrists burned where the rough ropes dug into her skin . Across from her , Lila was also tied up , clutching a crying child in her arms . " You're awake ? " A masked man walked over and raised his voice . " I did exactly what you asked . Don't forget to pay me the rest . " Just then , the warehouse doors burst open . Matthew stormed in , and the moment he saw them , his face turned pale . " Put them down ! " he shouted , his voice shaking . " Whatever you want , I'll give it to you ! " The kidnapper shook his head . " No can do . The client doesn't want money . Just a choice . " Lila's eyes were red with tears . She turned to Evelyn , sobbing uncontrollably . " Why are you doing this ? If you hate me , kidnap me if you must , but why involve the baby ? " She looked at Matthew , her voice cracking . " I know he'll choose you . He's always loved you ... " Evelyn's hazy mind finally cleared . " It wasn't me ! " But Matthew's eyes had already landed on the padded mat beneath Evelyn and the careful way the kidnapper was guarding her . His expression turned cold . " Evelyn , enough of this . Stop the act and tell them to let us go . The man impatiently waved a knife . " Choose now , or I'll cut a rope at random . " " No ! " Lila shrieked in terror , begging through her tears . " Evelyn , please , let them take the child down . I don't care what happens to me - - I don't have much time left anyway ... " - Matthew closed his eyes in agony . " Evelyn , why drag the baby into this ? He's just a child ... You don't have to go this far to prove anything . I love you . I really do . Please , stop this . Just tell them to let us go . " Evelyn opened her mouth to explain , but the kidnapper cut her off . " Choose . Now ! " His knife pressed against the rope above Lila . " I choose Lila and the child ! " Matthew shouted . " Put them down ! " Chapter 7 5.56 % The kidnapper gave Evelyn a helpless shrug . " See ? He really did his best . " He released the rope . Lila and the baby landed safely . She immediately flung herself into Matthew's arms , sobbing uncontrollably . Matthew glanced at the man , assuming Evelyn would be next . He sighed heavily , his expression . mixed with relief and regret . " Evelyn , I won't press charges for for what happened today , but let this be the last time . " He turned and walked away with Lila in his arms . He didn't see the kidnapper pause and wave his hand , signaling his team to pull the safety mat away . " We're gonna get a huge payout today . Ms. Hart sure was generous . " The knife flashed . The faint sound of the rope snapping mingled with Evelyn's scream as she plummeted , her body crashing against the floor . Pain exploded in her limbs , blinding her . She saw the man's silhouette walking away . She heard a car engine start in the distance before the darkness swallowed her again . She didn't know how much time had passed before the cold woke her up . She stirred slightly . Every bone in her body ached like it had shattered . Thankfully , they hadn't dropped her from too high - their goal clearly hadn't been to kill her . Gritting her teeth , she crawled inch by inch across the floor . Her phone was still in her coat pocket . With trembling hands , she unlocked it . The cracked screen lit up with a message from hours ago . [ Matthew : Let's take some time apart . ] Just below it was another message - from immigration . [ Your application has been approved . ] Evelyn let out a dry , bitter laugh and booked the soonest flight she could find . Back at home , she picked up the suitcase she had packed days earlier . The house , once filled with her dreams , was now completely silent . Matthew's social media page had just been updated - a photo of both families having dinner Chapter 7 5.56 % together , everyone smiling , celebrating . She looked at the image and let out a hollow laugh . Then she sent Matthew one final message . [ I left you a surprise . Open it when you get home . ] After that , she pulled out her SIM card , snapped it in half , and tossed it into the trash . She took one last glance at the neatly wrapped box on the table . And without a backward glance , she walked out the door . She was finally free . Free from the lies . Free to start over . Chapter 7