Unmasking the Heiress

"Come on, tell me, when have I ever not stepped aside for you? Anything you wanted, I never even laid a finger on it!" Evangeline tried to talk sense into Julia, keeping her voice as even as possible. "Besides, it's always been you who's taken more from me, hasn't it?" However, the moment she said that, Julia's eyes lit up like a spark had ignited within them, shining with an intense fire. "I took what's yours? Evangeline, don't you get it? All those things were meant to be mine from the start, none of it was ever yours!"

It was like she was echoing her mother, Lydia. "If it weren't for you and your mother, how would I have ended up the secret butt of jokes, the so-called 'illegitimate' kid everyone sneered at for years? And if it weren't for you, wouldn't I have picked up my beloved violin way sooner?" It was downright maddening!

Evangeline's hands balled into tight fists as she shot back, "Did you ever stop to think that if it weren't for you and your mom, the three of us could still be living happily together? You talk about being laughed at, but what about me? I was just a kid when I lost my real mom, and now I've lost my dad too..." The memories rushed past like scenes from an old movie, with her dad's dying wishes still ringing in her ears.

Too bad he only thought of the protection Evangeline had from the Fosters, never imagining then it would be Julia tying him up, leaving him defenseless.

"You dare to bring that up? Evangeline, don't you feel a twinge of guilt when you talk about Dad? You were the one who sent him to court, and now you want to play the heartbroken daughter?

"You're the reason my parents are gone, and now you show up pretending to care? Evangeline, I've got to hand it to you-you really surprised me!" Julia spat out the words with venom.

"Do you have any idea what it's like? Since my parents died, I've been haunted by nightmares every night see them, drenched in blood, screaming for me to get revenge. Can you even grasp how much I've suffered?" © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Was Julia really pinning the blame for Andrew and Lydia's deaths on Evangeline just because she was in so much pain? That made no sense.

Evangeline was stunned. She had always thought Julia, despite Lydia's less-than-stellar parenting, could still think for herself. Alas, it was clear that Julia had been faking all along, and this bitter, vengeful person was the real deal.

"Andrew and Lydia dug their own graves. They poisoned my mother, and they got what they deserved. How is any of that my fault?

"And another thing, Julia-do you really miss your parents as much as you say you do?

"If you did, why didn't you come when he begged you to see him one last time? Why did you ignore his calls?"

The memory of Andrew's anguished face when he spoke of Julia's refusal to come twisted Evangeline's heart in knots. Why did she long for her father's love when he only ever had eyes for Julia? Maybe that was just how life went. The things she wanted the most were always just beyond her reach.

"I have my reasons," Julia said with a sneer, her eyes glinting with icy disdain.

"Besides, you're the one who

dragged them into court. What good would it do if I showed up? To wrap my arms around my parents, who adore me, and sob my heart out? Why make us all miserable together?"