Chapter 11
On the day of the press conference, reporters crowded outside the Hart Group headquarters.
Evelyn entered the room in a black dress.
She looked exhausted, and her eyes were red. As soon as she sat down, she reached for my mother’s hand.
My mother did not pull away.
She did not hold Evelyn’s hand either.
Once the press conference began, the reporters fired questions at her one after another.
“Ms. Hart, were you involved in Claire’s kidnapping?”
“Why are the police investigating your financial transactions with Martha?”
“Did you already know that you were not the Hart family’s biological daughter?”
Evelyn did not answer the questions directly.
She looked into the cameras as tears rolled down her face.
“Claire will always be my sister. Losing her has caused me more pain than I can describe.”
“From now on, I will take care of Mom and Dad for her. I will also fulfill my responsibilities as a daughter of the Hart family.”
In the past, my mother would have pulled her into her arms the moment she heard those words.
My father would have stood in front of her and stopped the reporters from asking more questions.
This time, neither of them moved.
Evelyn’s expression stiffened for a moment.
Ethan stood and walked to the podium.
“We did not hold this press conference so someone could replace Claire.”
The room slowly fell silent.
Ethan did not read a long report.
Instead, he asked the staff to show several pieces of evidence that the police had cleared for public release.
The first video showed Brian at the gas station.
The second file showed the money used to hire him. The funds had been moved through several intermediary accounts.
The third piece of evidence was the burned Hart family badge.
The screen clearly showed the initials and badge ID on the back.
The initials were E.H.
The badge ID had been assigned only to Evelyn Hart.
The staff then displayed years of contact records between Evelyn and Martha, along with Martha’s statement about deliberately switching the two babies.
The final document was the agreement ending the engagement, which had been hidden for three years.
The pickup record still showed Evelyn’s name.
Evelyn stood up.
“None of this proves I did it!”
“Martha is my biological mother. She could have stolen my badge. Brian could also be accusing me to get a lighter sentence.”
Ethan looked at her.
“The police and the court will decide whether they are lying. Today, the Hart family is only here to announce its decision.”
My father stood and took the microphone.
His voice was much lower than usual.
“From today forward, the Hart family will no longer recognize Evelyn as a member of this family.”
“All trusts, shares, and inheritance rights provided to her by the Hart family will be revoked through the proper legal process.”
My mother spoke next.
“The Hart family will no longer pay her legal fees or provide any financial guarantee for her.”
All the color disappeared from Evelyn’s face.
“Mom.”
She looked at my mother as though she had not heard her clearly.
“You’re throwing me out?”
My mother did not answer.
Adrian removed his engagement ring and placed it on the table.
“My engagement to Evelyn Hart is over, effective immediately.”
Evelyn turned toward him.
“Adrian, you believe them too? You promised you would protect me no matter what happened.”
Adrian looked at her.
“When Claire begged me to save her, I told her I had chosen you. Do you know what that choice did? It helped kill her.”
“Claire had already decided to give up everything and leave. Why couldn’t you let her go?”
“I don’t know who you are anymore, Evelyn. What you did was cruel, and I will not pay for choosing you a second time.”
Footsteps sounded at the back of the room.
Several police officers entered with an arrest warrant.
The lead officer walked up to Evelyn.
“Evelyn Hart, you are under arrest on suspicion of kidnapping, arson, and murder.”