Chapter 186

[Evelyn’s POV]

I hated how my heart jumped in my throat from just seeing Fiona. I hated the feeling of fear that came over me like an unbreathable wave of poisonous smoke.

She didn’t see me immediately as I kept myself hidden behind the doorway. I narrowed my eyes, trying to make out her movements. Her hands were frantic as she searched every inch of the room.

She’s after the blade.

It was the only real, solid piece of evidence that would knowingly convict her of her crimes. My mind instantly went to Caroline. Clearly, she had spoken to Fiona and, very likely, planted the idea of going after the blade she’d left behind.

I briefly wondered how many rooms she’d already been through. From what I’ve been told, Alexander locked the dagger up in his safe within the confines of his office. I felt a flicker of relief in knowing that it was beyond Fiona’s current reach.

I could hear her cursing under her breath. Her patience was running thinner with each passing second.

“Where the fuck did that bastard hide it?” she hissed quietly.

Anger swirled within me. I never fully understood Fiona’s opinion of Alexander. It vexed me to no end. It wasn’t as though she’d ever tried to get close to him. Considering everyone was under the impression that he would live out the rest of his life in a wheelchair, it apparently took away a great deal of his physical appeal for a majority of people.

Yet, Fiona always seemed to respect his opinion and words. Based on previous experiences, Fiona never lost that sense of fear she had toward him. But it would seem that things were far different. In a way, I could almost understand.

Fiona’s life and future were on the line. This was her grasping for that last chance at freedom. She was prepared to do whatever was necessary in order to walk away from this ordeal.

Just the mere thought of that possibility made my scars ache. I silently winced at the pinching sensation that I once felt from the tip of that hidden blade.

No. I wasn’t going to allow Fiona to get away. I refused to even humor the idea of imagining her walking out of that courtroom having been let off, scot-free.

I clenched my jaw and bit back a snarl. Suddenly, Fiona went still. She finally noticed that she was being watched.

“I know you’re there.”

I kept my voice low. “Don’t you know that it’s against the law to break into someone else’s home?”

Fiona spun around and glared at me with a mixture of disbelief and seething hatred. She placed her hands on her hips.

“And here I was hoping that Caroline was wrong when she told me that you were alive,” she said, snarkily.

The corner of my mouth curled into a mocking smirk. “You know, for someone who actually worked in the medical field, I’m surprised that you managed to botch up a murder. I mean, I was literally strapped to a table. You had every opportunity to end my life, yet you chose not to.”

“That’s because I wanted you to suffer,” she slithered. “Had Alexander not found you, you would have surely bled out. You got lucky.”

“Probably. But from what I can see, you’re the one who’s shit out of luck now,” I said tauntingly. “Really, Fiona? Leaving the most vital piece of evidence behind...That’s amateurish for you.”

“Fuck you,” she hissed. “When I find that blade, I’m going to finish what I started.”

Fiona lunged across the room with her nails drawn, ready to strike any way she could. Thanks to Erik and Thomas’ training sessions, I knew exactly how to stand my ground against her. Alexander's words echoed in my mind.

“...When training, I want you to imagine that your opponent has the power to make your worst nightmares come to life and the only way you can stop that from happening is if you take them down...”

But we’re far beyond training. This was real.

Fiona tried to take a few swipes at my face and neck, but each strike was easily dodged. I curled my hands into fists and got into my taught stance. The moment she missed another round of strikes, I took my chance and swung back.

I somehow managed to clip Fiona in the corner of her jaw. I could tell she was as shocked as I was. She sucked in a deep breath and stumbled back a few feet. She raised her hand to cup her jaw and sneered.

“Is that the best you got?” she growled.

“Hardly.”

This time, Fiona raised her fists into a similar fighting position as mine. She locked her eyes on me and began taking her strikes when she could. With every punch, I managed to deflect it. Unfortunately, she was able to do the same with my own.

I wasn’t entirely sure how advanced a fighter Fiona was. She was, technically, a doctor but that didn’t mean anything. She seemed well enough to hold her own against whichever choice of attack I would use. I came to the swift conclusion that it was time to dig into some of the more unethical moves.

Naturally, I was taught how to fight on equal, fair terms. But this was never about fairness. Fiona had every intention of killing me.

So, why the hell should I not extend the same courtesy?

I recalled that same false move I played on Alexander. Just as I looked like I was going to swing with my right hand, I clocked her with my left fist.

“Ahh!”

Fiona let out a pained groan and lost her balance. I wasted no time as I hooked my foot around her inner ankle and swept her legs out from under her. I watched her hit the ground. Hard.

Her mouth fell open after she’d smacked her head on the hardwood floor. She hadn’t tried to move immediately but I wasn’t about to give her the chance to recover. I swiftly moved down to straddle her legs.

It was far too tempting for me to wrap my hands around her slim neck and chock the last few bits of life out of her. But no. I wouldn’t let myself slip like that.

I’m not her. I’m not Samantha. I’m not Isabella.

I could tell that the house was beginning to stir. Doors were beginning to open and a series of footsteps were fast approaching the room.

“What the hell is going on?”

“I don’t know.”

“I kept hearing strange noises, I thought it was just a few of the staff.”

Boy, were they in for a surprise. Alexander came storming into the room with a puzzled scowl. He flickered on the main light and revealed the absolute catastrophe that took place. The room was a complete wreck.

“What the hell? Evelyn? Are you—”

His words fell short when he took in the sight of me having pinned Fiona to the ground. Fiona’s eyes were barely open as she spoke through a nasty sneer.

“If I had known that you weren’t paralyzed, I would have tried harder to get your attention,” she said.

Alexander rolled his eyes. “Sorry, Fiona. I don’t have a taste for murderous psychopaths.”

Her mouth tugs into a knowing smirk that sets my blood ablaze.

“Your loss,” she said, wistfully. “Now you get to be stuck with an ugly monster for a wife.”

Before I could give it a second thought, my fist went flying and crushed the delicate bridge of her nose. Fiona fell unconscious before she could let out another disgruntled noise.

“Now you and Samantha can have matching noses,” I said breathlessly.