They hurried out, tension prickling every nerve as they drove through the quiet streets. Evelyn sat stiffly beside Derek, her thoughts racing with a mixture of fury and dread. She had known Sandra was dangerous, but this—this was monstrous. How could she hurt even her own mother? What manner of greed could push her to such an extent?

Reaching the hospital, Evelyn turned to Derek. "I want you to stop me at the entrance before you park," she said, her voice ringing with impatience. Derek nodded. From her expression, he knew she wouldn't hesitate to jump out of the car. "Try not to do anything rash," he said, reaching for and squeezing her hand.

The moment he stopped, Evelyn threw open the door and went inside. Nurses approached, mistaking her—because of her makeup and stained clothes—for a patient. Evelyn quickly shook her head and explained her reason for being there. Once directed to the emergency ward, she bolted.

Approaching, she saw her father pacing near the waiting room entrance, looking worn and defeated in his pajamas. Crumpled on the floor, Sandra sobbed, her face streaked with tears, her hair disheveled.

Without hesitation, Evelyn marched to Sandra and slapped her hard across the face. The sharp crack echoed down the hall. "You evil bitch!" she hissed, her eyes blazing. "How could you? How could you be so heartless as to hurt her?" Evelyn roared, grabbing Sandra's hair and pulling her up.

Eric immediately intervened, trying to calm Evelyn, but she refused to be restrained. Sandra sobbed harder, her hands trembling defensively. "I didn't mean to! I swear, I never wanted to hurt her. It was an accident," she cried, too distraught to recognize Evelyn.

Evelyn's eyes flashed with disgust as she released Sandra. "Why should anyone believe a word you say? You lie and scheme without a second thought. It was one thing to come after me or manipulate others, but hurting Mom? You crossed a line, Sandra, and I swear, I'm not going to let you get away with it."

Sandra's anguished face turned resentful. "Who do you think you are to say that? Why are you acting like she's your mother, Evelyn? You—" Her words faltered as she noticed Evelyn's makeup, remembering Evelyn wasn't supposed to be there. "Why why do you look like that?" she asked, suspicion dawning in her eyes.

Evelyn glared, but before she could answer, Derek entered the corridor with two detectives. Sandra looked to him as if for rescue. She took a shaky step toward him. "Derek, thank God you're here! You have to help me," she pleaded, reaching out. He sidestepped her touch, his expression cold.

"I'm not here for you, Sandra," he said firmly.

Sandra's face fell. "W-what do you mean?"

Evelyn laughed humorlessly. "Oh, poor Sandra, still clinging to her lies. Derek knows everything. He knows about your scheme with Michael."

Sandra's eyes widened in shock. She turned to Derek, shaking her head. "Derek, don't listen to Evelyn. She's twisting things. I haven't done anything wrong! Please, don't believe her. I love you. You know me I would never—"

"No, Sandra, Evelyn didn't twist anything. I know everything," he said. She shook her head desperately, tears falling. "No. It's not true. Whatever you're thinking is not true. You love me"

"No, I don't. The person I love, and have always loved, is Evelyn," Derek said. Sandra refused to believe it. "At the reunion you said"

"I was referring to Evelyn. She's the only reason I've endured your company for so long. And I'm the father of her child—the one you tried to use to shame her," he said. Sandra staggered back.

"YOU DEMON!" Rayna, having followed Derek from the hospital's coffee machine, rushed at Sandra. The detectives restrained her as she struggled and yelled.

Sandra, reeling from Derek's words, felt her blood run cold at Rayna's arrival, wondering if Rayna knew about the earlier accident.

"I understand how you feel, Ray. But please calm down. We'll handle this," Evelyn promised.

Eric looked at Sandra, his voice weary but resolute. "Sandra, I can't express how disappointed I am. I hoped you'd change, but seeing what you did to your mother" He trailed off.

Sandra's face crumpled. "Dad, I swear, I didn't mean to hurt her. We were fighting over my phone, and then she fell," she cried, hoping for his belief. She needed someone on her side. Remembering her mother's warning before the phone struggle, Sandra collapsed, realizing her mother had known everything.

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "Cut the act, Sandra. It's over. I was willing to tolerate you, but after tonight, that's done. You're going to pay—not just for trying to kill me, but for attempting to hurt Rayna and for hurting Mom."

Sandra's head snapped up. "You're mistaken. I I didn't do anything. I was robbed, and my car was stolen"

Evelyn scoffed. "Tell it to the police," she said, jerking her head toward the detectives, whose plain clothes Sandra hadn't recognized.

The detectives stepped forward. Realizing the situation's severity, Sandra stumbled backward, hiding behind Eric. "Dad, please, you have to help me! I didn't do anything wrong!" she cried.

Rayna stepped forward. "You didn't do anything wrong?" Her contempt was clear. "You ordered a hit on Evelyn and Michael and tried to run me over. Don't pretend to be innocent."

Sandra's face contorted with terror as the detectives closed in. "Rayna how do you know about Michael?" she whispered.

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "That should be the least of your worries. You've done enough harm. The best place for someone like you is behind bars," Evelyn said. The detectives moved to arrest her.

"I just want to see Mom before they take me away! Please, not now. Dad, please help me. Evie, please!" Her desperate cries echoed as they led her away. But no one listened.