Three

The awkward, tense silence stretched longer, threatening to suffocate me. Brent didn't seem like he was going to break the silence anytime soon. His jaw was ticking with anger but his hands were possessively wrapped around her waist.

I stared at those hands and they burned my eyes so badly. My stomach was knotted. Tears were aggressively clogging my eyes and chest and I was having a hard time trying to suppress them.

So many questions were banging in my head at the moment. But I couldn't get myself to speak.

Suddenly, Carolina gently got away from him and approached me with a smile that was just as beautiful as her doll-like face.

Her blonde hair has never been so perfect, and that hurts even more. The fact that she still glows.

I'm not trying to be malicious, but I just can't help how even more worthless I feel right now with her standing close to me.

I hate how much I wish I were her. I hate how much I want to be her. I hate how much I've always idolized her. If I had half her features, then maybe Brent would look at me with eyes that held love and not spite.

“You must be Evangeline,” she said, grabbing my hand nicely. Her hold stung. I flinched, wishing nothing but to withdraw my hand. “It's so nice to finally meet you. Brent told me a lot about you.”

My gaze shifted to him sharply but his stare was blank. What did he tell her about me?

Maybe how pathetic I've been for years trying to win his heart. Maybe how…impossible it is for me to ever take her place in his heart. Or how I never mattered to him, not even in the slightest.

Because why else would he do this? Why else would he bring her here, with no heads-up? Now I'm stunned like a fool, unsure of how to react to this shocking moment.

“It's nice that he had a girl like you to help him while I was away.”

While she was away? She's making it sound like she travelled or something. She died! She vanished for eight years!

How was no one realizing how freaky this moment was?

“I know what you're thinking. And no, I didn't die. Almost did but thank the goddess. Brent knew that I was alive. We've been in touch for three years now. We kept it hidden as we didn't want anyone to find out yet. Just until we're ready to announce my return.”

I blinked rapidly at that confession. Blood drained from my face. For…for three years? They've been in contact for three years?

So that means…that means…there was never a chance for me to win his heart because he never returned home with his heart. He always left it with her, wherever they usually met.

So every single effort I've been making was very futile because the love of his life never really left. He still had her and I was just invincible.

That wrecked my resolve and made my knees wobbly. Now I was grateful she was holding me or I might have hit the floor.

“I’ll make sure he pays you generously for literally every sacrifice you ever made for him. And from a woman to a woman, I'm grateful. You did your best to keep him stable. I'll never take that for granted.”

A tear slid from my eyes. I yanked my hand out of her grip, quickly drying the tear. I wasn't stupid so I knew exactly what her words meant.

She was coming back to his side like she never left. And I was being dismissed like I never existed.

Just to seal my suspicion, the door opened, and the servants who were lined up walked in with luggage.

“Take them to my bedroom,” Brent ordered them. They had to be Carolina's bags. He was gonna share a bedroom with her when he never bothered to do that with me.

He gave me a small room and made sure I never set foot into his room except when I was coming to get laundry. Or when he wanted to have his libido satisfied, he'd invite me over and kick me out once he was done.

I never had the permission to linger in his bedroom but he plans on staying with her there.

More tears rolled down my face. Out of the blue, she hugged me, tapping my back.

“I wish you a great life, Evangeline.”

I couldn't speak. I was literally choking on my tears. She released me, flashed me a smile, and headed upstairs.

“We don't need to say the rejection words because you're not my fated mate so we don't have any bonds attaching us.” Brent began as soon as she left.

His voice was cold, dry. His eyes were haughty. It made my heart bleed even worse.

“I already have the divorce papers signed. It's there, on the bar counter.” He gestured at the minibar in the corner of the living room. “Sign your spot and my lawyer will settle you first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Brent…” I was desperate to speak but he wouldn't give me the chance.

“I'd hate to inconvenience her so it'd be best if you leave this house tomorrow. We had an awful time together, Evangeline. I wouldn't spend a second reminiscing about our time together. I hope you won't do that either.”

An awful time together? Really? I broke my back pleasing him and all that was…awful?

He was done talking and headed upstairs, not giving me the chance to tell him what I was yearning to.

High-pitched laughter echoed from his room, and soon Carolina was squealing the walls of the house down with her pleasure cries.

Listening to that felt like I was stabbing my heart with a dagger. It was the most torturous sound ever and there was no way I'd survive the night if I listened to that all night.

So with the last shred of strength in me, I went to my room and packed up my things. I came downstairs and signed my part of the divorce file.

When I was dragging my two suitcases to the door, it opened and Jaden, Brent's Beta, walked inside. He reeked of alcohol but he didn't seem very drunk.

He froze, staring at my luggage with confused eyes. “Are you going somewhere?”

I tried smiling but failed miserably. Tears were rushing down my face like a waterfall. I took off my wedding ring and gave it to him.

“Take care of Brent, as you've always done.”

I didn't wait for his response before I dragged my suitcase out of the building, saying my painful goodbye to the only man I'll ever love.