004

Evelyn's POV

I forgot to breathe at that moment as I stood frozen in the doorway. Seated there, like a king on his throne, was the man who had broken my life into a thousand irredeemable pieces.

Tyler Blackwood.

His emerald eyes sprang lazily up to mine. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He settled back into the chair, one leg crossed over the other, with that effortless air of authority which had drawn me to him initially.

Black, tailored suiting fitted him sleek on his tall, muscular body and dark hair a casually unkempt air, tousled with intention.

“Evelyn,” he drawled, a low, smooth baritone that sent a shiver of reaction up my spine. “It's been a while.”

“What in the world do you think you're doing here?” I snapped, sharper than I'd meant to. My hands were clenching hard at my sides, my pulse hammering loudly in my ears.

He slouched forward, dropping his elbows to his knees. That smirk had deepened to impregnate even his eyes.

“Is that how you should be received by your kids' dad?”

The world lurched. I rocked back onto my heels, grabbing onto the frame of the doorway to prop up my body, “What-wha-”

“I think you heard me very clearly,” he said, with a voice devoid of emotion — virtually smug, considering the shock and horror written across my face.

“No, no, no.” I jerked my head from side to side, and the room whirled with it. “No, can't be. No way—”

“It's possible.” The ice-cold certainty in his voice, dropping an octave lower, clipped off my stammering; he uncoiled from his chair to his full height. His presence swallowed the room, started to choke me. “I ran your records twice. You're carrying my pups, Evelyn.”

“Babies?” My voice broke on the word, I felt nauseous, I felt like hitting him and throwing him out. I also felt angry at myself for letting him affect me this way.

Anger and outrage billowed up in me, strangling my heart. I recoiled, backing away, reaching to take it back, undo it. “You came here just to gloat? To collect what's owed to you as if I'm some piece of damned property?”

“Not exactly,” He said, then took a step towards me.

My eyes glow in anger as I watch him take another step nearer, the shadow flames leaping higher in his eyes. “I'm here to offer you a choice,” he said, but I shook my head, the bitterness in my voice sorely improper with the tears I felt churning up into my eyes. “Call that a choice?” I said. “You really think I want those babies—much less if it were yours?”

Tyler's jaw clamped. His smirk disappeared. “You're not getting rid of them,” he growled, low and flat.

My eyes narrowed. “Really? And what right are you inserting your foot into my business?” The voice rose almost to a shriek, shuddering heavily with rage.

He nodded to the door. In walked two men in black suits, bearing three large duffel bags and a file folder. Those they put down on the table then silently left.

“What the fuck is all this?” I asked, peering suspiciously at the duffel bags.

“Three million,” Tyler said, as if that was nothing. He held out to me, hand holding out the folder for me to take it. “And a contract. Come back with me to the pack. Raise the pups there.”

I gawked at him, shocked and stunned, the insult slapped in by the impact. It was outrageous, he thought he could buy me, my life, my decisions, and my freedom.

“You crazy man!,” I snarled with rage, shuddering.

Before I knew it, I had slapped him in the face. He didn't even blink or move as my palm hit him, the slap ringing out in the room. Only his head recoiled, turned, but then slowly came back to face me, his expression unchanging.

“Feeling better?” he asked, indifferent once more.

“Get out,” I spat, shaking with anger. "Get out of my house!” then I suddenly smile, “Does that Mistress of yours know you are here?

He didn't move. Instead, his eyes blazed into mine as he straightened his tie. “My wife knows I'm here.”

I froze, the words slapping me in the

Face. “What?”

“She's well aware,” he sneered. “And unlike you, she knows her place.”

The brazen audacity of his suggestion sent a whole new tide of outrage flooding through me. “Oh, does she? Well, let's find out what she has to say when I tell her you're here… with me.”

He laughed, dark. “Go ahead. Though I doubt your husband will like that.”

The room was silent. My heart hammered in my chest. Husband?

“Yes, Tyler. My husband.” The lie fell from the lips with surprising ease. I straightened my shoulders, meeting his arrogant stare with one of my own. “He'll be home any minute. I'm sure he'll have a lot to say about your little proposal.”

For the first time, a flicker of doubt crossed Tyler's face. He didn't speak for a moment, his eyes narrowing.

“Think about it,” he said finally, grabbing the contract. “I’ll be in touch.”

I shut the door behind him, and my legs almost buckled from what had transpired. Tyler Blackwood was here, in my home, behaving like he still had some kind of claim over me, over my life. My hand trembled as I snatched my phone and dialed the one person who'd been my lifeline through the last two years.

“Eve?” Alex's low voice was familiar, his tone even and soothing.

“I need you,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady.

“What's going on?”

I dropped onto the edge of the couch, the phone clutched in my hand as I told him everything: how Tyler had just appeared out of thin air, laying claim to the babies and offering me that ridiculous contract. “He… he brought money, Alex. Three million. Like I'm some damn surrogate for hire!”

Alex didn't say a word for a long time, and in that silence, I could feel his thoughts weighing heavy. “Evelyn,” he finally said in soft but sure words, “I know you hate him, but it's not fair that the babies—are not at fault here."

I bit my lips, and tears streamed down my face. “I know,” I choked. “But they're his. Every time I think about it, I want to vomit. How can I do this, Alex?”

“You don't have to do it alone,” he said.

“If you want, I'll help. We'll figure this out together.”

“What are you saying?”

“I'll play the part of your husband,” he said simply. “Let him continue to think you're already taken. It'll give you leverage.”

A shaky laugh escaped me despite myself. “You're crazy, you know that?”

“Maybe,” he said with a grin in his voice. “But I'm not letting you face him alone. I'll protect you, Eve. Always.”

I swallowed hard, heat filling my chest at his words. “Thanks, Alex,” I whispered. “I don't know what I'd do without you.”

****************** ***************

The phone rang the next day. It was Tyler. I hesitated for a bit, then picked it up.

“What's it going to be?” His voice was as chilly and authoritative as before.

I sucked in a deep breath, clenching my fingers on the phone. “My husband doesn't exactly like the idea of bringing up another man's baby,” I said levelly, "but we're willing to accept your proposal. So tell me… What’s the deal?”

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost feel his incredulity.

“Your… husband?” he repeated, his voice brittle.

“Yes,” I said firmly. “My husband. He'll be coming with me.”

More silence. Then, "Fine. My men will come to escort you both. And when you come, we will talk about it!”

The line went dead, and I let out a shaky breath, my heart hammering.

A sleek black car pulled up outside my house later that afternoon. Alex stood beside me, his hand on my lower back, as we walked out, and his presence kept me grounded.

“You ready for this?” he asked, looking at me from under his lashes.

I shook my head. “Not even a little.”

He smiled and, by the feel of it, there was an exuding quiet confidence rolling off him—the opposite of the storm rolling inside me. “Just follow my lead.”

We pulled up to the familiar place. The same place that brought me joy once then became like a nightmare to me.

Tyler waited by the door, his laser-sharp eyes fixing straight onto mine the moment he spotted me.

“So, this is the husband,” he said coolly as he sized up Alex.

Alex smiled easily and stuck out his hand. “Alex Carter,” he added in a casual tone while standing firm in resolve.

Tyler completely overlooked the greeting as he strained his jaw tight.

“Let's just get this over with,” he said harshly as he spun on the heel of one loafer and stalked inside.

And then, She came in—.

“Well, well,” Alicia said, entering the room with a smug grin. “Look whose back.”

Her eyes raked over me like I was something disgusting that she had just found stuck to her shoe.

“Nice seeing you too, Alicia,” I said, keeping it icy.

She snorted and crossed her arms. “I'm surprised you had the guts to show your face here. Let me guess—you're back to beg?”

I never got the chance to say anything because Alex stepped forward. His face calm yet authoritative, he said, “She's here for the kids. Nothing else.”

Alicia's eyes narrowed. “And you are?”

“Her Husband,” Alex replied as he slid an arm around my waist.

Alicia's smirk fell off her face when shock and anger took its place. “Husband?” she spat. “Since when does a rogue get to—”

“That's enough,” Tyler cut in, voice like a whip-crack.

But Alicia would not have that. She took another step closer to me. “You think you can just stroll in here and play house with my husband?”

I stood up, and my fury exploded to the top. “How funny,” I said with an ice-sharp tone. “I don't remember ever asking for your opinion, Alicia. And so far as I'm concerned, Tyler stopped being my problem the day that I left.”

“You—”

The door slammed open.

All eyes turned as a tall figure strode into the room, his emerald eyes blazing.

Christian Blackwood.

He paused as his gaze locked onto me, and his lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.

“Well,” he said, his voice smooth and laced with intrigue. “What do we have here?”