After surviving a life-or-death ordeal, Evelyn had a realization. Things weren''t looking good; she just couldn''t bear facing Charles and Dahlia. It felt like she''d always be under their thumb, never getting the chance to settle the score for Charlie.


    "So, what''s this? Back to mess with me again? Trying to watch me go off the deep end?" Dahlia caught Evelyn''s unnervingly calm gaze, and a hint of suspicion crept in. Evelyn seemed tooposed, a stark contrast to the fury she''d shown two years back, when she couldn''t stand the sight of Dahlia.


    No way had Evelyn just let go of all that hate. The only exnation was that maybe she''d gotten better somehow? While Dahlia mulled it over, Evelyn''s grip on her jaw tightened unexpectedly. It was surprising; in those two years apart, Evelyn seemed to have gained some serious strength.


    Dahlia instinctively tried to shake free, but Evelyn''s fingers mped down with the force of a vice grip. Evelyn''s smile was there, but itcked any warmth. The look in her eyes sent shivers down Dahlia''s spine; this version of Evelyn was even scarier than her unstable self from the past.


    Evelyn went on, "Dahlia, if you''re dying to see me lose it, just say the word. I can still grant you that little wish."


    "Feel it," she whispered right into Dahlia''s ear. As the words hung in the air, Evelyn let go, only to raise her hand again. A sharp p cracked across Dahlia''s face.


    "Smack—" The sound echoed as Dahlia''s head snapped to the side. Before she could react, Evelyn followed up with another backhanded p.


    "Mmm, mmm..." Two ps in, and Dahlia''s eyes were zing with fury. She red at Evelyn with a murderous intent, her mouth sputtering unintelligible sounds.


    ????


    Though her words were garbled, her expression made it clear


    effectively sealed, no curses could escape. All she could do was shoot daggers at Evelyn, utterly powerless.


    For the first time, Dahlia felt the helplessness Evelyn had endured countless times before. Evelyn wasn''t done, though. Ignoring Dahlia''s furious re, she keptnding p after p. She was sure


    careful with her force


    each hit stung but didn''t leave too many marks.


    She only stopped when her own palm began to ache. But Evelyn wasn''t finished with her outburst. Standing up, she started kicking Dahlia. One kick after another, each calcted to hurt without causing real damage. Evelyn was on a mission, determined to make her point.


    Two years had changed her; she


    was ready to risk everything. But she


    still had her mother to think about.


    She couldn''t let Dahlia drag her down. Time seemed to drag on Evelyn''s relentless assault broke


    through Dahlia''s defenses. Her gaze shifted from murderous to terrified, and finally, to something akin to pleading. But Evelyn didn''t relent.


    This was a beating so intense that Dahlia wouldn''t want to relive it in her memories. Shey there, hair a wild mess, her face streaked with tears and snot. Her once-perfect makeup was now a disaster. She was utterly undone.


    "Mr. Jenkins," a voice suddenly rang out from outside the room. It was a bodyguard.


    "Where''s Dahlia?"