Chapter 69: Chapter 69

ARIEL POV

Just like a replay, the incident of the previous night kept clouding my mind. It was a sight I never expected to see at that moment.

It made me have millions of propositions about what kind of person Evelyn was. She wanted to inflict pain on herself. I finally came to the conclusion that she needed to be checked up mentally.

Staying with her throughout the night didn't pave the way to reducing the tension in me. It only increased it. I found myself staring at her at intervals, the constant fear of her passing a knife right through my neck clouding my imagination.

And yes, I felt I might just be overthinking? What could possibly go wrong?

My million thoughts did not prevent me from sleeping the previous night, though I kept making sure I woke at intervals to check Evelyn. She was asleep throughout the night.

I could still remember how difficult it was to convince Ryan to leave for his nighttime meetings with his clients. I could see how nervous and worried he was about Evelyn. The thought on my mind was whether he was still in love with Evelyn.

I did my possible best not to reflect on that thought. It was weird, but I eventually got tired of thinking and decided to look at Evelyn.

She had a tall and slender body almost like mine. Her blonde hair, the same as mine, except that hers was short. She had a delicate and beautiful face, smooth and round. I must confess, she was beautiful.

I kept staring, not until my phone ringing tone brought me out of my reverie. I checked my phone, as I breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Ryan will be here in the next 15 minutes.”I mumbled.

My gaze left my phone, as it fell on Evelyn, whose eyes were opened. She was staring at me, and I felt my heart skip.

"Hey.”She smiled, as she geared herself up.

I tried to help, but she held her hand out, stopping my forward movement.

"It's fine, and I am not that weak. Where and how did I get here?”She rasped out, her voice calm.

Shock and surprise suddenly hinted on her face.

"You don't remember what happened yesterday?”My eyebrows drew together as I looked at her.

She shook her head. One second she was smiling, the other second she looked shocked, surprise written over her face.

I breathe in gently, trying to help myself from overthinking.

"What was the last thing you remembered?”I asked.

She touched her forehead, slowly rubbing it.

"Should I call the doctor?”I asked.

She raised her head and replied:”No please, I'm fine. The last thing I remembered was Ryan blaming me for exposing myself to his wife. He was sad and angry. I guess he loved his wife so much.”She stated, as I almost choked on my saliva.

She peered at me, as I swallowed.

"You are his wife, aren't you?”I nodded, as she waved at me.

“So nice to finally meet you.”My forehead creased with more confusion at her lovely self.

She didn't like me a bit yesterday. What is going on?

"Um, I thought you would be angry with me. I'm your husband's second wife.”I decided to go out straight, as I took note of her facial expression.

She didn't flinch. She simply smiled. I finally concluded that not only did she have amnesia, she properly had an altered personality.

"Can you sit beside me?”My eyes widened a bit at her invitation.

I stared at her for seconds before standing as I took a spot beside where her legs were lying, our faces almost opposite each other. I was still conscious, the scene of the previous night clouding my imaginative sense.

"I'm not jealous of you. I could still remember Ryan telling me that she will still be taking care of me. Why should I be ungrateful? I've been dead to him for over the past two years. You are the new person in his life now. I really wish I could remember the past.”

Her head sunk forward, her hair slightly covering her face.

I don't understand why, but I am affected by her words. She was sad. Who wouldn't be? But still, yesterday's scene was….

"I want to pour my heart out. Will you listen?”Her eyes met mine, as I nodded.

Her soft palms held my wrist, sending a cold sensation down my body.

"Living undercover in Italy was not something I loved. Every day was a reminder that someone was after my life. At least that was what I only remembered.”She paused, letting out a sigh.

"I'm glad I am back and feel secure. But be rest assured that I do not have the motive to steal Ryan from you. Though I crave attention, affection and care, I would never do anything to ruin your relationship.”

Just like an eraser, her words were slowly erasing the previous night scene.

"It's fine. Recover soon. Don't think too much about the past. I believe that one day, you will get the answers to your questions.”I assured, holding her hands.

She glanced around as I followed her gaze. She was looking at the clock stationed on the wall.

"Ahem. Thanks for reassuring me. Meanwhile, what led me to the hospital?”She inquired, as my brain froze for a while.

I wasn't sure what to say.

"I think it will be better if you don't know about it.”I turned my eyes away from hers, staring at the tiled floor.

"Oh"She adjusted slowly, as I raised my eyes.

My phone rang, indicating as I checked, but stopped at her voice.

"Please help me.”She touched her neck, as her face concocted into a frown.

She hissed, rubbing her neck slowly.

I placed my phone in my pocket, as I stood up, touching her neck.

"Let me help.”I began rubbing it, as her hand held minw, guiding me.

The next seconds went into rubbing, until I felt a grip of her hand on mine. She held her neck tightly with my hand.

"Help, help.”She shouted, as she forced the grip of my hand on hers.

It was so fast that I was lost. I tried to withdraw, but as if calculated, she readjusted, her body flat on the bed, my hand still clung to her neck..

"Ariel, what the hell?”And just like that, my hand was released, as I jerked backward, my hair disheveled.

My eyes met with the cold face of Ryan, as he looked furious.

"Ryan, it is not what you think. I."

"Seriously? You want to kill her, right?”I shook my head, as my gaze flickered to Evelyn, who was still panting and gasping for air.

Evildoer.

"Please trust me. There is more to what you saw. She planned this.”I explained frantically, hoping Ryan would change his mind.

"Obviously. Just leave already. I will take it from here.”

Not meeting my eyes, he held Evelyn, who hugged him, holding onto him as if her life depended on him.

At that moment, my eyes met with hers, a victory smile on her lips as she winked at me.

I concluded I was a fool. I shouldn't have trusted her.

My eyes brimmed with tears, as I felt hurt. I didn't waste any more time, as I left.

If Ryan couldn't trust me, then what was the point of the marriage? I hated myself at that moment.

It felt so fast and real. Evelyn was definitely up to something. She was an evil mastermind.

Just the image of her pitiful look only felt like a dagger to my heart. I blamed myself for falling for her tricks.

This has always happened and it kept happening. From my dad, whom I trusted, to my stepmom and step-sister. I got hurt at the end.

Stepping out of the hospital, I cleaned my face, trying not to make passersby to be aware of my pitiful state.

I glanced around, not until I saw a familiar figure standing outside a car, his tall frame leaning on his car.

I began walking towards him, as his eyes caught mine.

As I walked closer, his smiling face suddenly changed to a frown.

Oh no! Did he notice I was crying?

I quickly rubbed my face, with the back of my palms.

"Ariel, you look sad.”He concluded, as I tried to force a smile.

"Can you take me home?”I asked, as he opened the door.

I entered instantly, breathing in the fragrance of the car.

Silence eloped as he drove. He didn't ask any questions.

After gathering my thoughts for a while, I finally spoke:”What were you doing at the hospital?”

He glanced slightly at me, before paving his attention back to the road.

"I came to the pharmacy behind the hospital to get some drugs for my sister. She just recently got hospitalized a few days ago."

"Oh. Sorry about that. I wish her a quick recovery."I said, as he smiled.

The next set of thoughts that came in was unexpected, but I knew it was high time I carried it out.

At that moment I decided to speak out.

"Damien, I need your help. Will you help me?"I requested, as he smiled,

"Of course, I will." He responded, as my heart flipped.

It was the answer I needed and probably a gateway to a decision that will make me both happy and sad....