Evelyn's POV Stepping out of the hospital and into the familiar air felt strangely liberating, even with the dull ache still present in my head. Dylan’s hand was a reassuring warmth in mine as we walked towards the house. Helen opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Dylan standing beside me.“Mom,” I began, “this is Dylan.” Then, turning to him, “Dylan, this is my mother, Helen.”My mom’s initial surprise melted into a warm smile. “It’s lovely to finally meet you, Dylan.”“The pleasure is all mine, Helen,” he replied, his voice polite and sincere.“Dylan will be staying with us for a while, Mom,” I added, watching her reaction.“Oh, of course, dear,” she said without hesitation. “I was just about to show him the room Francis used to…”“Actually, Mom,” I interjected gently, “Dylan will be staying in my room.”A flash of confusion crossed her face before Dylan stepped in smoothly. “Helen,” he said, his arm slipping around my waist, pulling me gently against him
Evelyn's POV My mind reeled, his question hanging in the air, laced with a vulnerability I hadn't heard from him before. "What... What do you mean, Dylan?" I stammered, unable to process the unexpected shift in the conversation. Sugar baby? The term felt jarring, out of place after the profound revelations he had just shared.He looked down, a shadow crossing his features. "I gave it all up, Ev
Evelyn's POV "At first," Dylan continued, his voice a low rumble, "I was completely alone in it. Our parents... they loved me, yes. But Lucy... she was relentless. Cruel." He finally met my gaze, and the pain in his eyes was a stark reflection of the suffering he described."It started as bullying," he explained, a bitter edge creeping into his tone. "Typical sibling stuff, I tried to endure it
Evelyn's POV A dull throb pulsed behind my eyes as a hazy awareness seeped back into me. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, a stark contrast to the cloying sweetness I vaguely remembered. Blinking, my vision swam into focus, revealing the pale green walls of a hospital room. And then I saw him. Dylan.He was slumped in a chair beside the bed, his face etched with a weariness th
Dylan's POV The phone call finally came, the ringtone slicing through the suffocating silence of my office. My men. They had found her. Relief, sharp and intense, flooded through me, momentarily eclipsing the gnawing fear. They rattled off an address – a villa perched on the highest point of the island – and asked if I needed backup. “No,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremor in my hands. “I can handle it.” I hung up, adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Evelyn's POV A wave of nausea washed over me as I blinked my eyes open. My head throbbed, each pulse a hammer blow against my skull. The room swam into focus, and a chill deeper than any physical cold seized me. It was…the room. That room. The one from years ago. The air itself seemed to vibrate with a malevolent energy, a suffocating reminder of the horror I had tried so desperately to bury.