"You are taking me as your wife!" Even the obedient wife from the last wife could never imagine that Damien would take her to a business trip as his wife. If he did that, he would not be able to flirt with girls easily. Or.. did he want to disgrace her as his wife now that he had enough fun with the secretary.
But instead of feeling rage, all she felt was emptiness as she nodded and looked away.
Dmien was waiting for her to lash out and refuse. But looking at her with such a lackluster reaction, he frowned. Did she not care at all! Such a weak woman with no backbone. He could not understand what his grandpa saw in her.
All he could see was a dead skeleton.
Damien let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "It is a couple's invitation," he said sharply. "I don't have a choice. If I have, I wouldn't ask you to come with me."
The words were cruel, but she didn't flinch. Eve simply leaned her head against the car window and closed her eyes. He stared at her in the mirror, but there was no reaction on her face. She was always like this lately, numb and detached. As if nothing he said could reach her anymore.
He still remembered the girl that used to follow him everywhere and tell him that she would be his wife. That time, he was irritated by her behavior. But he had never thought silence would hurt him more. His thought stunned him! He was hurt? Ha! He could never be hurt by her.
Damien muttered a curse under his breath and turned his gaze to the road. "Suit yourself."
Eve didn't want to give him the satisfaction of reacting. She closed her eyes, hoping to escape into the quiet for a moment. And she did not realize when she fell asleep.
Eve was preparing a gift box with extreme care. A table full of dishes was spread in front of her. She had prepared all of them by herself since Damien enjoyed her cooking. She looked at the watch again. It was already ten and only two hours were left for their anniversary to end. Frowning, she called him again. But this time he did not pick up. So she called him again but the result was the same.
She shook her head, he must have been struck in traffic. He had already told her that he was coming. She should just need to wait a bit more.
But when he still did not come, she had gone to find him with the help of his new secretary. He was in a hotel room with Diana. Their clothes were on the ground. There was nothing left for imagination.
Her world had shattered at that moment. Damien had always lightly flirted with the girls, but he had never crossed his limit. And she had punished every girl that had come closer to him. But this.. She had stood frozen, the anniversary gift slipping from her fingers and hitting the floor with a dull thud. Damien hadn't even looked guilty. He just looked annoyed that she had followed him.
As if she was the problem. As if her love was the burden.
"You would still be the wife! The one and only Mrs Albrecht. The apple of my grandpa's eyes. Diana is only here for me. You do not need to feel threatened. Returning home, I will come later for our anniversary party. And if you need any gift, book it on my name." he leaned in and took out a card from his pocket and passed it to her. "Here! You can have anything you want!"
"Anything but not you!" she reminded him only to earn another scorn.
"Oh dear! You have me tied to you all the time. I will only be free of you when you die!" The man had looked at her coldly as if he could not wait for that day to come.
Evelyn felt a sharp pain in her chest and her eyes snapped open. her heart pounding in her chest. The dream faded, but the ache in her chest remained. She looked around to see Damien had stopped the car abruptly and was cursing loudly.
Eve was still confused from her dream and the pounding in her chest only worsened when she saw Damien slam the car door and storm out.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he shouted at a young girl. "If you want to die, go and jump from the cliff. Why must you drag me with you? I will sue you to the court." Eve leaned forward, squinting through the windshield. Her fingers gripped the edge of the seat, when she noticed the girl.
A woman stood in front of their car, her body trembling as if it could collapse any second. Blood stained the hem of her white dress, her legs were scratched, and her hair clung to her face in wet clumps. She looked like she had clawed her way out of hell.
But even beneath the grime and terror, Eve recognized her. Diana!
The same Diana who had once looked down at her with a victorious smirk. The same Diana who had once stood beside Damien, half-dressed and laughing. Eve's mouth fell open in shock.
Diana staggered a step forward, her lips moving as if she wanted to speak, but no sound came out. Her wide eyes darted from Damien to the shadows behind her, then to Eve.
Damien grabbed her arm roughly, pushing her back. "Why are you still standing here! Leave or do you really want me to drag you to the police station?" Damien glared at the young girl viciously. He wanted to do nothing but to get rid of her. The thought shocked Eve as she knew it was love at first sight in the past and Damien could never have enough of Diana.
"I… I need help!"