Chapter 5 - Evelyn's Struggle
3 weeks earlier, on a bitter winter morning, Evelyn Sinclair stepped through the gates of the Thornon estate with her heart hammering in her chest. She was 27 years old, dark brown hair tied neatly back, green eyes bright with hope. This was her third job in a single month. event assistant work at the mansion of the most powerful mafia boss in Chicago. The pay wasn’t high, but it was enough to move her one small step closer to her goal. Evelyn was orphaned at 5 years old. A car accident took both her mother and father in a single stormy night. She and her younger sister, Chloe, who was only two at the time, were sent to Saint Mary’s orphanage. Saint Mary’s was hell. Evelyn still remembered the nights she went weak with hunger because she was punished and denied food. She still remembered the lashings for the crime of daring to cry when she missed her mother.
But the most painful thing wasn’t the beatings. The most painful thing was that when Evelyn was 10, Khloe was adopted by another family. They split the sisters apart. They didn’t let Evelyn say goodbye. They simply arrived, signed the papers, and took Kloe away as if she were nothing more than an object. Evelyn cried for months. She swore that one day she’d find her sister again, no matter what it cost. At 16, Evelyn ran away from the orphanage. She drifted through the streets of Chicago, taking any job she could to survive: Washing dishes in restaurants, cleaning offices, handing out flyers on street corners. She had no degree, no family, nothing but her hands and an iron will. And then two years ago, a miracle happened. Evelyn found Kloe again. Her sister, now 22, was living in a small apartment after her adoptive family went bankrupt and abandoned her. But the joy of reunion was quickly shadowed by terrible news: Kloe had a congenital heart condition. She needed surgery. The cost was $200,000.
From that day on, Evelyn worked without stopping. Three jobs at once, 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. And the job at the Thornton estate was part of that plan. On her first day, an older employee pulled Evelyn into a corner. “Listen, kid,” the woman said, her gaze darting around as if she feared someone might be listening. “I’m going to give you one piece of advice: Stay away from Miss Camille.” Evelyn frowned. “Who’s Miss Camille?” “The boss’s fianceé. She looks beautiful and sweet. But don’t let it fool you. When the boss isn’t around, she’s a devil. Never argue with her. Never look her straight in the eyes. Never do anything that makes her notice you. If you do, you’ll regret it.”
May you like
Evelyn nodded. But she wasn’t afraid. She’d faced the worst this world could throw at her. That night, Evelyn returned to the run-down little apartment in the slums of South Chicago. Chloe lay on the narrow bed pushed into the corner. Her sister was 24, thin and pale. The doctor said she needed surgery within 6 months. “If not, her heart wouldn’t hold.”
“You’re back,” Khloe said weakly. “How’s the new job?” Evelyn sat beside the bed and took Khloe’s icy hand in her own. “It’s good. The pay is better than I expected.” She lied so her sister wouldn’t worry. Chloe looked at her, eyes full of quiet sorrow. “You work too much. You’ve gotten thinner.” Evelyn shook her head and smiled. “I’m fine. I’m strong.” After Khloe fell asleep, Evelyn took out her savings book and looked at the number: $15,000. She was still short $185,000. A crushing number. Tears slid down Evelyn’s cheeks. She clutched Khloe’s hand and whispered: “I’ll save you no matter what. I swear I’ll save you.”
