Isabella's words were brutally direct and cruel.

Evelyn felt a chill in her heart.

She had been unable to let it go since learning about Isabella's miscarriage.

To discard a living child so easily… Isabella's heart was truly merciless.

Evelyn quickly composed herself and continued the setup.

"Did you consider the father's feelings? Did he know about the child?"

"The father?"

Isabella thought Evelyn was unaware and spoke disdainfully.

"He was just a plaything. I discarded him long ago."

Evelyn achieved her goal and sighed softly.

She turned off the voice recorder.

Her phone automatically received the audio file via Bluetooth.

She tapped her screen and sent the recording to Grace.

[Play this for Liam.]

She knew no one would keep secrets for Isabella after hearing such heartless words.

This round, she had won.

"Isabella is speaking to you! Why are you on your phone?!" Linda suddenly rushed over and scolded.

"Agree to Isabella's request immediately. Go clarify for Julian. Admit you forged the report. Admit Isabella's child is Julian's!"

Linda spoke with unjustified confidence.

"This is the first time Isabella has asked you for anything! You must agree!"

Evelyn sent the message and put away her phone, finding it ridiculous.

"She asks, so I must agree? I begged her so many times when I was young. Did she ever agree?"

As a child, Isabella took out her frustrations on Evelyn whenever she was upset.

Young and unable to fight back, Evelyn would kneel and beg Isabella to stop, only to be met with scorn and insults.

Evelyn was no saint. She would never agree to such a demand.

She looked coldly at Isabella.

But Isabella seemed confident and suddenly smiled.

"Why? Because you're a love child, and I'm the Ashcroft heiress! Because the Ashcrofts raised you! Because you stole my father and made my mother miserable! Evelyn, this is what you owe the Ashcrofts!"

Evelyn's pupils contracted.

"When I gave up Julian for you, that debt was repaid…"

"You can never repay it!" Isabella stood up and brushed off her knees, her eyes full of malice.

"The debt of parental nurturing can never be repaid in a lifetime! Evelyn, without the Ashcrofts, you would have died! You owe the Ashcrofts your life!"

"Do you think what you did is enough to settle it?"

Isabella stepped closer and pointed at Sophia on the hospital bed.

"Look at my father and mother!!"

She pointed at William.

"Father only made one mistake. If not for you, would the Ashcrofts have taken in you and your mother?! Your existence is a thorn in their hearts! Look at him…"

William showed no reaction to the outside world.

He was haggard and even afraid to drink water to reduce bathroom trips.

His gaze remained fixed on Sophia, unwilling to blink as if she might disappear…

Isabella pointed at him and shouted at Evelyn.

"Father loves Mother so much! It's because of you that Mother softened and let you stay, making it impossible for them! If Mother doesn't make it, Father will follow her without hesitation!!"

Evelyn was slightly stunned.

Isabella then pointed at Sophia.

"What kind of lawful wife could truly tolerate a love child born from a mistress?! She saved you from starvation, put you through school, watched you grow up. But do you know how her illness started?"

"Why did she develop that cough? From excessive worry! Father loves Mother so much. The family never lacked for anything. Her only worry was you! Did you know, all these years, my parents never shared a room!!"

Evelyn's straight posture slightly slumped…

She had always told herself the fault was Linda's, not hers, to break free from Linda's brainwashing.

But now, Isabella's words made her realize it was all in vain…

"You think you're innocent? But some people's very existence is a sin! You didn't kill the man, but the man died because of you! Evelyn, do you still think you're truly innocent?"

Isabella stepped forward, her words sharp.

Her birth and position gave her the right to condemn Evelyn…

Evelyn unconsciously took half a step back…

"And me, Evelyn. I should have had the happiest family. Without you, even if Father made a mistake, there would have been time for Mother to forgive him! Time heals all wounds. Mother would have forgiven Father… But your existence constantly reminds them of the past! I carefully coaxed my parents every day. As a child, I woke up crying so many times, afraid they would divorce…"

Isabella's voice was icy, each word piercing Evelyn's heart.

"All of this is because of you!!"

Evelyn swayed and fell into a chair.

She was shocked and stunned.

She looked at Isabella in disbelief, her eyes confused and fearful, her body trembling slightly.

Yes…

She had always been a mistake.

Sophia's excessive worry was because of her!

Evelyn clenched her fists, once again despising her origins. She even felt the blood from Linda flowing in her veins was dirty…

Isabella looked at her coldly.

This was her ultimate weapon against Evelyn.

Evelyn had a strong moral compass and feelings for Sophia. She would always blame herself for her existence. Combined with a lifetime of brainwashing, even as an adult with changed perspectives, she still felt her birth was a sin.

Isabella suppressed a smile and leaned close to Evelyn's ear.

"So, you owe me! You owe the Ashcrofts! Evelyn, you can never repay it!"

Evelyn bit her lip hard and looked at Isabella, then at Linda.

Linda's face was even more detestable than Isabella's.

"Yes, you wretched love child! How dare you compete with Isabella? How shameless! Admit your fault now! Bear all the guilt! Repay your debt!"

She viciously pinched Evelyn's ear and pointed at Isabella.

"Love child! Kneel before Isabella!"

Love child…

It was like a curse!

Evelyn uncontrollably stood up and looked at Isabella.

Her eyes were full of despair.

It was as if she had returned to childhood, to that cramped basement…

She was the one who made Sophia unhappy. She was the one who made Sophia cry in secret… Her existence hurt Sophia.

A rotten person like her only deserved to stay in the gutter forever, right?

Evelyn smiled bitterly.

Isabella pressed again.

"So, Evelyn, will you grant my request? Go tell Julian you forged the report… This is what you owe me!"

She pushed Evelyn toward the door.

"Go tell him now…"

But Evelyn suddenly stopped and spoke softly with her head down.

"Isabella…"

Isabella was stunned.

Meanwhile, at the detention center.

Grace received the WhatsApp voice message and immediately brought Liam in for questioning.

She played the recording as soon as she entered.

Isabella's vicious and cold-hearted words cut into Liam's heart like knives!

He clutched his chest in pain.

"No, it can't be! How could she do this to me?!"

Grace looked at him coldly, like an iron-faced judge.

"Liam, you heard the recording. Are you still sure you want to keep secrets for someone like this?!"

Liam clenched his fists.

His chest heaved violently. He was on the verge of collapse, tears streaming down.

Suddenly, a vicious expression appeared on his face.

"Fine, Isabella! You sacrificed me and our child for wealth and status! Don't blame me for being ruthless!"

He looked at Grace and spoke slowly.

"I'll tell you a secret. Actually, Evelyn is Mrs. Ashcroft's real daughter!! Isabella is fake! Linda switched the babies back then! Hahahahaha!"