Chapter Five: Marriage Is A Curse

~Eve pov~

I went straight on my knees the moment those words left his mouth, nobody knew that my father was Steve Cole, the arsonist that made it to the news that year for setting a company on fire, with five people injured, and one dead—Logan’s brother. I did my best to run away from it, I was twelve when it happened, and I hated my father for it. I asked him why he did it countless times, but he refused to say a word to me. So, I cut ties with him, I even changed my name from Sarah Cole to Eve. 

“I’m really sorry Logan….I’m really sorry.” I begged, letting tears fall freely from my face. 

I saw his eyes drift to my desk, and he slowly picked up the revenge draft I was making before he walked in. “You want to get revenge on your ex-husband, when you are the one that should be exiled from the rest of us? Is that not pathetically hilarious?” He mocked me, but I couldn’t get mad at him. He had no idea about what I went through in that house, but his pain must have been worse than mine since he lost his brother and his father’s company was ruined too. 

“I spoke to Brian, and he told me everything about you—your lies, your promiscuity and your infertility, the reason why his mother hated you. You are just like your father, aren’t you?” He said, pointing his finger directly in my face. And I had to admit that I was scared of him at that point. 

“You are afraid of me right?” He walked round the table, sitting on the chair across from me. “That’s how it should be. Do you know how much I hate your father, hoping that he perishes alongside his family. But here you are—living like a queen, about to bag the youngest and finest billionaire as your husband. Fuckkk!!” He screamed out in frustration.  

“Let’s cancel the wedding if that will make you feel better.” I said, remaining glued to my knees.

He let out a sinister laugh, “We are getting married Eve.” I shot him a surprised look. 

“That pathetic life you tried so hard to run away from, I’m going to deliver it to you on a platter of Gold.” He said, standing up to leave. 

I sprang up to my feet and blocked his way, “No, you can’t do that Logan. Please, I'm begging you.” I clasped my palms together, hoping he would see the desperation in my eyes. 

“If you have any ounce of conscience, Eve, then you’ll marry me. Are you not afraid of Arthur finding out? Do you want to be back on the street, homeless?” He pushed me out of his way, leaving me on the ground while I cried till I was tired. 

I hate my father, I hate him so much that I wish he would just go to hell. It was because of him my mother died, and now—just when I was about to start a better life, his deeds are back to haunt me.  

I was approaching my car in the underground garage when I heard the sounds of heels clinking behind me. I turned to see who it was. 

“Morgan?” I asked, looking at her, I couldn’t even tell what her hair color was exactly. She was in blue and black the last time I saw her. 

“Hello Eve, it must have been tough.” She removed her glasses from her eyes. 

“What?” I snapped. 

“Your fiance figuring out you are the daughter of his brother’s murderer.” She said in a mocking tone. 

“Don’t you think it’s bold of you to show your face here after what you did to me?” I asked, trying to hide the fact that I was affected by her discovery. I wondered how many other people knew about it. 

“I’m just here to warn you to stay away from Brian, if not I’ll do more than just spreading rumors about you next time. You know what I mean.” She used her thumb to draw a line over her neck. 

At that point, I wasn’t afraid of her, if there was something I could wish for, it would be death.

“I want nothing to do with your sterile husband, Morgan.” I said, unlocking my car.

“You are the sterile one, bitch.” She barked, taking a few steps closer to me. 

I gave her a mischievous smile, “How long have you been with Brian now? Two years? Why are you not pregnant yet? Or are you also sterile like me? Morgan, your husband has clearly been shooting blank shots.” I saw how my questions and insinuation got to her. I drove off without listening to her rants anymore. 

I drove straight to the penitentiary, and requested to see my father. 

“Sarah…what are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in 12 years.” My father said with teary eyes. 

“Why?’’ I paused, trying to catch my breath to avoid getting a panic attack. “Why did you have to pop out of nowhere again, just to ruin my life? Why do I have to live a miserable life just because I’m your daughter?” I asked bitterly, tears rolling down my face. 

“Sarah….” He touched the glass separating us with shaky hands. 

“You are never going to see me again.” I left him there. 

******

I was walking down the aisle with Arthur, my adopted father. We were not facing a mirror, but I could tell how beautiful we both looked together—if only he was my birth father. 

“You are so beautiful Eve, you are indeed my daughter.” He said, his smile wider than his cheeks. 

“I’m flattered Arthur. Thank you for being a good father, I won’t let you down.” I assured him, giving him a halfhearted smile. 

“Don’t worry, Logan is a good man, he’ll treat you well.” I nodded in agreement. 

Logan I was indeed a good man, but my father’s existence ruined him, and I bet he’ll treat me anything but well. 

“Do you, Logan Maxwell, take Eve Craig as your lawful wife, to love, cherish, and to obey, in good times or bad times, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse?” The officiator asked Logan. 

After what felt like five minutes of silence, “Yes…I do.” He let out a sigh after, like he just did something he’d regret for life. 

“Do you, Eve Craig, take Logan Maxwell as your lawful husband, to love, cherish, and to obey, in good times or bad times, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse?”

I didn’t think twice, “Yes, I do.” I said, staring directly into Logan’s eyes when all I could see in them was hatred. 

“You may now kiss your bride.” 

Logan leaned in close to me, his lips close to mine. “Welcome to hell, Eve.” He whispered before his lips crashed on mine.