2 Two Path to Choose ! Evelyn stared at the pregnancy test in her hand , her knees trembling until she sank to the floor . 1 Since that wild night with Axel Knight , she hadn't thought about him , not once . She'd shut him out completely , burying the memory deep in the farthest corners of her mind . Until a few days ago , when her body started acting strangely and her period was more than two weeks late , that's when the suspicion crept in . And today , she finally took the test . " Oh ... my ... God . What do I do now ? " Her hands shook as she stared at the result , heart pounding against her ribs . " Knock . Knock ." The sound jolted her . She turned quickly toward the door , panic flaring , and fumbled to hide the test behind her . But her legs were too weak to support her . " Sis , are you in there ? Dinner's ready . We're all waiting for you , " came Stella's impatient voice from the other side . " I'm coming ... " Evelyn found the family dinner unbearable . The delicious - looking dishes that she knew tasted wonderful now tasted completely bland in her mouth . She wanted to tell her father about the pregnancy , right now , and beg him to cancel the marriage arrangement . Cancel tomorrow's dinner . But hearing how excited he was about the alliance with the nation's leading medical business family made her hesitate . At this moment , prayer was her only lifeline . She silently begged her father to stop talking about her future husband , Daniel Lincoln . Of course , Evelyn's prayers were ignored . A second later , her sister Stella's words made her want to vanish from the room . " Sister Eve , I'm so jealous of you ... " Stella pouted slightly , her eyes sparkling as she stared at Evelyn . She continued , " Daniel's such a handsome and respected neurosurgeon . A genius among young doctors ... You know what ? In my faculty , he's practically a god ! " 08 45 915 < 2 Two Path to Choose ! " Yes , I agree with Stella ... " Alicia chimed in , looking proudly at her stepdaughter , Evelyn . " Whenever I'm out with my friends , they all talk about him . Everyone wants him to marry into their family ... I was so happy when the Lincolns chose you as their daughter - in - law ." Then Alicia turned to Stella and added , " You'd better study hard , Stella ... Maybe someday you'll marry another genius doctor , too . Your daddy already promised to invest in the medical field Right , Will ? " William Walters cleared his throat , then nodded to confirm his wife's words . " Sure , Mom ... I'm studying hard right now , " Stella giggled , then went back to enjoying her dessert . While her family spoke with such excitement about the marriage , Evelyn felt her heart grow heavier with each word . 1 She couldn't blame them . Daniel Lincoln was someone she'd known since childhood . He was intelligent , kind , and a true gentleman . But as they grew older , their lives drifted apart . Daniel focused on his medical career while she poured herself into the family business . When she learned Daniel had chosen her , she was shocked . Evelyn thought Daniel would marry someone from the medical field , but she was wrong . Though they hadn't met to talk about the engagement , she never objected . She is twenty - five now . It was time to settle down , and she wasn't dating anyone . But now ? She is pregnant . How could she continue this marriage arrangement ? And not just pregnant , but the father of the child inside her was her father's biggest enemy : the Knight family . ' How can I talk to dad now ? ' Evelyn silently sighed , lowered her head , and tried to stay calm while hiding a troubling thought in her mind . William Walters ' gaze lingered on Evelyn . He watched her closely , noticing the way her fingers trembled slightly around her fork , and how she hadn't taken more than a few bites of her food . " Evelyn ? " His voice was calm , but firm . " Is something wrong ? " The table fell silent . Everyone is now looking at her . Evelyn looked up , eyes wide , caught in the silence . Her throat tightened . She couldn't lie anymore . " I can't marry Daniel ," she said , voice soft but clear . A beat of silence . Then Alicia blinked . " Eve , what are you saying , my dear ? " 0845 716 < 2 Two Path to Choose ! " I'm saying ... " Evelyn took a shaky breath . " I can't accept the marriage arrangement . I'm ... I'm pregnant . " The room froze . Forks paused in midair . Stella gasped . William leaned forward slowly , his expression unreadable . " Pregnant ? " Evelyn nodded once , her voice barely holding together . " Yes ." " Who's the father ? " William asked , his tone colder now , heavier . Evelyn's lips parted , but no sound came out . She lowered her gaze , her silence wrapping the table in tension . " I'm not ready to talk about that , " she said finally . Alicia pressed a hand to her chest . " Evelyn , how long ? " " Four or maybe five weeks ... " she whispered . Stella looked at Evelyn , stunned . " You've got to be kidding me , right , sis ? You're just trying to prank us , right ? " " I wish I were ," Evelyn muttered , her voice filled with guilt . " But this is the truth . " The silence was unbearable . The air around the dining table had turned even colder . Evelyn could barely lift her eyes , but she could feel her father's stare boring into her like a sharp dagger . " Say , his name ... " William Walters ' voice was low and heavy . Evelyn's lips trembled as she met his furious gaze . " I'm sorry ... I can't , Dad ... " " You will ," he snapped . His voice cracked through the room . " You think you can stay here ... under my roof and spit out something like this and not explain yourself ? " 1 " Will , please don't be angry ..." Alicia started , reaching for his hand . He yanked it away . " Don't . Not now , Alice ... " His eyes never left Evelyn . " Tell me who he is . Now . Before I find him myself . " Evelyn opened her mouth , but no words came . Her heart was hammering so loudly she could barely breathe . She noticed the anger in her father's eyes . She recognized the man who had built an empire from scratch and had toppled rivals for FIR AF . 315 < 2 Two Path to Choose ! minor reasons . If she said Axel Knight's name . If she even whispered it . Her father wouldn't just ruin him . He'd kill him . And afterward , maybe kill her too for bringing shame and impurity to his family . " I ... I can't tell you ," she whispered . " Please respect me , Dad . I'm an adult , not a teenager ! " William slammed his fist against the table , making everyone flinch . 1 " Then I'll give you choices , since you seem to need them spelled out ! " He stood slowly , towering over the room with the authority of a man who had ruled the family . " You want to act like an adult ? Fine . Then listen like one . You have two paths , Evelyn . " Evelyn's breath caught in her throat as her eyes trembled while she looked at her furious father . " One ... Go to the doctor and get rid of that little demon inside you , then go ahead with your engagement to Lincoln . We will save your future , your name , your place in this family ." He paused , each word deliberate . Final . " Will , how could ... " Alicia couldn't finish her sentence , stunned by what she just heard . She gasped in disbelief , words failing her as she struggled to process her husband's unexpected words . Stella gasped , just as shocked as her mother . Evelyn's heart aches inside . She can't believe her father would ask her that way . Her hand clenched tightly under the table , but she couldn't voice anything as her father kept speaking . " Two ... keep it . And walk out of here with nothing ... No more Evelyn Walters . No family . No inheritance . No help . Just you , and your shame . " " Will ! " Alicia gasped , her voice trembling . " She's our daughter ! Please ... " " She made her decision , " William growled . " Now I'm making mine ." Evelyn couldn't move . Her legs felt like stone . Her mouth was dry . Stella sat frozen , eyes wide , tears threatening to spill . " You have time after dinner with the Lincolns tomorrow ," William said coldly , already turning away . " Make your choice . And with that , he walked out , leaving Evelyn in a house that no longer felt like home . 415 < 2 Two Path to Choose !