Chapter 1: Shattering Hope.

Evelyn’s POV

“I don't think he's coming back today," the head maid said to me quietly, her eyes filled with worry.

“Just cover the food, he might come back," I replied, trying hard to keep the hurt out of my voice even though I know it was futile, she was used to this sight almost every day.

It has been the same routine for the past three years. I wait for him hoping he might be in a good mood but it's never different, he never sees me as his wife, just the replacement for his fiancee Serena.

I closed my eyes as my mind traveled back to the night my life truly ended. It was the night my miserable life truly began. Serena, my younger sister, had been gone for forty-eight hours, leaving behind nothing but an empty wheelchair and a house full of people who looked at me with accusing eyes. Charlie, Serena’s fiancé, had burst into my bedroom, drunk and furious with blazing eyes.

"She’s gone because of you," he had roared, his voice cracking with a pain that I had never seen before. He had grabbed my arm, his grip bruising my skin as he dragged me roughly toward the mirror. "Look at yourself, Evelyn. You have her face, her hair, her eyes. But you’re the one who ruined her. You’re the reason she can't walk, and now you’re the reason she’s vanished."

I stared at my parents for help but they stood at the door looking away like they always did.

Serena was the most favored child in the family, the loved one, the intelligent and brilliant one and I, I was the black sheep, awkward in public, the disgrace, they never wanted me, they only wanted Serena but I was born out of guilt.

They made that obvious and Serena, she never failed to make sure I remember that, she made sure to take everything that meant something to me, ever since we were children, Serena couldn't stand whenever anyone praised me. Even the smallest compliment would make her determined to take whatever had earned it.

Even when we were younger and the art teacher praised my painting, that afternoon, Serena tore it into pieces and cried until our parents bought her a better one and my parents made sure I never painted again. They stopped me from doing the only thing I enjoyed for her to be happy.

And she even blamed me for losing her legs, they believed her, they always do and the hatred only grew more.

The sound of the front door slamming shut brought my mind back to the present. I was still seated at the table when Charlie stepped in, He was so handsome and yet so far out of my reach even though he was my husband. His chestnut hair was disheveled, and his blue eyes were clouded with the familiar anger that always filled them. He didn't look at the food, nor did he look at me. He simply walked to the sideboard and poured himself a glass of scotch, ignoring me totally.

"You’re late," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

Charlie paused, the glass halfway to his lips. Then, he turned slowly and his gaze raked over me with intense hatred, I felt so small under them.

"And yet, here you are. Still waiting and hoping for some delusion," he sneered before taking a long drink of his scotch. "Did you think that wearing your hair down would make me forget who you are? You can try to mimic her beauty all you want, Evelyn, but you will always be the black sheep. The girl who takes and destroys. But Serena has always been the opposite of you and need I remind you that she saved my life?"

I wanted to reply, I wanted to say something but I couldn't, it won't change the fact that he hates me. I have said the same thing for years but he doesn't believe me.

The dinner is cold… I'll warm it up. It won't take long ." I whispered, I just wanted him to show me a tiniest bit of affection but I don't even know if that's ever going to be possible.

He let out a mocking laugh that strangely didn't have any warmth to it. "Do you truly believe I want anything prepared by your hands? Every time I look at you, I see the accident. I see Serena’s wasted youth and the legs she lost because of your jealousy. You are a constant reminder of everything I’ve lost and I hate you for it."

Seeing my silence, he took a step towards me, invading my personal space, his hand holding my jaw tightly that I was sure I would have a bruise there.

"You are only in this house because you look like her," he hissed, his eyes boring coldly into mine. "You are a placeholder and that’s what you will always be. You stay here to suffer because that is the only value you have left. Your parents were right about you. You were always the mistake they couldn't fix."

I shivered as his words washed over me while I resisted the urge to scream and tell him the truth. I wanted to tell him about the day at the lake many years ago when we were still kids, when the ice had cracked but what was the use after three years.

I had so many things to say to him but like always, I swallowed them because I had learned years ago that Charlie didn't want the truth. He only wanted someone to project his anger on and I was the perfect target.

"Eat your cold dinner alone, Evelyn," he said, turning on his heel. "I have no appetite for the sight of your evil face tonight.”

I watched him walk away, every shred of hope I had shattering on the ground.

How much of this could I take….