Chapter 24

EVANGELINE

A refusal was at the tip of my tongue.

Six hundred thousand was a shit ton of money, but it wasn’t enough to keep me in this marriage, not for a moment longer. I couldn’t take any more of the insults and the disrespect that Alex dished out.

“Please think about this,” she continued, stepping closer to me.

She took my hand in hers and squeezed softly. Her smile was soft and disarming, the kind that reminded you of a mother’s love.

“You know I always considered you a daughter. I was so happy when you decided to marry Alex because I knew you were a good girl. You are family, Eva, and if you agree to do this, then you will have my family’s protection. You know how invaluable it is. You’ll need it when you go back home.”

She was winning me over until that last sentence. I snatched my hand away from hers and took a step back.

“What do you mean I’ll need it?”

She didn’t even hesitate before speaking. “You know that once you divorce him, you won’t have my family name to protect you.