Chapter 3 — It’s Not A Big Deal

Evelyn's POV

The disappointment only served to completely exhaust me until I fell asleep. All I could hope for was that the new day would bring something better.

As I felt myself stirring from sleep, semi-aware of the waking world before me, a gentle caress traveled up the side of my body. The presence of someone looming over me barely registered, but it was enough to make my heart race with anticipation.

Then a kiss was planted right along my collarbone. And another at the side of my neck. Then one more right at the ridge of my jaw.

I trembled with pleasure immediately as warmth flooded my body.

"Good morning," a low, husky voice whispered against my skin.

A playful smile curled at my lips. "Mm, good morning, Adrian."

His hand gently grabbed my waist as he pressed his body against mine. "I hope we can finish what we started last night..." He said with his arousal already apparent.

I arched myself into him like the night before, feeling the similar pool of desire gather between my legs. My heart hammered against my chest while excitement thrummed underneath my skin.

But then I remembered our... guest.

Not wanting to get my hopes up, I pushed against Adrian softly before kissing the tip of his nose.

"Maybe we can finish this another time. I don't know if I can take another being interrupted again..."

Adrian chuckled and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I understand. Well, come downstairs then. I made us breakfast but was hoping I could get some dessert first." He winked at me.

I was shocked when I saw the array of meals that lined the kitchen island.

Adrian hardly took the initiative to cook because he didn't like it. Maybe he truly did feel bad about what happened last night...

Adrian pulled out a seat for me and began to assemble my plate. "I hope it's all to your liking. And just so you know, I promise to keep Bianca at arm's length from now on."

"Last night was inexcusable, and while she's family, that's all she'll ever be." His tone became more serious. "You are my wife, my lover. She will never take that from you."

The tension and pain I carried over from last night began to dissolve. Slowly, I felt myself more at ease as I repeated his reassurances in my head.

It was comforting to hear him take my concerns seriously. He was always a man of his word, so I was happy to hear that things would be different from here on out.

Before I could say anything, his phone rang.

"Sorry, it's work."

I shook my head. "I understand. Go do what you have to do."

Adrian smiled. "I'm not sure when I'll be back, but in the meantime, just look out for Bianca, okay? I talked to her about last night, and she says she'll be better. She just needs some support to get her through this time."

I nodded my head curtly and took a deep breath. I was careful to exhale slowly from my nose so I wouldn't sound as irritated as I had become in those few seconds. "Yeah, I'll do my best."

And like that, he vanished to handle company business. In the meantime, I got to cleaning up the kitchen and the living room to quell the rising irritation at being made to be Bianca's babysitter... I could only hope that his words actually got through to her.

Grieving or not, she was still a guest in MY home. I deserved to be treated with respect.

"What are you doing?" A sharp voice came from behind me. 

I jumped and spun around to see Bianca standing at the bottom of the stairs with her arms crossed.

"Well," I took a calming breath, "I was just tidying up the house. And good morning to you, too." 

Bianca's features didn't move as she moved to drag her finger across the coffee table like she was inspecting my work. Her expression remained unimpressed as she rubbed her thumb and index finger together. "Hm, well, have you made anything for us to eat?" 

"Adrian did, actually. There's some leftovers in the fridge if you want to help yourself." 

"Leftovers?" Bianca scoffed. "Well, you're lucky it was Adrian that made it... I suppose I can let this slide." 

Let what slide? 

She had just woken up and somehow, I'd already slighted her? 

Bianca turned around but didn't take a step forward as her eyes scanned the rest of the living room. 

I held my breath, bracing for yet another point of criticism. 

Today was going to be a long day... 

"Interesting decor choices. Was all of this your doing?" 

"For the most part, yes. But of course, Adrian—" 

"Hates bold statement pieces." Bianca scoffed. "I can't believe he'd let you make his home look like a circus. You know, he's always liked a more minimal look." 

"I'm sure he used to. Lately, he hasn't seemed to mind my creative choices," I said in a forced, calm manner. 

"Creative definitely isn't the word I'd choose," she mumbled. As she stalked her way towards the kitchen, she stopped abruptly in front of one of our vases. 

But it wasn't just any vase. 

It was one Adrian and I actually made together during our first date at a pottery class he booked for us. It was as sentimental to me as it was to him. 

When Bianca's face scrunched up into an expression of disgust, my heart immediately began to beat wildly. 

"If my decorating upsets you so much, then maybe a change of scenery might help you feel better," I said hastily but in a gentle tone as to placate her. "After all, you've gone through so much. Surely—" 

"What? Are you trying to get rid of me?" Her eyebrows furrowed in anger. "I see what you're doing, by the way. This?" She pointed at the vase. "This is a child's project! It's an insult to even have this in the same home as Adrian. Are you not embarrassed?"

"Actually, it's a sentimental piece—"

"Please. Adrian wouldn't care for something as trivial as this. He can buy a vase worth more than this whole house."

"Well, it's not really your place to judge what *we*," I leaned into the word, "choose to put it in our home. So—"

"Did you forget that I'm his sister-in-law? I'm the most important family he's got now that his brother's gone. And this?" She held her hand up to the vase as a cruel smirk twisted her lips. "It pales in comparison."

Before I could react, she pushed it to the ground.

And along with my heart, it shattered.

For a moment, my world froze.

Then it was thrust into the fiery pits of my rage.

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" I yelled. "How could you do this?!"

"Hey!" A familiar male voice boomed from the door. "What's going on?"

We both turned around to see Adrian standing in the foyer.

"What's all this yelling about?" He asked. "What happened?"

Bianca cut me off. "I-it was an accident! I simply wanted to marvel at this beautiful vase, but I knocked it over!"

"You PUSHED it intentionally!" I cried out. "Even when I told you it was a sentimental piece, you insulted it; you said that Adrian could buy another vase that was worth more than this house! You called our work a child's project!"

Adrian shook his head disapprovingly. "Eve and I made that together for our first date, Bianca. It's special to me—to us." He motioned between me and him. "What you did was inexcusable."

But instead of taking any accountability, Bianca began to cry. Big, crocodile tears streamed down her face as she began to heave in a desperate attempt to regain her breathing.

She was the one crying, yet she did it on purpose! Why the hell was SHE acting like the victim?

Adrian sighed in a deflated manner. "Don't cry so much, okay? Look, it's not that big of a deal.."

My jaw dropped as my eyes snapped to him.

Instead of looking at me, however, he continued to console Bianca. "Like you said... I can just buy another vase. It'll be fine."

It felt like a hole had been punched through my chest.

How could he feign indifference after what she did?!

How could he sit there and let her off the hook so easily?

It was like his earlier words meant nothing now…

Just how much was he willing to let her get away with?