Chapter 20: Chapter 20

"Cry, Forgive, Learn.

Move on.

Let your tears water the seeds of

your future happiness"

- Steve Maraboli

Black Mansion

7:00 a.m.

Maria's P.O.V.

"Mom, get up."

I opened my eyes a little only to see Eve smiling at me while holding a tray in her hands. She sat beside me and placed the tray on the floor gently.

“Child?”

I looked up at her only to see her smiling at me, “Good Morning Mom.” My eyes widened a little but slowly a smile crept on my face as I saw her happy.

I sat up and looked at her, “Good Morning my child. Why did you get up so early Eve? And why did you make my breakfast?”

“Why? Can't I make breakfast for my Mom?” She answered while pouting cutely. I couldn't resist myself from smiling as soon as I saw her puppy eyes.

“No, that's not what I meant. I mean... umm?”

I couldn't speak a word. Evelyn understood it. She then slowly held my hands in her soft ones and caressed them.

“Mom, I know what you're thinking that how come I am over of all the things which happened with me last night? It is because of you.”

I looked at her in shock. She smiled and kept speaking in her soft voice.

“I was so heartbroken after I came to know about Dylan and my family's real intentions for the marriage. After being heavily insulted, getting disowned by own parents, treating like shit and lots of days of sleepless nights of endless crying made me want to kill myself. I was so much depressed after getting to know that even after getting deeply hurt I still forgave him but what do I got in return? Nothing instead another tremor.”

A tear escaped her eyes while she bit her bottom lip as she controlled herself from crying. I wiped off her tears but she quickly held my hands, “But why don't you tell Brandon or Xander about all this? I am sure they will help you.”

“Help me in what?”

I looked at her confused.

“Help you in getting escaped”, I replied befuddled by her answer. But her next words left me shocked.

“Then what about you?”

“Huh?”

I was confused as hell by her sudden question but she shook her head while streams of tears escaped her eyes.

“There hasn't been a single day when I hadn't cried since the day, I entered this house but also there hasn't been a single day when there was someone for me who wiped off those painful tears and gave me comfort and warmth. There hasn't been a single day when I had slept without eating, when I had gone to office in dirty and creased clothes, when I hadn't got a lunch for the office, when I had come from office exhausted and slept on the floor but found myself wrapped in a blanket next morning, when I had worked overnight making presentations but next day, I left for office without having breakfast. There was an Angel send by God to me who took care of all my needs like a mother. And that person was none other than you, Mom.”

Evie spoke softly. Her words touched my heart. I could feel the wetness on my cheeks as I looked at her in shock. Evie smiled. She raised her hands and gently wiped off my tears.

“I called you Mom but I never behaved as your daughter but you always performed your duty as a mother. You fulfilled your promise and never ever failed to give me motherly love. My own mother called me worthless but you treated me like a gem. But look at me, I never ever try to get over my own misery. I was too selfish. I only thought about myself. I never even cared to think about you but still you never complained. I don't deserve to be called your daughter.” She cried while sobbing in my embrace. I hugged her and patted her back gently.

“No, never say that. You are too precious for me.”

“And you are to me.” Evie broke the hug and cried.

“You are also precious to me Mom. If this relationship gave me tears and scars, it also gave me an Angel. I may have failed to make other relations but I succeeded in making a strong bond with you. A bond of selfless love of which I was highly deprived off. I always thought to run away from everyone for myself, for my happiness, for my tranquillity. But I always kept a blind eye to your love. But now I have made up my mind. I would never leave you. I would never go away from here.”

I became shocked by her answer, “N-No Evie, DON'T DO THIS. DON'T DESTROY YOUR LIFE. YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO LOVE Y-“

I couldn't finish as she immediately cut me off.

“I have someone who love me and I don't need so much love in my life. I have someone who truly understand me and my worth and I don't want to keep anyone satisfied. I am happy with who I am. It's not my problem if he doesn't love me. The fact is he don't deserve me. I do deserve someone better but I don't need to run away like a coward for that. God has given me a wonderful Mom and two lovely friends. That's enough for me. I don't want anything else now. I am happy in my life”, she spoke gently while her eyes gleamed with joy.

“But Evie, what about Dylan? Will you keep doing work for him?”

Evie flashed me a small smile, “It's my job Mom. Besides there is a time bounded for everything. In fact, I don't care about him now. He wants my brain and I want peace. I don't give a damn about all this. It is his fault. He won't be able to learn anything in his life. Till now I have been walking on an anfractuous path, filled with thorns and impediments but now everything is crystal clear. Now I have finally decided to move on and never turn back. What's done has been done. And about working for the Blacks, it's my job and I am getting paid for it. They are nothing for me now. And if God wishes one day, I will be able to achieve my dreams and live my life according to own my will but till then​ I don't want to waste my time crying and sobbing on my fate. Instead, I will try to live my life and enjoy every moment to the fullest.”

She spoke while smiling brightly. For the first time I saw a new spark in her eyes. She genuinely looked happy and her face was glowing with a new determination. A determination to start off a new beginning with new dreams and new goals.

I patted her shoulder proudly, “That's my girl.”

Meanwhile

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS DYLAN? HOW CAN YOU BE SO HEARTLESS? WHAT HAS SHE EVEN DONE TO YOU THAT YOU'RE BEHAVING LIKE THIS WITH HER?"

Mr. Black screamed on top of his lungs. Both the son and father were engrossed in a heated argument in the study. Mr. Black was extremely furious when he came to know about his wife and son's deeds with that poor girl. He was bashing Dylan as he didn't expect that his own son will turn into a money-grubber one day.

Dylan huffed in frustration and looked at him with raging eyes, “She was running away Dad. She tried to run away from me when she got to know that I had cancelled the deal with her parents.”

“WHAT?”

Mr. Black spoke while his eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. Dylan nodded.

~Flashback

One day before

6:30 p.m.

After the fight with Evelyn, Dylan got inside his car. He slammed the steering wheel in frustration and rested his head back on the seat. He closed his eyes as Evelyn's crying face flashed in his mind. How he insulted her in front of Brandon and Xander when she just wanted to spend some time with them.

Dylan's P.O.V.

"I shouldn't had yelled on her like that. It must have deeply hurt her feelings. But what should I do? Jealousy took a toll over my senses. Why are they so close to her? Why can't she trust me? I am doing my best to make things right but she doesn’t even try to see my efforts."

I sighed but it's not her fault though. I have hurt her too much in the past and she still had not got healed properly. I need to try harder if I want to gain her trust back.

I quickly pressed on the gas and decided to visit a gift shop.

“I will surprise her today. Maybe by this Eve will give me a chance.”

I was smiling like a kid while planning my surprise for her when suddenly my phone buzzed. I picked it up.

~OTP

Dylan: Hello

Sophia: Dylan, Dad told me that he is going to work with Evelyn's parents on a new project as per our plan.

Yes, I had planned everything to get this deal cancelled somehow. Sophia's parents helped me in this. Her Dad and my father are childhood friends. So, I had asked him to offer the Clarkes a huge deal but only if they cancel the deal with our company and as expected they agreed to it. Well, what else I could expect from those gluttony jerks? Sometimes I am forced to think that how come Eve isn't like them? Is she really their daughter? Because my wife is a gem. She is so innocent and pure unlike her trickster mother.

Dylan: Have they agreed?

Sophia: Ye-

Suddenly my phone pinged. I quickly checked the notification.

Dylan: WHAT THE HELL!!

It was the tracker that I had implanted in Evelyn's body. I had connected it to my phone so as to check her location. I became furious as soon as my eyes landed on the screen.

'SHE WAS FUCKING RUNNING AWAY!!!'

My blood boiled in anger. I quickly understood what's the matter behind all this.

Dylan: Sophia, did her parents accepted the deal?

I asked her while grinding my teeth in rage.

Sophia: Is something wrong Dylan?

Dylan: ANSWER ME THE FUCKING QUESTION!! DID HER PARENTS REJECTED THE OFFER? WHY IS EVE RUNNING AWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN?

I shouted furiously while gripping the steering wheel tightly. My knuckles turned white due to the harsh grip.

Sophia: Running away? WHAT? WHEN?

I was now getting pissed by her responses.

Dylan: JUST ANSWER ME GODDAMMIT!!!

Sophia: Y-Yeah, her parents rejected the offer. T-That's what I was trying to tell you. Her covetous mother was asking for more money but w-when Dad declined it she called off the deal. She must have informed Evelyn about all this. Now that you're not making a deal with them, it must have hurt their ego so they rejected my parents' offer too. Even they insulted my parents. And now her gold-digger mother must have told Evelyn to run away from you so as to blackmail you for more money. And see that's what that bitch is doing right now.

My jaw clenched and my eyes darken as soon as I heard that.

'Although I didn't love you Eve but still, I was deeply remorseful for what I had done to you. I said I would change myself for you but it seems you don't want it. Alright then if this is what you want then I think it's useless for me to put up on a show everyday'

'Let's end everything now!!!'

Dylan: Sophia, now listen to me. Quickly call a sharp shooter to kill Mr. Clarke. But don't shoot him until I say so. Got it?

I spoke while blaring the horn in anger.

Sophia: D-Dylan, what are you saying? Y-You're going to k-kill-

Dylan: I.SAID.GOT.IT?

I shouted on pure rage while my face turned red with anger.

Sophia: Y-Yeah.

Dylan: Good.

I immediately ended the call. I quickly called my driver and told her to bring Eve to my penthouse. I then changed the direction and started driving to my penthouse.

"You can't leave me Eve. I won't let you leave me my Genie."

End of Dylan's P.O.V.

End of flashback~

Present time

“Now tell me was I wrong? I deeply regretted for what all I have done to Eve, Dad. Even you blamed me for this. That's why I have started changing myself for her but see, once a gold-digger will always remain a gold-digger. I made a fool of myself. No matter how much she pretends to be nice but I forgot that she also has the same blood. The blood of all those cheaters.”

Dylan spat in pure hatred and anger while he clenched his fists. Mr. Black was listening to him patiently. He then took a deep sigh before speaking in his husky voice.

“Are you sure this was the sole reason of her sudden departure?”

Dylan looked at him confused but then he shot him a glare, “What do you mean by that? Of course, it was.”

“And how are you so sure?”

Dylan was now getting frustrated by his continuous interrogations. He banged his fists on the table loudly. He then stood up from the chair and bellowed in rage.

“I told you everything didn't I? THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ASKING ME THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN? NOW DON'T TRY TO FRAME ME AGAIN! SHE IS WRONG THIS TIME AND I DID WHAT I NEEDED TO DO!!”

Mr. Black scoffed at his words making him more furious, “Ok, I get it. You trust Sophia more than Evelyn. It clearly shows you love Sophia. Then why the heck did you say that you love Evelyn?”

“What?”

Dylan furrowed his eyebrows and stared him while Mr. Black smirked at his confused face.

“Why? Isn't that, right? You just trusted on Sophia without even digging upon the whole truth.”

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY DAD? WHAT TRUTH? Eve was running away Dad. You yourself saw that.” Dylan replied while ruffling his hair in frustration. He was sweating badly as he was too angry. Beads of sweat were dripping from his forehead while veins were popping from his forehead and neck.

Mr. Black nodded, “Yes, she did. But what I mean that was that the only reason why Evelyn decided to run away last night?”

Dylan chuckled dryly, “Of course, it is. Her filthy parents were involved in this shit-“

“Did it look like that to you?”

Dylan was taken aback with his next words. He squinted his eyes as his gaze flickered.

“Of course, it was Dad. Now don't tell me that you think that I did something to make her lea-“

He halted in midway when realization hit him hard. He recalled the fight he had with Evelyn just a few minutes before she left for home. But again, he shook his head since according to him it was just a small issue and she can't act so dramatically for it.

Dylan smirked and laughed sarcastically. His Dad kept staring at him with a straight face.

“I can't believe you that you are still choosing that girl over me. But I have already made my point clear. And I don't think I should waste my time more. Everything is settled now. And I am over of all this.”

He scoffed and turned around. He grabbed the door handle but his father's next words made him halt in his steps.

“You have crossed all the limits son. You are again and again hurting a very precious and innocent girl whom you should cherish and love. If you still can't see her pain and tears and if you have decided to keep hurting her then *sigh* I can't do anything. But still, I would say don't regret later. It's still time. Maybe she can forgive you but once she'll leave you Dylan, you won't be able to get her back. Understand her worth and importance in your life. She is really a gem Dylan. I am afraid you will regret hard when Evelyn will finally leave you for once and for all. Don't let her go.”

His Dad's words left him speechless. Dylan didn't say anything and immediately left the study. Mr. Black took a deep sigh and looked down in disappointment.

He grabbed his car keys and walked out of the house. He quickly got inside his car and drove to his office. His Dad's words were still ringing in his head like a warning sign forcing him to think about it again and again. His words left him in a blizzard of emotions.

Dylan was thinking about all this deeply when all of a sudden, his eyes fell on Evelyn who was walking down the aisle. She was heading towards the bus stop when suddenly she tripped on something. Dylan immediately stopped the car as he saw that her heels were broken. She stopped for a while but then took off her shoes and started walking barefoot.

“What the hell? Why she is going barefoot?”

Although his face looked pissed but his eyes were filled with concern. His gaze was glued on her bare feet.

Dylan forgot about everything as his eyes were only stuck on her fragile figure. He immediately unlocked his car and was about to approach her when all of a sudden, his gaze landed on something which made his jaw clenched and his eyes darkened.

Evelyn's P.O.V.

“Omo! What will I do now?”

I panicked while holding my broken shoes. There is no point in going back to the house since this was the only pair I had. Also, I can't buy new ones too as the shops are still closed. It's freaking 9 in the morning. I guess I need to walk barefoot only. I took off shoes and held them in my hand. I decided to wait for the bus as it will be easier for me.

“I will go and buy new ones during the lunch today. Yeah, I that will be better.”

I was mumbling and planning my ideas about my new pairs when all of a sudden, I heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Lily?"

I turned around only to see...

"Ian?"

*****