Chapter 30: Chapter 30

....She was like a rose, graceful yet filled with thorns...

Evelyn POV:-

"Loving Adrian but marrying Lawrence. What a player you are!"

My body froze in fear as shallow breaths were escaped by my lips. The dread which rises in me by hearing this is beyond my comprehension.

I opened my mouth to say something but my quivering lips can even produce a single sound.

Tears brimmed in my eyes as the terror consumed my body.

My quivering lips muster some courage and spoke in a faint tone,

"What are you talking about?"

"Fine. I'll send those screenshots you send to Adrian, to Lawrence."

My phone rang again. I looked and saw those texts I sent Adrian years ago.

My body lost its strength and the feeling of being powerless took over me. I put the phone near my ear and spoke again,

"What do you want?"

My voice lingers with agony and loath for the voice which wants to destroy my life.

"I'll call you back."

The voice said as he cut the call.

I closed my eyes and held my tears back. I grit my teeth in anger. I took a deep breath and formed a smile and went back.

For a second, I thought it was Adrian but when I came back I saw him talking to Danielle. I shook this thought off for now and sat beside Lawrence.

He smiled as I smiled back.

"Who was it? Took you so long." He asked.

"It was Jane," I replied as he nodded and continued to eat

***

My head was resting on the hard chest that is binding me safely from the abhorrence of this world. I nuzzle close and called his name,

"Lawrence..." He hummed in response.

Me, who was consumed with dread, remained still with the need for isolation from this world.

"You love me, right?" I said childishly as I began to play with the button of his shirt.

"More than you can imagine."

He wrapped his arms filled with alleviation from all the grief around me. I smiled a little when he kissed me.

"But I didn't know that you would question my love for you," Lawrence said, hiding the fact that my question hurt his feelings. I looked at him innocently,

"I am sorry, Lawrence. I didn't mean to. I know you love me and always will." I said cupping his cheeks.

He smiled and brushed his fingers against my cold lips, "I know. Don't worry." I smiled and laid on his chest again.

When I'm with him, I forget about all my problems and focus only on him. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

Distraught with extreme anxiety and tension, I went to Adrian's room. Lawrence is still sleeping but I know Adrian is awake.

The threats are not stopping. That person is not telling me what he wants. He is just trying to anticipate me with apprehension.

My eyes glistened in rage as I tumultuously entered Adrian's room.

"Don't you know how to knock, Brown Brush?" Adrian said without looking up from his phone.

"Adrian," I called his name strictly.

He looked at me and stood up. I walked closer and grabbed his collar,

"I told you, I don't want any obstacles in my marriage. So, why don't you stop that low act of yours?" I hissed loudly but not that loudly so anyone could hear it.

"Can't you tiny brain comprehend this fact that I am married and whatever I used to feel died a long time ago? What is your problem?!" I growled, losing my patience with him.

"What are you talking about?" He asked, bewildered at my outburst.

"For the past few weeks, I have been receiving threats and the screenshots of my chat with you! Didn't you delete it!?" I scowled, infuriated at him.

"Wait, I don't know anything about those threats and I deleted the conversation." He said. I got away and let out a sigh showing my frustration.

"Then who the hell is blackmailing me?" I asked angrily.

"How would I know? Someone who knows about it." He said.

"There's no one but you," I said and pulled my hair in stress, gritting my teeth.

"If I find out that it was you, I'll destroy your life," I said with a scowl and turned to leave and said before leaving,

"I'll eradicate anything that will try to hinder my path."

I went to my room and saw Lawrence still sleeping. I sighed and sat on the bed and ran my fingers through his hair. If he wasn't here, I would've gone insane from distress.

He is my safe-shelter. My lips curved upwards whenever I saw him as my heart feeble with exultant that he is mine and I am his and there is no great exhilaration for me.

I smile and forget all about my worries. I became oblivious to all things around me when he was here. I never thought that I'll have such a pleasing married life.

I am feeling serendipitous to be married to him. The unforeseen turns of the event are proven beneficial for me as it gave me a blessed life filled with immense love and devotion.

"Lawrence, wake up," I called his name sweetly but he didn't get up.

I sighed and knew it's futile to wake him up sweetly. I picked the glass and poured some water in it.

I tilt the glass another way as all the water fell on Lawrence's face.

His eyes opened as he abruptly got up panting. I smiled and said,

"Good Morning!"

"What the hell was that, Evelyn?!" He gasped, still panting from the sudden wake-up call.

"Good morning, Dear Husband." I mischievously winked at him and was about to leave but he held my elbow and pulled me close. I turned around and faced him. I smirked as he walked closer.

"Being so playful in the morning, Aren’t we?" He said huskily and walked closer.

My heart skipped a beat but still, I put my hand on my waist and said, "Do you want another greeting like that?"

He tittered but soon his smile was replaced by those dark clouds of that intoxicating feeling.

"Not like that.." He said and picked me up. I blushed madly at his actions.

Before I could do or say anything, he took me to the bathroom and turned on the shower as we both got soaked in it.

"Lawrence!" I gasped at the coldness and hit him in the chest as he continued to laugh.

"Why don’t we shower together?"

"You're the worst! It's so cold." I continued to tremble. After a few seconds, we both walked out drenching cold.

He continued to laugh as I gave him an unfavorable look. He hugged me and I finally smiled. I changed while he freshened up as I walked out.

His arms were wrapped around my shoulder pulling me close to him. We entered the dining hall and greeted everyone.

I didn't acknowledge Adrian's presence and took my usual seat with Lawrence.

We were eating and Lawrence asked,

"Who cooked the food?"

"Aunt Kyla, why?" I replied. He shook his head and said,

"It's just, I didn't taste like yours"

I felt so happy that he could even identify the food made by me.

"Oh? Now you have forgotten about your mother's food?" Aunt said, showing fake sadness. He laughed a little and said,

"Oh, How can I forget those hands that fed me in all those years." He then stood up and kissed Aunt's forehead.

"Happy?" He said as Aunt nodded, grinning. He came back to his seat and began to eat.

The rest of my day was spent in dread of who this guy is.

What does he want with me?

Why is he blackmailing me?

I just wish that I never liked Adrian in the first place, that I would never fall for him, that all this would be a dream.

All this tribulation would never happen if I never liked him. I just want to get out of that intolerable suffering.

I just don't want my relationship with Lawrence to have a bad influence.

It's understandable that If I liked someone else but if he knew that I liked his brother, his own brother, it'll hurt him deeply and can leave a scar in our relationship which I don't want.

I just want to end this. I don't want to live in this apparition. I want liberation from those shackles that bind me to those unwanted feelings which I left behind the moment I got married and devoted myself to my husband.

I just hope that everything ends smoothly as those tormenting secrets bury themselves along with this ordeal and never come back ever again..