"They're coming…" she rasped finally, her voice barely a whisper. "He… he knows… I ran… I had to." Eve stepped out of the car slowly, the cold air slapping her face, reminding of the torment she had faced because of this woman! Because of her husband. When she came back to life a week ago, she wanted to leave the house and threw divorce papers on his face. But she stayed when she saw the date! She could not let go of them easily.
And for that, if she had to act like a doormat again, she was more than willing to do so.
With a look of concern and meekness, she stood in front of Damien and looked at the girl with worry.
"Damien," she called, her voice steadier than she expected. "Something is wrong with the girl."
He looked back at her, scowling. "Of course something's wrong. She nearly got herself killed. Probably some stunt to earn money from us. I knew them very well." But he stopped as Diana collapsed at his feet.
He frowned when he saw Eve rushed forward and kneeling beside the girl. He could see that Diana's skin was ice-cold, her lips tinged blue. There were faint bruises on her wrists, and her dress.. was that torn?
"Help me," Diana whispered, reaching out and grabbing Eve's arm with surprising strength. "Please… he will kill me. you're the only one who might help me!" Before Eve could ask what she meant, Diana's eyes rolled back and she fell unconscious.
Damien knelt beside them, cursing under his breath again. "What the hell did you get yourself into this time, Evelyn. We do not know her yet you are touching her like she is your long lost lover!"
"She needs help, Damien." Eve ignored his sarcastic remarks and looked at him with worry, "we must help her."
Damien rolled his eyes as he felt annoyance rising to his chest.
"We do not know her, Eveleyn. I am not here for charity." Eve watched him confused. Did he feel nothing at all for the girl he had slept with in the past?
The woman lying at their feet wasn't just any stranger. It was Diana, the same woman he had once chosen over his own wife. Perhaps, he needed to look at her when she looked presentable. Eve bit her lips and sighed.
"Damien," she said again in a firm tone this time.. "We can't just leave her here. She is injured and terrified. We don't know what happened, but someone is after her."
He scoffed, rising to his feet and brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves. "That is none of our concern."
Eve slowly stood, her eyes hardening despite the mask of concern she still wore on her face. "So you would rather leave her to die in the middle of the road?"
Damien's gaze snapped to hers, sharp. "Don't pretend like you care, Evelyn. If that is the case, why don't you stand there all the time. I am sure there is someone who needs help out there every passing second. Oh! Our great mother, Evelyn Moore!"
"I can not help everyone but I can help the one I encounter. And I am not asking you to bring her home," Eve added calmly. "Just drop her at the nearest hospital, that's all."
Damien stared at her like she had grown a second head. He wasn't used to being told anything by her, not since she had turned into the quiet, passive wife everyone expected her to be.
"Fine," he said at last in a low but hard voice "I will take her to the hospital."
Relief briefly washed over Eve's features before his next words made her stomach tighten.
"But in return…" He turned to her slowly, his gaze dark and calculating. "You'll come with me to the U.S. for the entire business trip. No arguments. You will play the perfect wife there and entertain the guests till it is needed."
Eve felt the burn of humiliation crawl up her throat, but she forced herself to smile sweetly. Perfect wife, was it? If only he knew how temporary that act would be.
"Understood," she replied, her voice laced with false warmth. "I will be whatever you need me to be, Damien."
His eyes narrowed at her response, something unreadable flashing in them. "Good."
Without another word, he moved to the car and opened the back door. With Eve's help, they got Diana into the backseat. She remained unconscious. Her face was covered with cold sweat and she was muttering something incorrigible.
Damien looked at her with disgust as if he was worried that she would soil his car. When he noticed Eve's gaze on her, he glared at her.
"I will never drive this car again." Eve was stunned momentarily. As he started the car again and changed his route, she felt uncertain.
"I thought you like beautiful girls, Damien." She responded at last when the car stopped in front of a hospital and he paid extra to the nurse to take the girl away quickly.
Damien paused momentarily by her comment but then he laughed at her sarcastically. His eyes were beyond the cold, they looked hungry for blood.
"And i thought you did not care at all." he titled his head to have a better look at her. "Or you are so worried that I would lack beautiful girls that you are ready to pick up garbage from the road for me?"
Eve did not respond. She still could not understand how the timeline had changed, the theme park project, the visit to grandpa, everything was the same! Then why?
He stared at her lost face and his eyes narrowed further. "If you are so worried that i will lack girls, why don't you give yourself to me. It has been three years of our marriage, yet you have never let me touch you!"