" Mom - !!! " Evelyn stared at the empty box on the ground , watching the last of her mother's ashes wash away in the rain . She broke down completely . She snapped her head up , eyes rimmed in red , and fixed Sophie with a look that could have torn her apart . Gathering every ounce of strength she had , she swung and slapped Sophie hard across the face . " Sophie Monroe ! What did you do ?! " she shouted . Sophie stumbled from the blow ; blood welled at the corner of her lip . She clutched her cheek and began to cry . " What's going on ?! " Graham rushed in at the sound , immediately stepping in front of Sophie . He frowned at Evelyn , who looked as if she might go mad . Sophie melted into a tearful , theatrical performance . " Graham ... I'm so sorry . I was just trying to help Evelyn with the box and it slipped . I didn't mean it - I already apologized , but she ... she's insisting I pay for it with my life . " Graham glanced at the empty urn and the rain - sodden ground . His face tightened . After a long , tense moment he turned back to Evelyn , his voice heavy . " Evelyn , Sophie didn't do this on purpose . Let's drop it . But you struck her - hard . That's assault . You need to apologize . " Apologize . Evelyn couldn't believe what she was hearing . Her mother's ashes were gone- deliberately scattered , she was sure - and he expected her to say sorry ? It felt as though her heart had been ground to dust . Finally , everything fell into place : in Graham's world , Sophie was the one he protected above all else . Evelyn realized , with a hollow clarity , that she meant nothing . She bit her lip and refused to speak , but the tears flowed anyway . Sophie kept up the act , sniffling . " It's okay , Graham . She's just devastated . I don't blame her ... " " See how forgiving Sophie is ? " Graham said , expression hard . " Evelyn - apologize . " Evelyn's gaze flamed with defiance , but she stood her ground . Chapter 8 34.78 % Graham had had enough . He turned to his aide . " Escort her back . Confine her to her room . No meals until she apologizes . " They carried out the order . Locked in her room , Evelyn refused to back down no matter who tried to reason with her . For days she fasted - no food , no water - making her protest in the only quiet way left to her . In the end , it was Graham who gave in . He opened the door and looked at her - weak , pale , hollow - eyed - and his voice carried an irritated exhaustion . " Why are you so stubborn ? Fine . Sophie kept begging me on your behalf and said she'd forgiven you . Don't act like a child again . " Evelyn met his eyes and , despite herself , laughed - tears streaming down her face , her laugh brittle and raw . How could he defend that favoritism with such brazen certainty ? Her laugh stabbed at something in him . He changed the subject . " It's your birthday today . I arranged a party for you at the Evermont Base family quarters . Come on - behave , and no drama . " The party was lively . Graham showered her with expensive gifts and resumed his old , attentive manner . Guests admired how completely General Sterling adored his young wife . Evelyn moved through it all like a puppet - numb , disconnected . In the corner , Sophie watched with a look of jealous triumph . When the guests left and Graham went to see them out , Evelyn slipped back to her room . The divorce petition , she knew , would probably be approved any day now . Quietly , she began packing her few belongings . Sophie followed , closing the door behind her with a strange smile . " Happy birthday , Evelyn . Birthdays should be exciting . I prepared a special gift for you . " Before Evelyn could react , Sophie grabbed a candle from the dressing table and hurled it toward the curtains and the wardrobe . Flames caught instantly and licked across the fabric . " What are you doing ?! " Evelyn cried , lunging for the door to call for help . Sophie struck from behind with a brutal chop to the back of Evelyn's neck . Chapter 8 34.78 % The room spun . Evelyn blacked out , collapsing to the floor . In the dimming moment before she lost consciousness , she saw Sophie lying beside her , a self - satisfied smile on her face . When she came to , smoke choked the air and the beams above groaned under the heat . " Evelyn ! Sophie ! " Graham's terrified voice cut through the chaos as he ran into the blaze . Then , wrenching Evelyn's heart into pieces , she watched him scoop up the limp Sophie without hesitation and carry her out through the flames . He didn't spare Evelyn so much as a look . A burning beam crashed down and struck her . Pain ripped through her body , and everything went black . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!