Chapter 2

Warren's face turned thunderously black after hearing that. His dark eyes bore into Evelyn as he said, "I told you that I would never get married. If you couldn't abide by my terms, then you shouldn't have agreed in the first place."

Evelyn's eyes turned red out of anger. "It used to be just the two of us. But now, it's become three people."

"You don't have to worry about her."

Evelyn laughed bitterly at herself. "One call from her, and you abandon me without ever caring if I was dead or alive. Warren Larkin, tell me, how can I not worry about her?"

Anger surfaced in Warren's eyes as he said, "Evelyn Jefferson! It was just period cramps! Why are you making such a huge fuss about it?"

"What if I told you I was pregnant?"

"Don't threaten me with a baby. I used protection every single time!"

Warren's voice was icy and resolute.

If the baby had survived, he would have made her get an abortion anyway.

The tiny spark of hope in Evelyn died down almost immediately. She clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms. Then, she tilted her head up and smiled bitterly at him.

"You said that we'd only talk about feelings and not marriage. You also said that if one of us got sick of the relationship, then we could end things on a good note with each other.

"Warren Larkin, I'm sick of our relationship. Let's break up."

Evelyn went straight to the point. Nobody else knew how much of a heartbreak she was suffering from at the moment.

The veins on the back of Warren's hands popped. He glared fiercely at Evelyn and said, "Do you know the consequences behind that sentence?"

"I know that saying that makes you unhappy, but I'm tired, Warren. I don't want a love triangle."

She'd been too naïve in the past. She thought that as long as they loved each other, it didn't matter whether they got married.

She was proven wrong now, however. Warren's heart never belonged to her in the first place.

Warren grabbed Evelyn's chin. "Are you using this as a threat to force me into marrying you? Evelyn Jefferson, I've underestimated you. You think too highly of yourself."

Evelyn looked at him with disappointment in her eyes. "I don't care what you think. I'm moving out of here today."

With that, she got up from bed and prepared to leave. However, Warren pulled her into his arms and forcefully pressed his lips against hers.

His low voice was laced with coldness and hostility as he said, "Are you not worried about the Jeffersons falling to ruin after you leave? You exchanged everything with three years of your life, after all."

Evelyn stared at him in disbelief with her huge, round eyes. She was mindblown.

"What do you mean by exchanging three years of my life? Explain properly!"

Warren lightly and absent-mindedly traced the bite mark on her lips. A mocking smile hung on his lips.

"You put on a whole act to get me to save you and then wanted to be with me even though I told you I'd never marry you. Wasn't it all because you wanted me to help your dad save the Jefferson family? What other reason is there to explain yourself otherwise?"

It was true that the Jeffersons had been facing some financial difficulties three years ago. And after Evelyn got together with Warren, he'd given her family many business opportunities that helped save her family business and put them back on track.

At that time, Evelyn had thought that Warren helped her family because he liked her and truly wanted to help.

Evelyn's lips quivered as she asked, "So, all these years, you'd only been pretending to like me? You've never truly had any feelings for me at all?"

Warren got angry when Evelyn put it that way. The veins in his temples popped out in anger as he gritted his teeth and growled, "It's nothing but a game involving sex, and you reap its benefits. Did you think I'd put any feelings into this kind of relationship?"

This was more than enough to rip Evelyn's heart in two. She'd put her all into the last three years and given herself wholly to Warren, only to be treated as someone who sold herself for her family.

She was the only one who ever thought that he truly loved her.

The more she thought of this, the more Evelyn felt as if she was ripped to shreds by some random wild animal. The pain in her eyes gradually turned into ice.

"Then, I guess three years of my life is more than enough to repay you for everything you've done, Mr. Larkin. From today onward, I owe you nothing. And we will each go our separate ways and have nothing to do with each other anymore!"

Warren's face turned darker and darker as he stared at Evelyn's stubborn expression.

"Evelyn, you have one night to make up your mind. You'd better think it through before giving me your final answer!"

Warren then left in anger, leaving Evelyn curled up in bed. She couldn't stop her tears from falling down her cheeks.

She'd liked him for seven years and had taken care of him for three. As it turned out, Warren had thought it was nothing but part of an unspeakable arrangement between them both.

She'd lost in this twisted game of love and lust because she first developed feelings for him. Also, it wasn't fair that she'd already been in love with him four years prior.

She was utterly defeated this time.

After she was done crying her eyes out, Evelyn took out her suitcase, packed up a few of her things, and left without looking back.

…

Warren's black Cullinan weaved through the quiet streets like lightning. His mind kept replaying the determined look on Evelyn's face when she told him she wanted to break up with him.

And it was all because he didn't accompany her on her birthday. She wanted to break up with him because she was jealous.

It seemed as if he would have to teach her a lesson to control that temper of hers.

Warren was so mad that he tore off his necktie and threw it aside.

His phone rang for a while before he finally answered the call.

"Talk."

A lazy, nonchalant voice sounded on the other end of the line. "Whatcha doing? Why did it take so long for you to pick up?"

"Busy with stuff."

Ethan Xavier cackled and asked, "Busy fucking who, Ms. Jefferson? Did I call at an inappropriate timing?"

"Are you fucking done?"

"Nah, I'm just asking if you're still coming to Nightfall Bar. Chet said he's footing the bill for everyone."

Ten minutes later, Warren found himself at Nightfall Bar. Ethan handed a glass of alcohol to him with an evil grin on his face.

"Your face is darker than a black hole. What's the matter? Evelyn breaking up with you?"

Warren glared at him and growled, "Never heard of couples quarreling but getting back together even closer than ever before?"

"Oh? Isn't that just you falling for her? You like her, don't you?"

Ethan's teasing tone, coupled with the evil smile on his face, made Warren kick him in the legs. "Fuck off!"

"Fine, I'll fuck off. But don't say I never warned you. If you really like Evelyn, then you'd better make things clear between you and Clara. Don't go running after just because she gave you a phone call. Don't you come crawling to me crying when you've finally lost your little wifey for good."

Warren frowned hard. "I told her she didn't have to worry about Clara. But Evelyn refused to believe me."

"I don't think any woman would ever believe you. You grew up with Clara and were engaged with each other since young. But have you ever met a woman who wouldn't mind her partner always running over to his old flame whenever he liked?"

Warren took out a cigarette from its box and lit it up before taking a deep puff. His eyes grew darker as he said, "She and I both—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the door to the room was pushed open. Chet Sullivan appeared with Clara in tow.

"Sorry guys. Clara wasn't feeling well, so I brought her along. Hope you both don't mind."

Ethan looked at Warren, whose face was blacker than thunder, and chuckled softly.

"Of course we wouldn't mind. She's your sister after all, and therefore we're all one big family. Clara, come here and sit next to me."

Clara had a bright, pure smile on her face. It didn't look like she was scheming at all. "But you're sitting right under the air conditioning vent. That's too cold for me. I'll just sit here."

She sat down right next to Warren and took out a small box, giving it to him. "I made you miss your girlfriend's birthday the last time you came to save me. I hope she's still not too mad at you."

"She's not," Warren answered softly.

"Ah, that's a relief. This is a lipstick I bought for her as an apology. I hope I can explain things to her personally if there's any misunderstanding."

Warren didn't even look at the box before rejecting her. "No need for that."

Clara's eyes teared up when she heard this.

"Warren, are you blaming me for always interrupting your time with her? I didn't mean it. It's just that every time my illness acts up, I keep wanting to call you for help."

Big, fat tears then started rolling down her cheeks.

Warren looked at her and frowned deeply. He took the lipstick and pocketed it, saying in a low voice, "I'll take it in her place."

Clara's eyes lit up at once. She grinned widely as she poured out a glass of wine for him.

"Warren, try this wine. My brother got it from an international auction. It's from the year 1982 too!"

When she passed the glass to Warren, her fingers touched his wrist lightly. Warren immediately avoided her and stubbed the cigarette in the ashtray nearby. He then replied faintly, "Put it there."

Clara's eyes flashed icily when she saw him being so opposed to her touches. However, she quickly resumed her pure and innocent façade.

Chet clinked glasses with Warren and said, "I still haven't seen your girlfriend before. I'd like to meet her someday."

Ethan snickered. "I don't think that's possible. They've been quarreling for a bit."

Chet looked at Warren's dark look and laughed. He said, "It's fine if you're just quarreling because you'll still be able to coax her in the end. Just don't be like the husband of that poor young woman I saved the other day.

"She miscarried and was bleeding so much, but he just wouldn't pick up her calls. I heard that he was with another woman at that time."