4

Evelyn’s POV

The room went quiet after Sebastian said something. I saw the Sinclair family looking uncomfortable. Some guests were whispering to each other.

Sebastian was still standing there with a glass of whiskey in his hand. His face was calm. His eyes seemed really sharp.

Damien’s aunt let out a laugh. "Sebastian, we were just joking."

"Really?" Sebastian's voice was low and cold. "It sounded like an insult to me."

I just stood there frozen.

No one in this family had ever stood up for me like that before. Not even Damien.

My eyes met Sebastian's for a second. He looked away and started sipping his whiskey like nothing was wrong.

Then Damien spoke up.

"That's enough," he said, his voice cold. "Having kids is none of your business, mine and Evelyn's."

I was a little surprised to hear him say that.

Because every time his family would criticize me about having kids Damien would just stay quiet.

Damien's grandmother clicked her tongue. "We're just worried that the Sinclair family line will end."

I bit my lip.

It always came back to that.

Kids. Heirs.

The Sinclair family did not care if I was happy or not. They just cared if I could have a baby to carry on the family name.

It's funny they did not even know that Damien had barely touched me in the three years.

"Evelyn is still young," Damien said. "There's no need to keep talking about it."

I glanced at him briefly.

If I had not seen him with another woman that night I might have felt happy that he was defending me.

Now everything he did just seemed fake.

Then Damien's phone started vibrating.

He looked at the screen for a second. His face changed really fast.

He turned off the phone. I stood up.

"I need to go for a minute."  

His grandmother frowned. "Now?"

"There's something."  

Damien looked at me for a second. "I'll be soon."

I almost laughed. I knew that look on her face.

For some reason I was sure that the other woman had called him again.

Damien left the party without waiting for me to say anything.

I watched him go until he disappeared into the crowd.

I did not feel like stopping him

When Damien left the atmosphere in the room changed.

The Sinclair family started staring at me again.

I should be used to it by now. Tonight it hurt more after what happened last night.

"Maybe Damien works a lot because he's stressed about not having kids," one of his cousins said with a smile.

Some people laughed quietly.

I held my wine glass tightly.

"Or maybe it's because his wife used to be too focused on her career," another person said. "Women like that usually have trouble getting pregnant."

I looked down slowly.

They did not even know that I had given up my career for this family.

"If I were Damien I'd look for another woman too."  

My whole body froze.

People were laughing softly around the table.

My chest hurt badly.

I knew they were making fun of me. It hurt even more because they were close to the truth.

I stood up slowly.

"Excuse me for a minute."

Before I could take a few steps Damien's mother stopped me.

"Evelyn."  

I turned around slowly.

She looked at me with that face like she always did. Elegant, arrogant and always making me feel small in this house.

"Do not embarrass the Sinclair family tonight."  

I gave her a smile. "Have I ever done that?" 

Her eyes got sharper.

"If you were a woman you would have known your place from the beginning," she said, her voice low and mean. "Damien could have gotten a better woman."

My chest ached.

I was too tired to cry now.

I just nodded a little. "Maybe you're right."

Damien's mother looked surprised because I usually just stayed quiet and took it.

Tonight was different.

I was already too broken to pretend I was okay.

"I'm going home first." 

"You cannot leave before the party ends."  

I looked at her calmly.

"Why not? My presence is not wanted here anyway is it?"

Before she could say anything one of the servants came over.

"Madam, Mr. Damien has already left the mansion."  

I laughed quietly to myself.

Of course he did not even bother coming back for me.

Damien's mother looked irritated. "Then wait for another driver.”  

"There's no need.” 

I grabbed my bag. I walked out of the mansion without looking back.

No one tried to stop me. It was raining outside.

The sky was dark. The wind was cold.

I wrapped my arms around myself. I walked down the big road in front of the Sinclair family estate.

My dress was getting wet. My heels hurt.

None of that hurt as much as my chest right now.

I did not know where to go. That house was not my home anymore. My marriage was broken.

The life I built over the years was falling apart in front of me.

I finally cried again.

Not because of Damien but because I felt so stupid.

I gave up my career and my dreams. I sacrificed everything for a man who could not even be faithful.

The rain got heavier.

Luxury cars passed by without caring about the wet woman walking on the side of the road.

I closed my eyes for a moment. Took a shaky breath.

Right then a black Rolls-Royce stopped beside me.

I turned my head.

The back window rolled down slowly. I saw Sebastian Sinclair's cold face inside.

He looked at me for a second at my wet hair and my face.

Then he spoke in that low voice.

"Get in."