So, that was why Dad had kicked me out without a second thought the last time he learned I'd fallen out with Yelena. It all made sense now. They were in on this together the whole time!

Thinking about the solemn vows Dad had made to Mom at her deathbed left me feeling bitter. That was when I decided that I had to go home and demand the truth, once and for all.

I rushed to the parking garage, but just as I pulled out my McLaren keys, someone shoved me hard.

"You car thief! How dare you steal Yelena's car! Have you no shame?"

I slammed into another car and scraped my knees raw.

Furious, I looked up to see Yelena and Nate standing nearby, surrounded by a crowd of colleagues, all looking down their noses at me.

"Evie, I know you're desperate to be a rich heiress like me, but you shouldn't steal my car!"

I couldn't hold back my anger anymore. "Car thief? This is my family car!"

"Still lying through your teeth, aren't you?"

Nate aggressively marched forward and snatched my keys away. "When you weren't here yesterday, Yelena drove this car and gave me a ride to work. Everyone here can vouch for it, so what right do you have to claim it's yours?"

I stared at him, stunned. In that moment, every last shred of affection I had for him completely vanished.

"Half a month ago, I took you out for a ride and offered to give this car to you, but you said no. Did you already forget?"

I fixed him with a cold, sharp look, and he avoided my gaze. "I don't remember what ride you're talking about. If you insist this McLaren is yours, show some proof!"

I scoffed at the absurdity and pulled up a screenshot of the purchase record on my phone before shoving the screen in their faces.

"This was a birthday gift from my dad this year. I picked out the car, and he paid for it. Is that enough proof for you?"

Yelena frowned slightly and sighed. "Why are you lying again, Evie? That's clearly my screenshot with my dad's name on it. Are you going to steal that, too?"

I snapped, "What do you mean, your dad? Also, I've been wanting to ask—my dad is the current chairman of the company, and he has nothing to do with you.

"Your last name isn't even Blaze, so how dare you go around claiming that he's your dad?"

A flash of malice flickered in Yelena's eyes before she turned away. Her lashes were wet with tears.

"You're right. My last name isn't Blaze because Moon is my mom's maiden name. Dad loved her so much that he let me take her name as a tribute…"

Nate wiped her tears in distress, then turned back to me. His voice was thick with indignation as she snapped, "That's enough, Evie! Yelena lost her mom when she was just a child. Did you have to poke her where it hurts most?"

My eyes stung with tears.

I'd lost my mom at a young age, too. Nate and I dated for three years, and we were about to get married, so I couldn't understand why he hated me this much.

A wave of crushing exhaustion washed over me, and I closed my eyes. "Let's break up, Nate."

He froze, and his expression turned into a mix of panic and fury. "What did you just say? Are you breaking up with me over something this petty?"

I calmly nodded. "That's right, and I'm getting all my tattoos removed. We're over."

As the words left my mouth, I noticed the way Yelena stiffened and couldn't help but narrow my eyes.

"Do you have any idea how much it hurts to laser off a tattoo?" Nate stared at me, looking anxious and agitated.

Then, he softened his tone into a placating plea. "Stop making a scene, Evie. You were at fault, so you have no right to be this mad!"

Seeing how shaken and terrified he was, a thought crossed my mind.

Was there something more to the tattoo?