Evelyn glanced at Claire, whose complexion had finally returned to normal.
Then she asked casually, “What’s your blood type?”
Claire looked puzzled.
“Type B.
Why are you suddenly asking, Evelyn?”
“I just thought of it, so I asked.”
Evelyn leaned back in her seat.
“You and William should have the same blood type, right?”
The two of them were already on the bus heading toward the Blackwood estate.
The Blackwood family lived inside the military district, about five stops from the Vale residence.
“Of course we do,” Claire replied with a smile.
“William and I inherited our biological father’s blood type.
You have the same blood type as Dad, too, Evelyn.”
As she spoke, her hands quietly curled into fists in her lap.
“Yeah.”
Evelyn nodded absentmindedly.
“Most children inherit their blood type from one of their parents.
Type O isn’t bad, either.
It’s considered the universal donor.”
She didn’t notice the strange expression that crossed Claire’s face.
Evelyn wasn’t interested in continuing the conversation.
She turned her head toward the window and watched the streets slide past.
Buildings, trees, pedestrians, passing cars…
Everything looked strangely familiar.
Yet somehow, everything felt different.
Perhaps because she was seeing it all with the eyes of someone who had already died once.
“Evelyn, we’re almost there.”
Claire’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“You remember what you’re supposed to say, right?”
Evelyn responded with a noncommittal hum.
Her expression was filled with impatience.
Claire immediately stopped talking.
She had reminded Evelyn countless times already.
Surely this fool had memorized everything by now.
A secret smile tugged at the corner of Claire’s lips.
She was already looking forward to what would happen next.
Earlier, Damien had called her.
He had specifically instructed her to make sure Evelyn was tactful when she spoke to Grandfather Blackwood.
Under no circumstances was Evelyn supposed to mention that Alexander was disabled.
She was only supposed to say that their personalities were incompatible and that she no longer wished to continue the engagement.
But Claire had deliberately changed the plan.
She wanted Evelyn to say that Alexander was crippled.
She wanted Grandfather Blackwood to hear those words from Evelyn’s own mouth.
She wanted to watch Evelyn completely lose the old man’s favor.
After all, Evelyn had always relied on the Blackwood family’s protection to act arrogantly.
Claire wanted to see what would happen when that protection disappeared.
Would Evelyn still be able to behave like a spoiled princess then?
The bus finally reached the military district.
Evelyn stepped off.
The sunlight was blinding.
The moment her shoes touched the asphalt, a wave of scorching heat rose from the pavement.
The air itself seemed to shimmer.
It felt like stepping directly into a furnace.
The security officers stationed at the entrance recognized her immediately and allowed her through without questioning her.
They had long been accustomed to seeing Evelyn Vale coming and going from the Blackwood estate.
Claire followed behind her.
After walking for a short distance, Claire suddenly slowed.
“Evelyn…”
Her voice sounded weak.
“It’s so hot.
I’m feeling a little dizzy.”
She pressed one hand against her chest.
“I don’t think I can walk anymore.
You go ahead.
I’ll rest here for a while.”
Claire lowered herself onto the ground beneath the shade of a tree near the roadside.
Her face had become as pale as paper.
Evelyn stopped.
She turned around and looked at her.
Her dark eyes remained completely still.
Something about that gaze made Claire uncomfortable.
Evelyn pointed toward another large tree farther ahead.
“There.”
Claire followed her finger.
A wooden bench had been placed beneath the tree, offering much better shade.
“Go sit over there.”
Evelyn’s tone was matter-of-fact.
“Sitting on the roadside isn’t exactly dignified.”
Claire’s chest tightened again.
Her breathing became slightly uneven.
Those words were just as unpleasant as Evelyn’s words had always been.
But somehow…
Today, they sounded even more irritating.
Claire stared at her.
Could Evelyn be jealous?
After all, she had mentioned Damien several times during the journey.
Perhaps this fool was simply upset because she thought Claire and Damien were too close.
The more Claire thought about it, the more convinced she became.
A faint sense of superiority returned to her heart.
It didn’t matter.
She only needed to coax Evelyn with a few sweet words.
Evelyn had always been ridiculously easy to manipulate.
She was just like Ethan.
Three kind words were enough to make either of them lower their guard and reveal everything in their hearts.
“You’re right, Evelyn.”
Claire forced a gentle smile.
“You really do think of everything.”
She slowly stood and walked toward the bench beneath the larger tree.
“You go ahead.
I’ll rest here for a little while, then I’ll come find you.”
Evelyn glanced at her.
Then she looked up at the tree shading Claire.
Without saying anything else, she turned and continued toward the Blackwood estate.
With every step she took, her fire-red skirt swayed around her legs.
The fabric caught the sunlight, appearing almost like a moving flame.
The young woman looked striking.
Bold.
Vibrant.
Claire had always preferred wearing white dresses.
She liked pale colors that made her appear delicate and innocent.
Evelyn was the complete opposite.
She loved red.
Not soft pink.
Not muted crimson.
She loved bold, fiery red.
The kind of color that demanded attention.
The kind that looked like flames.
As Evelyn walked away, her red skirt fluttered behind her like a burning cloud.
Claire stared at her back.
Jealousy slowly filled her eyes.
Evelyn was so vibrant.
So healthy.
So full of life.
Claire had never dared to walk with such large, confident steps.
Her heart was too fragile.
Her body too weak.
Even something as ordinary as walking too quickly could leave her breathless.
She could never imagine possessing Evelyn’s energy.
Claire’s gentle expression gradually hardened.
Fine.
She would wait.
She would let Evelyn make a complete fool of herself inside the Blackwood estate.
Then she would appear at exactly the right moment.
She would make sure Grandfather Blackwood saw the difference between them.
Evelyn was reckless and selfish.
Claire was gentle, sensible, and considerate.
At least…
That was the image Claire wanted everyone to believe.
But Claire had underestimated the woman walking away from her.
The Evelyn of this life was no longer the naive girl who wore her heart on her sleeve.
Eleven years in prison had stripped away her innocence.
Pain had taught her things kindness never could.
She had learned how to recognize lies.
She had learned how to read people’s expressions.
Most importantly…
She had learned how to recognize a trap.
Claire’s little performance had been obvious from the beginning.
She hadn’t stopped because she was too weak to walk.
She wanted distance.
She wanted to make herself appear uninvolved in the broken engagement.
She wanted to stand far enough away that, whatever Evelyn said inside the Blackwood estate, Claire could claim she had known nothing about it.
And Evelyn was certain Claire had another plan.
After Evelyn caused enough trouble, Claire would probably arrive pretending to be worried.
She would gently advise Evelyn not to make a scene.
She would plead with Grandfather Blackwood to forgive her.
She would play the role of the kindhearted sister.
Evelyn almost laughed.
What a familiar performance.
Unfortunately for Claire…
This time, Evelyn already knew the script.
And she had no intention of following it.