The Last Spring of the Notorious Villainess

My friend, Evelyn Vance, was a notorious villainess. When I met her while volunteering, Evelyn had already signed a euthanasia agreement. Her mental issues were severe.

Only in the week before her death did she have brief moments of clarity.

She clutched a cheap, tarnished ring and talked to me for a long time. "After I'm gone... please, give this ring to Liam Sterling." "I'm a fake heiress.

I've done nothing but absurd things my whole life—things I deeply regret. But being loved by him, even once... that, I feel lucky about." I froze for a second. It hit me then.

Liam Sterling, the current Alist movie star, was Evelyn's exhusband. "If only I could see him one more time..." I couldn't bear it.

I planned to sneak back to the US behind Evelyn's back to grant her final wish.

But I never imagined, when I found Liam on the eve of his engagement to the true heiress, he would be so full of disgust. "I'm busy.

I don't have time to play along with Evelyn's melodrama." "If she wants to die, she can do it quietly!" After saying that, Liam turned to leave.

Seeing his attitude, a rush of blood surged to my head.

I shouted at his retreating back, "Liam Sterling, you bastard!" "Did you ever stop to think that maybe Evelyn had her reasons?" Liam's footsteps stopped.

He slowly turned around, sizing me up like I was a thirdrate extra in a bad play. "Reasons?" "Miss Blake, do you think this is some cheesy soap opera?

If she really had a reason, she can come tell me herself!" With that, Liam couldn't be bothered to hear any more of my explanations and disappeared around the corner of Sterling Corp's headquarters.

I tried to bolt after him, but his bodyguards held me firmly in place. I could only shout uselessly, "It's Evelyn who wants to see you!" But Liam's footsteps never slowed.

Watching his resolute back, I knew. I couldn't bring Liam back with me. Evelyn's euthanasia was scheduled in just six days.

I took a deep breath and instinctively grabbed my phone to find the fastest flight back to New Zealand. Evelyn was still waiting for me.

Even without Liam, I couldn't leave her to suffer alone. My fingers had just touched the screen when I heard the sound of returning footsteps behind me. I whipped my head around.

It was Liam!

His brow was furrowed, his face a mess of conflict as he spoke. "What did you mean just now... by 'reasons'?" Seeing Liam take the initiative to ask, I was so agitated my words came out in a rush, practically tripping over each other. "Evelyn put on an act, for you." "She didn't marry some wealthy foreign businessman.” “The husband was a fake, the marriage was a sham.

She hasn't been traveling the world, living it up like you think. She's in New Zealand. She's very sick.

She's about to..." The word "die" was still on my lips when Liam cut me off sharply, his face contorted with offended anger. "Enough. Even lies have their limits.

Besides, Evelyn and I are divorced.

Even if something is wrong, you shouldn't be coming to me." "Whatever happens to her is none of my concern." My hands clenched into fists in frustration.

He was still putting up a front, even now. If Liam Sterling was truly as cold as he claimed, he wouldn't have come back. His heart was already wavering. What he needed was proof.

Time was short, and arguing or explaining was a waste of it. I looked up at him, grabbed his arm, and started dragging him out. "I'm not lying to you." "Come with me.

I'll prove it to you!"

The car sped along, finally stopping at the entrance of a rundown, lowincome neighborhood.

Liam looked at the familiar yet foreign sight and asked impatiently, "What did you bring me here for?" I didn't answer.

I just led him into the narrow, damp hallway, reminiscing as we walked. "This was your and Evelyn's first home." "Back then, when Chloe Hayes was just recognized by the Hayes family, Evelyn was kicked out immediately.” “You still insisted on marrying her, even cutting ties with your own family.

When you were at your poorest and most desperate, you squeezed in here together." "Evelyn said you both grew up spoiled. These walls seeped water, the air was so damp.

You both broke out in huge rashes, itching so badly you couldn't sleep at night." The hallway lights were old and broken.

In the flickering darkness, I caught a glimpse of Liam's reddening eyes. "At that time, the Sterling and Hayes families were putting on the pressure.

You couldn't get any acting roles, and she couldn't find a job.” “You didn't even have money for skin cream. In the end, you secretly worked as a day laborer at a construction site.

The first money you earned, you bought her the most expensive cream." After I finished, my gaze fell on his arm, covered by his suit jacket. "You put up with your own rash, couldn't bear to use any of it.

You still have the scars now, right?” “That was the first time you guys almost got divorced.

Evelyn said she couldn't live such a poor life anymore and was going to find a rich man." "She was such a fool. She was lying to you.

We're here!" My footsteps halted in front of a worn wooden door. Knock, knock, knock. I rapped on the door a few times.

Shuffling footsteps came from inside, and a kindfaced old woman opened the door, looking at us with confusion. "Who are you?" Before I could explain, her gaze moved past me and recognized Liam behind me. "Liam?

Oh, my. I know.

Evelyn sent you!" "Come in, come in!" The old woman hurriedly opened the door wider and let us in, her voice a constant stream of chatter. "Evelyn still isn't back from overseas?" "Don't you worry, I've been taking good care of this place.

Just like she asked, everything inside is exactly as it was. I know she bought this place for the memories.

I've been waiting for you to come and see it!" The old woman then turned very naturally to Liam, whose face had gone rigid.

Her tone was gently chiding. "Liam, why didn't Evelyn come back with you this time?" "When she called this old woman a while ago, she was still talking about you..." Liam was caught completely off guard.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Only his hands, hanging at his sides, trembled violently.

Seeing him so instantly lost and broken, I answered the old woman for him, explaining, "Evelyn is sick.

She can't come back for now." The old woman slapped her thigh, complaining with a voice full of sympathy. "I just knew it! She sounded so strange on that phone call.

Was the poor girl out of her mind with fever?" "She was saying she was only twentytwo and strong, asking me to look around for any odd jobs.

She said she couldn't let Liam shoulder everything alone, inside and out." "I knew something was off right then.

She's almost thirty now, and besides, Liam is such a big boss these days.

She doesn't need to secretly scrape by earning pennies like she used to." Whatever the old woman said after that, Liam probably didn't hear a single word.

He seemed to be drowning in old memories, slowly shuffling into the only small bedroom and sitting down on the edge of the old bed. The old woman sensed something was really wrong.

She wanted to follow him in and ask more, but I quickly stepped forward, made an excuse, and gently persuaded her to leave for the moment.

Only then did I turn to Liam and ask, "Do you believe me now?"

Liam didn't look up. He just clenched his fingers until his knuckles were white.

He insisted, "I still don't believe it." "She's Evelyn Vance, a flashy, arrogant, moneygrubbing woman." He wasn't arguing with me, it seemed more like he was desperately trying to deceive himself.

I figured anyone would need time to process this. But Evelyn didn't have that kind of time! Just then, a ringing phone shattered the silence. It was my boyfriend, Julian Moore.

I answered immediately. His agitated, urgent voice came through the line. "Athena, I found him!" "I just got off the plane. Time is tight, so I'll wait for you at the airport.

If he's willing, once you see this guy, we can fly straight to New Zealand!" I responded a couple of times. I didn't give Liam any more time to absorb anything.

I practically halfdragged, halfpulled him into the car. The ride was silent. Julian was waiting at the airport entrance. As soon as we arrived, he led us to a quiet VIP room.

Two burly bodyguards stood on either side. Between them, a man was being watched. He looked terrified and haggard, his frame so thin and gaunt he was almost hunched over.

Liam's pupils contracted sharply. His breath caught. He would never forget that face. It was clearly Evelyn's husband!

Julian stepped forward and shoved a folder of documents into Liam's hands. "This man is no wealthy businessman." "He's just a broke gambler with massive debts, completely at his wit's end.

Evelyn found him back then simply because he looked a little like that rarelyseen ChineseAmerican tycoon." "He's an illegal immigrant. He did time before for impersonation.

Evelyn probably noticed him because of that. As for those intimate photos you received..." Julian paused, seeming to suppress his anger.

He kicked the trembling man hard and barked, "You tell him!" The man was so scared he shuddered and dropped to his knees, shouting, "I'll talk!

Don't hit me, I'll tell you everything!" "Miss Vance paid me herself, hired me to put on an act. Once we were done, we were square. I was desperate for cash, so I agreed.

I'm not her husband, I'm just a con man who needed money. Please, don't come after me!" "Since you've brought me back to the US, just let me go.

Overseas is no place for a human being, I..." Julian kicked him again, cutting him off. "Stop trying to change the subject!

Talk about Chloe Hayes!" At the mention of the name "Chloe Hayes," Liam's reaction changed drastically.

The man immediately started spilling everything obediently. "Yes, yes, it was all Chloe Hayes!" "Those disgusting photos?

It was Miss Hayes who found me and paid some woman from the redlight district to pose for them.” “They used some tech to make it look like Miss Vance's face.

She told me to send you a couple whenever I got the chance." "She said... the harsher the words to make you angry, the better. All those words I used to call her...

I was forced!" After the man finished, he looked up, trembling.

Seeing Liam's face turn ashen and his eyes grow even more terrifying, the man thought he still wasn't going to be let off and was completely frightened.

He started bowing down, hitting his head on the floor, and wailing, "Please! Chloe Hayes is ruthless.

She wants to kill me to keep me quiet!” “If nothing had happened to Miss Vance these past years, and I hadn't been so good at hiding, I'd be a corpse in a storm drain somewhere overseas by now!" "Save me, I really don't want to die!" His noise was grating on my nerves.

I raised my hand, signaling for a bodyguard to gag him and hand him over to the police. Then, I turned to the silent Liam, urging him, "Do you believe it now?

Can you come with me?" Julian also glanced at his watch and added, "I booked flights to New Zealand in advance.

We take off in five hours." "Let's go, someone will meet us at the door to take us to Terminal 2." But Liam, without a second thought, refused. "No!" "Right here!"

Liam's two words made me so furious I lost all rational thought. The evidence had been thrown right in his face. How could this bastard still not believe it!

I raised my hand to slap him, to snap him out of it, but Julian, standing beside me, stopped me.

Liam looked at me, and his voice trembled as he explained. "When I walked away this morning, it wasn't to refuse you." "I was going to file a flight plan." That made both Julian and me pause.

Liam continued, "The flight plan was approved. My private jet is on standby on an exclusive runway.

We can take off in forty minutes, right here at this terminal." I was at a loss for words.

I stared blankly at him and asked, "Then why did you... run all over the place with me..." Liam looked up at me, his eyes swirling with complex emotions I couldn't decipher.

Deep and turbulent. "I really didn't believe it." "But even if I didn't, as long as she wanted to see me, I would go." Hearing that, tears immediately welled up in my eyes.

My voice choked up. "I thought you had stopped loving her a long time ago..." "You two really... missed out on so many years..." Liam seemed struck by my words.

He forced himself to look away from me, staring out the window at the dark night sky. He took a deep breath and said, "The pain has already started for me.

But the good thing is, I have many years ahead to make up for it." "No, you don't," I interrupted him softly.

Liam whipped his head around to look at me, his hand at his side silently clenching into a fist. "Is she very sick?" For a moment, I didn't know how to answer.

I had originally gone to this euthanasia clinic in New Zealand as an intern for my psychology degree, and also to volunteer, providing emotional support to people in pain.

My professional ethics told me I had to keep a patient's secrets. But my reason kept urging me otherwise. As Evelyn's friend, my heart ached.

It ached that even at the end of her life, she was still bearing all the misunderstanding and loneliness alone. I wished she could live. In that moment, my mind was made up.

To hell with it. I decided to come clean to Liam. "I mean, there are no many years. Evelyn, she..." Before I could finish, my phone vibrated violently in my pocket.

It was the name of the clinic director. At this time, it was already late at night in New Zealand. An ominous feeling instantly flooded my heart.

The moment I answered, the director's frantic voice burst out. "Athena, the situation is critical!" "Evelyn received a package this afternoon, shipped from the US.

The sender was listed as Chloe, saying she was her sister. We passed it on to her.

After Evelyn read it, she didn't have a major reaction at the time." "But we just discovered that Evelyn swallowed a whole bottle of pills!" A buzzing sound filled my ears, and my mind went completely blank.

My vision went dark, and my legs turned to jelly. I would have collapsed right there if Julian hadn't caught me. But I still couldn't stand steady.

I could only stare blankly at Liam in front of me and mechanically repeat the director's words. "A package from Chloe Hayes." "Evelyn overdosed on pills." "She's in the hospital being resuscitated.

The doctor said... the situation is very bad."