In a flash of terrifying clarity, Miriam Croft understood.

The young woman standing before her was Evelyn.

She was the true daughter of the Sterling family. The child she had secretly swapped all those years ago.

Miriam’s heart hammered against her ribs. Her breath hitched. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice unsteady.

Evelyn caught the rapid shift in the woman's expression. Shock. Raw fear. Then, a dark, menacing glint. It was deeply unsettling.

Frowning, Evelyn instinctively took a step backward. "I'm a guest at the Sterling banquet. Is there an issue?" Her eyes remained fixed on the agitated middle-aged woman. "A moment ago... you said, 'It's you again.' What did you mean by that? Have we met?"

Evelyn studied the woman's face intently. She searched her memory, but came up empty. She was certain she had never seen this person before.

So why did this stranger look at her as if she were a ghost returned from the grave?

Miriam, however, remembered Evelyn perfectly. The memory was seared into her mind.

It was not long ago, the day Miriam had received her devastating cancer diagnosis. As she left the clinic, numb and clutching the test results, she had literally bumped into Evelyn on the street.

And now, here she was again. At the Sterling family banquet. A gathering where every single Sterling relative was present.

Miriam’s face hardened into a mask of cold resolve. This could not happen. Evelyn could not meet them.

If they saw her face, if they looked into her eyes, the entire carefully constructed lie of her life would shatter.

Time was a luxury she no longer possessed. Miriam was determined to carry her secret to the grave. No one, especially not this girl, would be allowed to destroy the privileged life her own daughter enjoyed as a Sterling heiress.

"Oh, my mistake. I thought you were my friend's daughter," Miriam fabricated quickly. She forced a tight, unconvincing smile onto her lips. "My apologies. I meant no offense."

Evelyn watched her closely. The smile didn't reach the woman's eyes. A cold dread trickled down Evelyn's spine.

This woman was hiding something. Something significant.

"Is that so?" Evelyn replied, carefully masking her growing suspicion. "If you don't know, I'll find someone else to ask."

There was a predatory quality in the woman's gaze that made Evelyn's skin crawl.

As Evelyn turned to walk away, a dry, rough hand shot out and clamped like a vise around her wrist.

The grip was surprisingly strong.

Evelyn tried to pull her arm free, but the woman held fast.

"Let go of me," Evelyn said, her voice low and firm.

Miriam’s eyes darted around the corridor. "Not here. We need to talk. Somewhere private."

"Talk about what? I have nothing to say to you."

"Please," Miriam insisted, her voice dropping to a desperate whisper. "It's important. About your past."

Evelyn froze. Her past was a mystery, a void she had never been able to fill. This woman knew something.

Miriam saw the hesitation and pressed her advantage. "This way. Quickly."

She began pulling Evelyn, not toward the grand staircase leading back to the ballroom, but toward a plain, unmarked door at the end of the hall.

Evelyn dug her heels in. "Where are you taking me? The exit is the other way."

"We can't use the main stairs," Miriam hissed, her eyes wild with panic. "Someone might see us."

She shoved the heavy door open, revealing a dark, narrow concrete staircase. The air was cold and smelled of dust.

It was a service stairwell.

"Why are we taking the stairs?" Evelyn demanded, her suspicion turning to alarm.

"Just come!" Miriam tugged harder, pulling Evelyn into the stark, echoing space.

The door swung shut behind them with a heavy, final thud.

The sounds of the opulent banquet vanished, replaced by the hollow echo of their footsteps.

They were alone.

"Wait!"

Evelyn's voice was a sharp, gritted command.

Miriam's heart lurched. Instinct took over. She tried to pull her wrist free. "Let me go, please."

But Miriam's fingers only clamped down harder. Panic seemed to give her strength. She couldn't allow Evelyn to leave.

Miriam's eyes narrowed to slits. She spoke slowly, deliberately. "You said you were going to the Sterling banquet. I will take you."

Evelyn ignored the ache in her wrist. She forced her breathing to remain even. "Just point me in the right direction. That's all I need."

The woman's gaunt face made her strained smile appear grotesque.

"Please. Allow me this courtesy." After a brief pause, Miriam finally released her grip. She didn't want to seem overly suspicious.

She set down her cleaning supplies. Turning, she began to walk ahead. "Follow me. The Sterling event is starting soon. You wouldn't want to be late."

Evelyn stood still for a moment, watching the woman's retreating back. Hesitation gripped her for a few seconds. Then, she followed.

Something was undeniably wrong with this woman.

Since Miriam was so determined to lead, Evelyn decided to play along. She would discover the real game.

Soon, Miriam guided her into the stairwell.

Evelyn raised a single brow. Her expression remained carefully blank. "Why are we taking the stairs?"

Miriam didn't bother to look back. "The hotel elevators are out of order. We have no other choice."

A faint, cold smile touched Evelyn's lips. "But the Sterling banquet is on the first floor. Why are we going up? And in a hotel of this caliber, is it possible every single elevator is broken?"