Sophia’s eyes swept toward me, full of provocation. “Just now, only Evelyn was packing her suitcase. Did you sneak it in while no one was looking? After all, with your brother needing money for surgery, you must be desperate.”
“I didn’t take it!” I shot to my feet.
“Who would believe you?” Jason chimed in instantly. “You’ve been after Ryan’s money from the start. Now that you’re leaving, of course you’d want one last score! Search her suitcase!”
Ryan frowned, glancing at my luggage. “Evelyn, open it. If you didn’t take it, I’ll clear your name.”
My heart sank. Hidden in the lining of that suitcase was a signed divorce agreement. Back when he first brought me to the Hayes family, he had handed it to me himself, his fingertips warm as he said, “Evelyn, I know you love your freedom. If one day you ever feel wronged, take this and leave—I’ll never stop you. But I’ll spend my life treating you well, never giving you a reason to use it.”
But now, he had long forgotten.
Terrified they would find it, I clutched the suitcase desperately. “You can’t search it!”
“Guilty conscience?” Sophia lunged for the case. “Ryan, look at her reaction—she definitely took it!”