CHAPTER 1: Hope Is A Dangerous Thing.

Evelyn Rowe.

“Can I?” Victor asked me with pleading eyes, from his position on the bed. He was kneeling right between my slick thighs which were being held in his hands.

“Evey…” he moaned out when my legs trembled in his hold. 

I nodded vigorously to answer the question he had asked, and his head immediately dipped as he licked the juices from my pussy.

I reacted spontaneously, thrashing around as my hand went to his head. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pull him off or keep him there, because as much as I was enjoying it, I was also really sensitive.

“Victor…” I managed to say, panting heavily, “I need you inside me now.”

His reaction, however, wasn’t what I expected. Because his face suddenly turned cruel as he laughed out loud. 

My heart started to beat really fast, and that was when I woke up to find Victor standing at the foot of my bed, laughing mockingly at me.

Oh my gosh, how long had he been standing there?

I was soaked in sweat and I tried to get up from the bed, but a sharp stabbing pain in my belly stopped me, reminding me that I had a miscarriage that morning.

“Were you just having a sex dream about me?” Victor asked once he stopped laughing. If I thought the laughter had hurt me before, the disgust in his voice right now was like a knife plunged in my heart. 

I swallowed my tears because if there was one thing that Victor hated, it was seeing my tears. According to him, they made him feel like he was treating me badly. 

‘As if he’s not,’ I scoffed internally.

“Did you hear me, wench?” He yelled at me, making me jerk out of my thoughts.

“I.. I’m sorry. It was just a bad dream,” I replied, hoping he would drop it.

My body couldn’t take another beating. I was still dealing with the pain of this morning's beating that led to the loss of my baby. 

“Hurry and dress up. Make sure you use something to cover all that…” he motioned to my bruised eyes. 

I swallowed. 

Yet another banquet where I’ll be forced to be the happy wife of Victor Blackthorn while he fraternizes with his countless mistresses. What a nightmare. 

He walked off without another word, and I was actually relieved. I managed to get myself out of the bed and went to take a shower. 

My whole body was sore and really painful, but I pushed through it. 

When I was done, I sat with my makeup collection, trying to find a way to cover the bruise on my eye. It would really be weird if I wore sunglasses to the banquet.

However, while I was trying to fit into my dress in a way that wouldn’t irritate the bruises on my stomach, my door suddenly burst wide open and a very angry Victor entered.

“What are you still doing in here? How long does it take for you to fucking get ready?” He yelled.

“Sorry,” I whimpered, hurriedly getting the dress on. I was shocked he was actually waiting for me. 

Normally, he leaves earlier so he can have the time to fuck one of his mistresses before the party, and I take another car to the event. After all, I’m only there for appearances. 

The only time we had gone to a banquet together was after we got married, and he spent the night showing me off. I considered myself lucky then, only to discover that everything was a facade.

 So why was he waiting for me today?

Grabbing my purse, I hurried after him with hope springing in my chest. Maybe things were getting better, after all.

But I had forgotten that hope is a dangerous thing that kills.

***

The Blackthorn Annual Banquet was going great. For the first time in months, I was the lady in Victor Blackthorn’s arms and he treated me with such respect that I had begun to forget the atrocities he had committed. 

It was finally time for his speech as the CEO and as soon as his name was called, he turned to me and whispered softly, “Join me on stage?”

I was taken aback by the softness in his voice, but I didn’t think too much into it. Maybe he felt bad about the loss of our baby and wanted to make it up to me.

I beamed and took his hand as I climbed onto the stage with him.

“I want to start by thanking you all for being here to celebrate our annual banquet,” Victor started. 

I stood awkwardly by the side, not knowing what to do with my hands so I put them behind me as I listened to him speak.

I was already beginning to imagine how good things were finally going to be between Victor and me, so I barely registered his words until he said my name.

“Most of you know my wife, Evelyn Blackthorn…” he paused and motioned to me with his hands. Not knowing what else to do, I smiled and waved my hands.

“Honestly speaking, she has been a great source of misery in my life lately,” he continued and my smile dropped, alongside my hands.

What? I thought. This can’t be happening to me.

“We announced her pregnancy to the media a while ago, which is why I find it appropriate to inform you all that she’s no longer pregnant.”

I swallowed hard, wishing this nightmare would end. This was a new level of low.

“She miscarried this morning, and I’m pissed. This might sound outrageous but she’s of no use to me if she can’t even give birth to an heir. She just sits at home all day doing nothing, except spending my money,” he stated.

The audience laughed and some even shouted “gold digger.” 

I turned to leave the stage but Victor’s bodyguard held me in place. That’s when it dawned on me that this was pre-planned.

My belly suddenly felt like it was tearing to pieces, and tears streamed down my face in public for the first time in my life; as I looked at my devilish husband who continued his speech nonchalantly.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not divorcing her. She might still be useful…” a few scattered laughs followed that statement. “I mean, some people might want my leftovers. After all, she’s not that bad looking, ri—?”

“That’s enough,” a deep voice came from behind as the door slammed open, and that was the last thing I heard before blackness took over.