Chapter # 2

...Even if you are not here but your very existence resides deep within my soul- A source of Salvation for me...

Evelyn POV:-

"SHAWN!!" 

I heard Aunt Kyla's voice. 

“What the-” Adrian paused, we both turned to them, perturbed immensely by the sudden scream, gaining attention.

Uncle was on the ground panting heavily. We rushed to his side, worried about his condition.

"Father!" Both brothers yelled and began to rub Uncle's hand.

"Adrian! Call an Ambulance!" Lawrence said, panicking. 

Adrian nodded and stood up to call an ambulance. Father also came and bent and held Uncle's hand.

"Edward... Everything is ruined..." Uncle said as tears formed a screen in his eyes. 

Looking at him like that I also began to cry.

“Uncle…” I sniffled, worried about his worsening state.

I have never seen him cry before looking at him like that breaks my heart. Father began to rub Uncle's back.

"Don't worry, Shawn. I am here." Father said reassuringly.

"Nothing can save it... No one can save my lost respect now.." 

Uncle was panting heavily as his face was filled with tears. Lawrence and Adrian are also at the verge of crying.

"Don't say that, Father!" Lawrence finally broke and cried. 

Looking at them my heart sank as uncontrollable tears fell from my eyes.

 “Please, Uncle, be alright. Don’t say it.” I whispered, tensed.

Lawrence and Father helped Uncle to move and shifted him to a room. My crying mess form walked towards Adrian's extremely stressed form.

"What happened, Adrian? Did you call?" I asked, tensed..

".. There's too much traffic out there. I have called our family doctor instead of the ambulance. He'll be here at any moment.." He said running his hands in his hair. 

I looked down and wiped my tears. “How could this happen? Why?” I whispered, leaning back, wiping my tears.

"How can this happen, Evelyn!?” He raised his voice, slamming his hand on the wall, startling me for a second.

“A-Adrian?” I called him hesitantly.

“Everything was going as it should. Soon Brother was about to get married. Everything was going so smoothly and perfectly.” He growled, turning his head away for a second then back at me.

My heart raced at his intense stare, What happened to him?

“I was about to fix things. Make everything right but now it’s just falling apart.” Adrian said as a tear released from his eye. 

“Fix what?” I asked softly, holding my dress. 

“What I should have, the dreams I broke.” He whispered, taking a step towards me.

“I-I don’t understand.. W-what are you talking about.” I stuttered, turning my head away.

Looking at this wreaking havoc made me dejected. I wish I could do something to help.

“Adr-” I was about to call but he curled his hand in a fist.

“Let’s pray Father recovers quickly.” He breathed out. My lips formed a thin line as I nodded.

“What were you going to say?” I asked.

"Leave it. It’s neither time nor situation. Where's my father?" Adrian asked, turning his head away for a second, disappointment flashing in his eyes.

"Father and Lawrence shifted him in a room." He nodded as we both went to the room.

Uncle is in a crying mess form. Everyone was trying to calm him. I can't look at him in this turmoil. I couldn't bear to stand there, so I walked out and resisted my urge to cry at his vulnerable state.

After a while, The doctor came. He examined Uncle and gave him an analgesic and a few medicines.

"What happened doctor?" Aunt asked.

"He had an anxiety attack. He's already a heart patient. Such attacks are not good for him." Doctor said.

"But what caused it?" Adrian asked. 

A deadly silence fell upon the room. I shivered at this. I wonder what happened. After a few seconds, the doctor nodded and left. 

I stood there dumbfounded about what happened. Aunt called Lawrence and took him somewhere. Adrian and mother stayed with the uncle as Father took me somewhere.

"What happened, father?" I asked.

"Evelyn. Save my brother." Father said, crying. I gulped apprehensively, receiving a bad omen by his word and asked,

"Tell me, Father, what happened?" A truly terrific sensation is surging through me.

"Lawrence's future wife, Emerald, ran away..." Father said, still crying. I was stiff upon hearing this. Just a few moments ago.

I was teasing Lawrence and now. I tried to speak but couldn't. Maybe I understood what father's going to say next and deep in my heart I begged it to be a lie.

"Please Save my brother. Who knows what will happen when he's gonna wake up. Please Marry Lawrence. That's the only thing that can save my brother" My mind went blank. 

I lost my senses. A shallow breath escaped my lips. The feeling that is evoked within me at that moment is inexplicable. I lost my strength as I almost fell on the ground. My eyes widened in horror, shuddering in fright, heart bursting in agony.

‘Marry Adrian's Brother?’

Tears rolled onto my cheeks without any control over them. Before my mind could comprehend what was happening. I heard my father's voice again which shook my very core,

"Please Evelyn. I am begging you. Save my Brother. I beg you, please." 

My hazy mind drowns in the pool of guilt when I see my father begging me.

No matter what I felt but I can't let it happen. My feelings aside, I can't let my father, who has done so much for me, beg me. 

I never begged him and he joined his hands and begged me to save his brother. I felt heartbroken looking at my father like that.

“F-Father?” 

I am not that heartless that for my feelings I would let my uncle die. Maybe it's destiny's path to torment me more by being a part of his life yet being so far from him.

Uncle is like a second father to me. I can't let it happen. 

“P-Please don’t cry. I will do it for you. Please don’t do this.” I whispered, kissing his hand.

“Oh, Thank you, Evelyn. Thank you so much.” He cried, hugging me. I have never seen my Father this desperate before and it shattered my heart.

I mustered some courage and stood up. My trembling legs walked toward the room. My quivering lips let out a shaky voice as I bent on the floor and held Uncle's hand.

"Uncle.." Uncle looked at me and said in a croaked voice.

"Evelyn... Why me? Why my Lawrence? Everything's shattered."

"No, it's not.." My voice came out like a whisper. Father came in and said,

"Shawn. I have a proposal for you." I closed my eyes and let out tears. Uncle let out an empty laugh and said,

"Nothing can save my lost respect now, Edward..." I felt like Uncle had smiled at me and I am too broken to pay attention to it.

"I would like to ask for your Son Lawrence's hand in marriage for my Daughter Evelyn."