No, it can't be.

How could my sister be dead?

Evelyn stared at Zack, her voice trembling. "Mrs. Vance is dead?"

Zack glanced at her and scoffed. "Why are you so worked up? It's not like you knew her..."

Mrs. Davis immediately asked, "The Vance family? The top elite in San Francisco? Isn't the head of the family quite young? How did she die?"

Zack lowered his voice. "I heard she was kidnapped and thrown into the sea to drown. Her body was so bloated when they fished it out. It had been in the water for twenty hours!"

"What a shame. She finally married into wealth, only to die young. Zack, can we attend the funeral? We're not close to the Vances..."

Zack said smugly, "Mom, don't be silly. Funerals don't turn guests away. I heard Mrs. Vance came from an ordinary background. We'll just say Grace was her classmate coming to pay respects. We can slip in that way."

Mrs. Davis grew excited. "So that's why you insisted on bringing this jinx. But why say Grace was her classmate? Wouldn't it be easier to say you were classmates to get closer?"

"Grace and Mrs. Vance are the same age. I'm three years older!"

Zack grabbed Evelyn's wrist. "Why aren't you moving? Hurry up!"

Evelyn frowned and pulled away. "Don't touch me!"

Zack sneered. "Grace, you're my wife. If I don't touch you, who should I touch?"

Evelyn looked straight at him. "I'm not Grace."

Zack studied her, then laughed scornfully. "Grace, what game are you playing now? If you're not Grace, who are you? Get up!"

He grabbed her hair and yanked hard.

Evelyn instinctively wanted to fight back. She tried to flip him over her shoulder, but her strength hadn't returned. Her hands felt weak.

He dragged her off the bed, and she fell to the floor.

"Mommy, Mommy!" Chloe rushed over. Her small body shielded Evelyn as she spread her arms and shouted at Zack. "Daddy bad! Don't hit Mommy!"

Zack snorted dismissively and ignored her. He turned to the middle-aged woman. "Mom, help her get ready. I'll get the car."

Mrs. Davis grumbled as she opened the wardrobe. She tossed out a few clothes. "Other families enjoy blessings when they get a daughter-in-law. Our Zack married into your family. What terrible luck! Now I have to wait on you, this jinx, and this worthless girl!"

Married into...

Evelyn caught those words sensitively.

Her fingers were enveloped by a soft, small hand. She looked up into Chloe's eyes. "Mommy, does it hurt? Blowing on it makes it better..."

The little girl puffed out her cheeks and blew on Evelyn's forehead.

The gesture made Evelyn's heart ache.

She quickly stood up from the floor.

Mrs. Davis walked over to open another wardrobe. Seeing Chloe in the way, she kicked the child's bottom. "Move! Worthless girl. No sense at all. Can't you see I need to get clothes?"

Chloe stumbled and fell face-first.

Evelyn helped the child up and saw her arm was bruised. The little one's eyes welled with tears, but she dared not let them fall.

Evelyn glared at Mrs. Davis.

Mrs. Davis sneered. "What are you staring at? Everyone falls when they're little!" She glared at Chloe. "Cry, cry, cry! That's all you do! I'll hit you if you cry!"

Chloe hiccupped in fear. She sobbed, "Chloe no cry, no cry..."

Her small body trembled. She widened her eyes and looked down.

Evelyn followed her gaze. The two-year-old couldn't fully control her bladder yet. Her pants slowly darkened as a puddle spread on the floor.

Evelyn had never raised a child. She was about to comfort her when Mrs. Davis roared, "Who said you could pee?! Worthless girl! Shameless!"

Chloe's face crumpled. Large tears rolled down.

Mrs. Davis immediately raised her hand to strike. "Hold those tears back! Who said you could cry? Feeling sorry for yourself? What do you have to be sorry about? This jinx has been lying around for two days. I'm the one taking care of you! Even a dog knows not to pee indoors. You're worse than a dog!"

Smack!

Evelyn caught her wrist, furious.

Chloe was only two years old. She didn't understand anything!

Grace's mother-in-law was too vicious!

Her eyes turned dark and dangerous as she stared at Mrs. Davis. "Don't hit the child!"

Mrs. Davis easily shook off her weak grip. "Jinx! You dare tell me what to do? I'll hit you too if you're not careful!"

Evelyn's voice turned icy. "You wouldn't dare."

Mrs. Davis laughed scornfully. "Why wouldn't I? You're my daughter-in-law. What's wrong with hitting you?"

Her casual arrogance showed this wasn't the first time.

Evelyn trembled with rage. Her sister had been bullied like this by her husband and mother-in-law!

She took a deep breath. "I told you, I'm not Grace! Touch me, and you'll regret it!"

Mrs. Davis scoffed. "Grace, have you lost your mind? If you're not Grace, then who are you?!"

The door opened again. Zack appeared, impatient. "What's going on? All this crying and shouting. Are you ready? Get in the car. The body is being cremated today! We'll miss it if we're late!"

Mrs. Davis grumbled, "It's this jinx! She says she's not Grace. And this worthless girl peed her pants again!"

Zack looked at Evelyn and laughed coldly. "Don't want to help? Grace, you think I can't handle you?"

He picked up Chloe and strode out. "Follow me if you want your daughter back!"

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. She glared at Zack's retreating back.

After a moment's thought, she followed.

Since they didn't believe her, she would go to the Vance family. Let Alexander deal with this mother and son!

Walking out of the bedroom, she spotted the landline phone on the living room table.

Evelyn immediately picked it up and dialed Alexander's number.

She needed to tell Alexander she was still alive.