CHAPTER 6

EVELYN

I stiffened at the sound of Julian's voice.

For a second, none of us moved. Viktor's hand remained lightly at my side, steadying me after I nearly slipped. There was nothing possessive about his touch. He was simply making sure I stayed on my feet.

Julian stormed toward us, fury written all over his face. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched. He looked ready to throw a punch.

Then he saw Viktor.

Everything changed.

The anger vanished so quickly it barely seemed real. His shoulders stiffened, and the fire in his eyes gave way to something I had never expected to see.

Fear.

"U-Uncle Viktor."

Viktor regarded him with cold, piercing blue eyes. His expression remained unreadable.

Julian forced an awkward smile. "I... I didn't know it was you. I'm sorry for raising my voice." He cleared his throat before asking carefully, "Why... why did you send my wife home?"

I noticed Julian's gaze drop to Viktor's hand, still resting lightly at my side. Without waiting for an answer, he stepped forward and gently pulled me to him.

"Thank you," he said politely. "But she's my wife. I'll take care of her."

He drew me close as though he had something to prove. I wished I could snap his filthy hands in two.

Viktor held his gaze for a long moment. One eyebrow lifted ever so slightly.

"Leaving your wife stranded in the pouring rain..." he said in a calm, even voice. "That's how you take care of her?"

Silence.

Julian blinked. His gaze slowly shifted to me. Only then did he seem to notice how soaked I was. Wet strands of hair clung to my face. My blouse was still damp despite Viktor's coat shielding me during the drive. Water dripped from my shoes onto the pavement.

His brows drew together.

"Evelyn..." he said softly. "What happened?"

I looked away. I didn't have the strength to explain.

His lips parted as though he wanted to say something else, but no words came. He rubbed the back of his neck, searching for something to say, but nothing came.

Viktor didn't wait for him. He turned and walked back toward his car, every step steady and unhurried. There was something effortless about the way he carried himself. He never demanded attention, yet somehow everyone gave it to him.

Before getting into the car, he looked at me. "Take care of yourself, Evelyn."

A moment later, the black car disappeared down the street. The silence it left behind felt strangely heavy.

Julian stood there, watching until the car was completely out of sight. Then he turned to me. "From now on, keep your distance from other men," he said. "Even Uncle Viktor."

I stared at him. For a second, I wondered if I'd heard him correctly. Then I almost laughed.

The man who had gotten another woman pregnant… The man who couldn't seem to stay away from another woman's bed… Was standing here warning me to keep my distance from other men.

The irony was almost laughable.

I didn't argue. There was no point. This would all be over soon. I just needed to play along a little longer.

The moment we stepped into our bedroom, I headed straight for the wardrobe. Every step felt heavy. My damp clothes clung to my skin, and the cold from the rain had settled deep into my bones.

I reached for a towel. Before my fingers could touch it, Julian slipped his arms around me from behind and pulled me gently against his chest. His familiar scent surrounded me.

Months ago, that scent would have made me smile. Now it only made my stomach twist.

"Babe," he murmured.

I closed my eyes. "What?"

He rested his chin on my shoulder. "Mom got me thinking today." His voice was quiet. "Let's try for a baby again."

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

He brushed a kiss against my neck before whispering, "I've always wanted a child with you."

My chest tightened.

How could he say those words? How could he stand here talking about our future while another woman was carrying his child?

I gently removed his hands and turned to face him. Hope filled his eyes.

"Not today," I said.

He frowned. "Why?"

I forced myself to meet his eyes. "I'm on my period."

The lie came easily. There was no way I was letting him touch me. Not after everything.

Disappointment flickered across his face, but he didn't argue. Instead, he nodded. "Okay."

He sat on the edge of the bed and reached for his phone. I picked up a dry set of clothes and started toward the bathroom. Halfway there, I remembered I'd left my moisturizer on the bedside table.

I turned back. Julian was so absorbed in his phone that he didn't notice me. He must have thought I'd already gone into the bathroom.

His phone vibrated. He tapped the screen. Chloe's picture appeared. She smiled at the camera, wearing revealing lingerie.

I looked away before I could see anything else. A wave of disgust washed over me.

His gaze lingered on the screen far longer than it should have. Then he shot to his feet.

"Oh..." He flinched. "You scared me."

He cleared his throat. "I just remembered I have some work to finish. I'll be back later."

Of course.

Work.

That was what he called it now.

I simply nodded. He didn't notice the bitterness behind my smile. Or maybe he chose not to.

A minute later, I heard his car pull out of the driveway.

~~~

The next few days passed quietly. Too quietly. Julian never came home. Not once. Every evening ended with the same excuse. A business dinner. An emergency meeting. An important client.

I already knew the truth.

The anonymous messages never stopped. Every day, Chloe found a new way to remind me that she had him.

Sometimes she sent a picture of flowers he'd bought for her. Sometimes it was a photo of the expensive restaurants they visited. Other times, she described how he'd spoiled her or how they'd spent the day together.

I never replied. Not once. What would be the point?

She wanted a reaction. She wanted proof that she was hurting me. I refused to give her that satisfaction. Instead, I focused on something else. Leaving.

Every evening, once it was clear Julian wasn't coming home, I packed another piece of my life. One drawer. Then another. My books. My clothes. Old photographs. The few things that truly belonged to me. I folded each one carefully before placing it inside my suitcase.

Ten years.

It was strange how six years of dating and four years of marriage could fit into just a few suitcases.

I zipped another suitcase shut. Just then, my phone rang. The hospital.

My heart lurched. A knot formed in my stomach before I answered.

"H-Hello?"

"Mrs. Sullivan?" the nurse asked urgently.

"Yes."

"I'm sorry to inform you, but your mother's condition has suddenly become worse."

The suitcase slipped from my fingers and crashed onto the floor."What?"

"We need you to come to the hospital immediately."