Chapter 12 - Evelyn's Choice
Evelyn sat alone in the guest room.
Thomas found her there.
She looked exhausted.
“I know what you're going to say.”
“No.”
Thomas closed the door.
“I want to know what you're going to say.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“I was afraid.”
“I know.”
“My son is everything to me.”
“I know.”
“I thought if I did what they wanted, they'd release him.”
Thomas remained silent.
Evelyn wiped her eyes.
“I didn't know Claire would get hurt.”
Thomas's expression tightened.
“You tied her up.”
“I panicked.”
“You left her unconscious.”
“I thought she was dead.”
Thomas looked away.
That confession hurt more than the others.
“You thought my daughter was dead.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I ran.”
“And you still came back to marry me.”
“They threatened my son.”
Thomas sat across from her.
“Where is he?”
Evelyn looked surprised.
“You found him?”
“No.”
Thomas's voice softened.
“But we're going to.”
Evelyn began crying.
“Why would you help me?”
“Because your son is innocent.”
She covered her face.
For the first time, Thomas saw the person underneath the lies.
Not an innocent woman.
Not a monster.
A frightened mother who had made terrible choices.
Thomas stood.
“You're going to help us find him.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I will.”
She took a breath.
“There's a place Marcus never knew I knew about.”
“Where?”
“A storage facility outside the city.”
Thomas looked at her.
May you like
“Let's go.”
👉 Evelyn had finally chosen to stop protecting the people who controlled her—and the location she revealed could lead them to the last hostage.
