_Back To The Present_
Sarah drove away in the car that her father had given her as a gift for her 18 birthday, john had no money for a car so she's been sharing the car with him, although it's a bit rusty but it works. As she drove from the Lance mansion, her mind spinning, her heart pounding in her chest. Her father's words echoed in her head, each one striking like a blow: "Leave my house. There's nothing here for you."
The cold finality of his rejection stung deeper than she had expected. She had come there, hoping,begging,for a shred of help. And despite everything that had happened between her and her family, she had thought her father might show some mercy, especially with her carrying his grandchild.
But Evelyn, ever the iron hand behind the family's decisions, had clearly poisoned him against her. Her father had seemed almost hollow as he spoke, as though all the warmth and love that once existed between them had been drained away. The man she had known was gone, replaced by someone she barely recognized.
As Sarah sped down the familiar streets, her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to break down. Not now. Not while she still had so much to figure out. She had to keep it together,for her child, for John. John… he was still gone, and the thought of facing everything alone felt unbearable. But she couldn't tell him what had happened,not yet. He was already dealing with too much on his end.
The baby. Her fingers instinctively rested on her stomach. She hadn't even told John about the pregnancy yet. She couldn't bring herself to worry him, especially with all the pressure Oliver was putting on him.
And speaking of Oliver, Sarah knew she couldn't rely on him, either. His "help" came with too many strings attached.she wasn't going to let herself be vulnerable to his manipulations again.
But now, with her family's rejection ringing in her ears, she felt more alone than ever, and she was running out of options.
-Back at the Lance Mansion-
Inside the mansion, Evelyn stood by the window, watching as Sarah's car disappeared down the long driveway. Her lips curled into a tight smile, satisfied that her daughter had left without further incident. It had been a necessary cruelty, one she didn't regret. Sarah's return, pregnant with John's child, had been an embarrassment Evelyn wasn't willing to endure.
She turned to leave the foyer when she saw Peter standing at the bottom of the grand staircase. His face was pale, and his eyes were filled with a heaviness that Evelyn had come to know well. She could tell he had been listening, his shoulders sagging slightly.
"Did you have to be so harsh?" Peter asked quietly, his voice betraying the conflict he still felt. Despite agreeing with Evelyn the night before, it was clear that actually sending Sarah away had shaken him.
Evelyn met his gaze, her own expression hard and unyielding. "Yes, Peter. I did."
Peter sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "She's still our daughter," he muttered, though his voice lacked conviction.
Evelyn crossed her arms, her stance resolute. "She made her choice when she married that man. She chose him over this family. And now, because she's pregnant, you're suddenly ready to forgive everything? Do you honestly think she'll come back into our lives without dragging him along with her?"
Peter shook his head, though it was clear his resolve was wavering. "She's carrying our grandchild, Evelyn. You can't just turn your back on her like this."
Evelyn's eyes flashed with anger. "I can, and I have. That child will not be the savior of this family. It will only bring more shame. I've worked too hard to rebuild our reputation after what she did. I will not let her destroy us again."
Peter stared at her, his hands trembling slightly. "You talk about her like she's a stranger."
Evelyn's voice softened, but her words remained firm. "She is, Peter. She abandoned us, and you know that." She stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. "We have to think about the family. About Taylor, the business, the future. Bringing her back now, with John's child, would only complicate things further."
Peter's expression darkened at the mention of Taylor, who had caused enough chaos in recent years with his reckless behavior and constant entitlement. Evelyn knew exactly which buttons to press when it came to him.
"Taylor…" Peter muttered, shaking his head. "He overheard the conversation earlier. He came to me threatening to expose all my affairs. If I help Sarah, he said he'd ruin me."
Evelyn's face tightened with disdain. "Taylor's a fool, Peter. He won't do anything. He's too reliant on this family's wealth, and he knows it. Besides, he needs to be reminded of his place." She paused, then added, "But it's better this way. Sarah staying out of our lives means Taylor won't have an excuse to stir up more trouble."
Peter seemed to consider this, his eyes still clouded with doubt, but he nodded slowly. "I don't want to lose her, Evelyn."
Evelyn's face softened for the first time, her voice taking on a gentler tone. "You already have, Peter. We both have. But we still have the future to protect." She stepped closer, her hand resting on his arm. "We've made our decision. Now we have to stand by it."
Peter looked at her for a long moment, then finally sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "You're right," he said quietly. "It's too late."
Evelyn gave him a tight nod, satisfied that the matter was settled. But even as she walked away, her mind raced with thoughts of Sarah, of John, and the grandchild that could have tied them back to the Lance name. The decision had been necessary, but it was one that would ripple through their lives, whether Peter accepted it or not.
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Taylor, still fuming from the earlier confrontation, sat in his father's study, his fingers drumming impatiently against the arm of the leather chair. He had stormed off after threatening Peter, but the confrontation had left him feeling restless. His threats about exposing his father's affairs had been in the heat of the moment, but they weren't entirely empty.
The truth was, Taylor had been looking for leverage against his father for years. He had always felt like the least favored child, overshadowed by Sarah's accomplishments, and then later, by her dramatic exit from the family. Her rebellion had at least given Taylor some room to breathe, but now that she was coming back into the picture, even temporarily, he felt the old resentment boiling to the surface.
If Sarah got back into their father's good graces,especially with a child on the way,Taylor feared it would push him further down the ladder. His father's wealth, his control over the business, his future,all of it was tied to his father's approval. And if that approval shifted back to Sarah, where would that leave him?
He had threatened to expose Peter's affairs, but deep down, he knew it wasn't something he could follow through on. His father's indiscretions were messy, yes, but revealing them would tear the family apart and, more importantly, cut Taylor off from the source of his wealth and privilege.
But that didn't mean he was out of options.
Taylor smirked to himself as a plan began to form in his mind. If he couldn't directly attack his father without ruining himself, there were other ways to ensure that Sarah never found her way back into the family. And he knew exactly where to start.