Chapter 6: Let her go

Eva's POV

“Are you sure you're ready to face them?” Enzo's thick voice interrupted my thoughts once the car halted in front of the engagement venue.

He turned to me, his emerald eyes sparkling in the dark.

I looked away.

“I know how close you were with Damien Hale.” He continued. “It's possible that you still have–”

“I don't have feelings for him anymore.” I said, cutting him off. “I already told you that I'd rather they recognize the face of whom they ruined years ago.”

I picked up the purse lying by my side with a determined expression on my face. “I can't wait to see them.”

With that I stepped out of the car. After some seconds, Enzo stepped out and stood by my side. He held out his hand.

I sighed deeply, then took it in mine. As we neared the entrance, people began to cast gazes at me, followed by whispers and then loud murmurs.

Not long after, the entrance was blocked by paparazzi.

{Are you really Eva Cole?}

{Eva Cole, have you come here to ruin the engagement of your ex-husband?}

{How did you get out of jail, Eva Cole?}

If Enzo did not shield me, these reporters would have shoved their microphone into my mouth.

“Are you okay?” Enzo asked once we were passed them. I nodded.

Just then his phone began to ring. After seeing the caller, he said to me, “Go in, I'll be there in a moment.”

What was so important that he had to ask me to go in alone?

I didn't think too much about it and walked into the premises. I turned and stopped at the door, just when Damien and Maya were exchanging rings.

Murmurs rose again and everyone's gaze fell on me.

My heart squeezed in my chest seeing Damien push the ring onto Maya's finger. The smile on her face made me feel worse.

Does she deserve to be happy after what she did to me?

My confidence level rose and I did not care about what the guest were whispering about me.

My gaze remained fixed on Damien. Maya spotted me first, her hand fell off Damien's grip.

Margaret Hale rose from her seat abruptly. Damien turned and our gaze locked.

Memories swam past my eyes and my heart beat accelerated. I might have been wrong when I told Enzo that I had no feelings for Damien anymore but I do not intend to let it get in my way of revenge.

“You!” Maya shrieked. “How dare you come here! What do you think you're doing?”

I held my head up and walked up to the podium.

“I came to say congratulations.” I said with a smile on my face. “Will I be jailed for that too?”

Maya stepped down from the podium, anger written all over her. Damien's gaze never left me. I couldn't fathom his expression, whether surprise, shock or regret.

Maya yelled, “Stop spilling nonsense, Eva! The guts to show your face here after stealing from the Hales and breaking Damien's heart!”

“Say that again, and I will make sure I end your entire career.” I threatened.

It was then she took a good look at me. The jewelries, exquisite gown and the mystery of how I left the cell told her that some kind of transformation must have happened.

“Maya, I'm not the helpless Eva you framed and locked up three years ago.”

The hall rose with a gasp.

I continued, “I did not come here to stop your engagement with him. You can have him for all I care. Let us enjoy this party quietly and not cause a scene.”

I closed the distance between us and whispered in her ears, “Or I will be forced to expose your deeds to everyone here.”

I could feel how tensed she was. I was about to walk away when Margaret descended from the stairs, her eyes wide as saucer plates.

“You must be crazy to attend my son's engagement party! Guards, throw her out! She was not invited.”

Several guards flocked into the hall, walking towards me. Just when one of them grabbed my arm,

“Get your hands off her.”

Everyone's gaze turned towards the entrance as Enzo walked in, he looked handsome in his black, tailored suit that clung to his built frame.

“Enzo Hartley??” The hall was thrown into an uproar.

The guard's grip loosened as he stepped back.

Enzo placed his hand around my waist and pressed me to him.

“I have an invitation.” He paused and added, “For myself and my wife.”

“Wife?” Damien chuckled with a smirk playing on his lips. “Do you think this is some kind of circus? That woman is a convict, how could she possibly be your wife?”

My fist tightened around my gown. Convict?

Enzo turned to the guests, his hand tightened around mine. “Allow me to introduce my wife, Eva Hartley. Three years ago, it was alleged that she embezzled three billion dollars from the Hale group and due to her inability to return it, she was jailed and sentenced.”

“Because of my love for her, I took her out of jail after pledging to return the three billion dollars to the Hales with an additional billion dollars to it.”

The hall became eerily silent. It was as if no one dared to counter Enzo's words.

Suddenly Damien stepped up, grabbing my arm and breaking Enzo's hold.

He forced me to look at him.

“Stop this nonsense now, Eva. Enzo is a dangerous man, what do you think you're doing with him?”

“Let go of me, Damien.” I struggled to release my wrist but he did not let go.

“Listen to me, Eva!” He was breathing heavily. “I'm willing to drop the charges and plead amnesty for you but quit this marriage nonsense. You have no idea who Enzo is–”

Maya hurried to his side, tugging at his arm. “Let her go, Damien. People are watching!”

Enzo stepped in front of me, looking eye-to-eye at Damien.

“Let. Her. Go.”

Still, Damien did not release his grip and the atmosphere became even more tense. With no other option, and to prevent herself from becoming a laughingstock at her engagement, Maya had no choice.

“The Hales will not be accepting a return of the embezzled funds!” She said, “All we want is for her to return to jail and complete her sentence!”

“The cops are on their way.” Margaret added. “I have called them to pick up this thief who escaped from jail!”