Evelyn entered the house, her bodyguard trailing behind. Both carried numerous shopping bags, and Evelyn's face was flushed with excitement. "Thanks," she said as he closed the door. "You can leave the bags on the couch." She paused, then laughed as she saw her parents and Derek in the living room. "Mom! Dad! When did you get here?" she exclaimed happily, setting down her bags and embracing them.

While she greeted her parents, Derek stood, hands in his pockets, addressing the bodyguard. "Thanks, Brad. Please hang around. I'd like a word with you," he said. Brad nodded and left.

Evelyn turned to Derek, raising an eyebrow with a grin. "Did I mix up the date? I thought dinner was supposed to be Sunday."

Derek smiled slightly. "It was my idea to have them over today. Something urgent came up, and it couldn't wait until Sunday," he explained, his tone light but serious. Evelyn's smile faded. "Why couldn't it wait? What's going on?" Her eyes flicked toward her quietly observing parents.

"And what about your parents? Are they coming today, too? I haven't prepared anything to eat! I can't start cooking now," she said, feeling overwhelmed. Derek shook his head, approaching her. "Calm down, babe. I ordered dinner." Evelyn crossed her arms, her frown deepening. "Why the rush? Why are you so eager for our families to meet? What's happening?"

Derek hesitated, glancing at her parents before looking back at Evelyn. "As I said, something came up."

"What came up?" she asked, her anxiety rising. "You're making me anxious. What's going on? Where's Sam?" Her voice quivered as she looked between her parents and Derek.

"Sam's upstairs and fine. Calm down," Derek said gently, placing a hand on her arm. "My parents will be here soon. Why don't you freshen up? Spend some time with Samantha before they arrive. I'll tell you about it then," he said. Evelyn searched his blue eyes for clues, sighing when he only smiled. Her parents softly urged her to relax. Claire squeezed Evelyn's hand. "Everything is alright, sweetheart." Evelyn's shoulders slumped. She nodded, the excitement of her shopping trip gone, and muttered, "I'll go freshen up and check on Sam," heading upstairs.

As soon as she left, Derek's expression hardened. Claire and Eric exchanged a worried glance. "What's going on, Derek?" Eric asked as Derek pulled out his phone.

Derek sat down, gesturing for them to do the same. He took a deep breath. "As I was saying before she came in, I need to talk to you both first," he said quietly, "before Evelyn hears this."

He played a recording. As Sandra's voice filled the room, detailing her cruel plan against Evelyn and Michael, the air grew tense. Claire gasped, her face paling. Eric rose, pacing in disbelief.

"Thisthis can't be real," he murmured.

Claire sobbed, collapsing onto the couch. "How could Sandra do this? How could she be so hateful?"

Derek knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder, but her sobs intensified. "Is that really her? Is that really my daughter?" she cried.

The more she learned, the harder it was to believe Sandra's capacity for such hatred. Derek nodded grimly. "Yes, it's her. I knew Sandra was scheming with Michael to get rid of Evelyn. I cloned her sim, as I did Michael's, but I had no idea it was this bad." His voice hardened. "I wanted you both to hear this because while I want us to decide together what to do, I'm not going easy on her. I don't care if she's your daughter and Evelyn's sister; she won't get away with this."

Claire's tear-streaked face turned to him. "No one who could do something like this is my daughter." She wiped her eyes, her voice firm despite the tears. "You do what you need to do. She made her choice."

Eric stopped pacing, sitting beside her and embracing her. He knew she was trying to do the right thing despite her devastation.

"I'm sorry, Eric. This is all my fault," she cried, but he shook his head. "It's okay, honey," he whispered. "You don't owe me an apology. Sandra is our daughter. We raised her together, and if anyone's to blame, we're in this together."

Claire's sobs lessened, but her heartbreak remained. "I thought I thought taking her away from her father was enough," she said, her voice thick with guilt. "I didn't know evil like that could run so deep in the blood." Derek looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Claire pulled away from Eric, taking a shaky breath. "Sandra's father," she said, her voice low and trembling. "He was arrested for murder. He's been in jail ever since."

Derek stared at Claire, stunned. Before he could respond, the doorbell rang. His parents had arrived.