Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Black Estates

11:30 a.m.

Evelyn's P.O.V.

"Bear"

I called him in a soft voice as I saw his silhouette behind the white pillar. Brandon peeked at me but when he noticed my staid expression, he looked down and came out from his hiding corner.

“E-Evelyn- I-“

“Who is Evelyn?”

He looked at me in shock but I kept staring at him sternly. He slowly came closer to me and held my hands, “I am so sorry Evelyn. I don't know why I did that-“

“And I don't know whom you're calling Evelyn?”

Brandon stood bewildered as he kept staring at me with wide eyes.

He quickly replied, “I am calling you Evelyn.”

“And since when you started calling me Evelyn because as far I know you are my Bear, not Brandon and I am your Cutiepie, not Evelyn.”

Brandon looked at me confused but then his eyes widen in surprise. I smiled at him and nodded. His chin wobbled as tears pooled in his eyes. Brandon then pulled me in a bone-crushing hug. I got startled but slowly wrapped my arms around his muscular torso and started patting his back as he cried on my shoulder.

“I am so sorry *sob* Cutiepie. I didn't *sob* mean that *sob*. I don't know what- *sob*”

“Shh, it's okay. Calm down. I forgive you.”

Tears also filled in my eyes as I couldn't see him cry. Brandon was a live-wire who never fails to bring a smile on your face, who never fails to lighten up your mood when you are down. But today he looked broken and was crying so badly. I can't see him like this. Also, there is one more reason behind this.

After so many days someone felt bad for hurting me. Someone was remorseful for making me sad. Someone felt my pain and cried for making me cry.

I know I was being too emotional but you can't whinge that to a broken soul whose all hopes have been dashed by the same person with whom he or she had once envisioned a bright future. My parents had already cut me off without a shilling right on my wedding day. I was thrown into a hell of devious and cruel monsters who just wanted to mould me into a puppet, their golden duck, their Genie.

I have ripped off my rights, my freedom was snatched away. I had to survive in a hellhole where I was abused, tortured and wrecked daily. I had only one person by my side. She came into my life like a guardian angel who helped me to stay sane otherwise I would have given up my life a long time ago.

I was a zealous woman with big dreams and ambitions. I was not like those kids whose parents have left treasure chests for them in heritage. Whatever I have in my life, I had worked for it and earned it. My Dad had nurtured high goals for me. Even though I was a child prodigy but still I never bragged about my skills. I have never hurt a single person in my life. I had lived all my life with simplicity and was cordial with everyone. I was not only polite with my employees but also with the sanitary staff and other workers. Every single soul in my office had huge respect for me and I also respected them.

But my one wrong decision in my life changed everything. I devoted my whole life to a devil and he sealed my fate.

The decision I made was irrevocable and the pain I received was unbearable. Neither I can blame myself as I let myself get ruined by him nor I can't ignore the pain of my wounds which again by my own silly heart received for loving him.

I don't know how I got attracted to him because I was not at all like those girls who lose their marbles just by a single glance of a handsome man. I was a workaholic woman. I didn't even have time to breathe as I used to be bogged up in a deluge of work. Then how come I fell so hard for a man that I eventually ended up marrying him?

I can blame my parents and Dylan for everything I have been through to defend myself but the truth is that I was equally responsible for the pain and sufferings I had gone through till now. It is because 'No one can harm you unless and until you lose your mind, the control over your feelings that you readily allow yourself to get ruined by someone whom you had trusted blindly.' And that's what had happened to me.

I blindly trusted Dylan that I told him about all my business tactics and schemes of my company. I blindly fell in love with him. I was so stupid that I didn't even once try to find out his real intentions. Our marriage turned out to be a damp squib and my whole life a standing joke.

'But still, I don't blame anyone other than myself.'

After pouring all the pain through his eyes, Brandon finally broke the hug. I wiped out his tears with my thumb. I cupped his face in my palms, he kept sniffing like a baby.

“You okay?”, I asked him softly.

Brandon nodded. I looked down guiltily.

“I am sorry Bear for making you cry. I was a bit too harsh on you. I forgot that you are the one who brought light to my life again. I should be thanking you because at least you care about my feelings. You have so much respect for me. You have so much importance for me in your heart but I- I am sorry,” I spoke in a broken voice.

Brandon sighed and held my hands. He looked into my eyes deeply as if he was staring into my soul which made my heart skip a beat.

“No Cutiepie, I am very sorry. You are not at fault here. But neither I am. You know I was brought up in this environment where there is a yawning gulf between rich and poor. I belong to a society where money and class bifurcate the people not their hearts, where feelings are overshadowed by brands, where profligacy and luxuriousness overpower humanity and kindness. And Cutiepie, I was like this too. You don't even know who I am. The kind and bubbly Brandon never existed till the day you came into my life. You stirred up feelings inside me. You made my stone-cold heart beat again. You made me realize that there's something more important than money and class. I started looking at the world through your eyes. But as it is said Evelyn, a leopard can't hide its spots.”

He chuckled sadly. I kept staring at him sorrowfully as my heart was squeezing with pain watching this side of him.

“Cutiepie, the truth is that I like you. I know you don't love me but I do and I love you with all my heart. You don't know how much you are important in my life. You turned me into someone whom no one had ever imagined. You are really important to me Evelyn,” Brandon spoke earnestly. I was shocked to hear such words from his mouth.

I knew that he loved me but I didn't know that I mean so much to him. But again, that cloud of insecurity and fear gripped me. Unknowingly my body started shaking vigorously as I stared in his dark brown orbs which were looking at me with admiration and love.

"What if he is also playing with me just like him?", I thought.

"Not all the men are the same Evelyn", my conscience rebuked.

"But he is not an ordinary man. He is also rich, powerful and he is Dylan's friend, a fact which is hard to deny", I thought.

And it was true. It will be wrong to say that Brandon is just the same as Dylan. He is sweet, kind-hearted and a humble person. Though Brandon is not at all like him,

but my perspective about him was also the same I had of Brandon right now.

Brandon noticed the hesitation in my eyes but I was helpless. I couldn't hide my emotions more behind that sweet smile. If someone who is heartbroken and has been betrayed by his own family and the person whom he has loved with all his heart had betrayed him then he starts looking at everything through blue glasses. Dylan has not only broken my trust but has also destroyed my self-esteem and pride. I can't trust anyone so easily and I think after all that I have gone through, I don't think I will be able to trust anyone again in my life.

I quickly put up a fake smile and held his shoulders, “I know you love me Brandon but as I have told you, I just see you as my friend. I don't want to hurt your feelings but I also don't want to give you any false hopes.”

I spoke while smiling sadly. He didn't say anything but then smiled and nodded.

“I understand. You know I had read it somewhere that if you have too many troubles in your life, you become a pessimist. You always keep thinking of giving up. You have no hopes, no happiness, no one to rely upon and you just want to end your misery by ending yourself. At that stage, you will come across many people who will give you two types of choices on how you should continue your life further. Either you just cry and keep hurting yourself or you should accept your fate and die.”

I looked at him baffled as to why he started talking about these things all of a sudden but I was so engrossed in his words that I couldn't resist my curiosity to know the answer, “And what if I don't want both.” Brandon smiled and held my shoulders in a firm grip.

“Then try to move on and mould your life according to the way which makes you happy. Instead of crying for the one who gives you pain try to live for only yourself. Don't try to isolate yourself rather be with the ones who give you happiness, rather than spending your time crying for others engage yourself in your favourite jobs which you always used to do when you were a child. You know Evelyn, people will try to hurt you, to wreck you but no one can snatch the right from someone to be happy. No one can rip someone off their hopes, from their rights unless and until you give up on yourself. So instead of thinking about those who give you pain and living for the one who doesn't even deserve you, try to live for yourself, for your happiness. This is your life not of anyone's else. So rather than being insecure and scared just because you have been gone through some harsh and tough times, open the gates of your heart for those who can die just by a single glance of your billion-dollar smile.”

He smirked and winked at me. I glared at him, “Are you trying to flirt with me, Brandon Tate?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “Sorry not my fault, I was born this way. So, we're good now?”, Brandon spoke while staring at me with hope. I chuckled and ruffled his hair.

“Yes. But do clear up the mess you made in my room,” I spoke sternly. He placed a hand on his heart and closed his eyes while faking an expression of pain.

“Ouch!! That hurt bad.”

I rolled my eyes, “Done Queen Bee?”

“No, I have just started.”

Brandon stuck his tongue out and looked at me with mischievous eyes.

'There comes my fluffy ball.'

“Urgh!! Come with me now,” I pulled his arms and dragged him to my workplace which was decked up like a birthday party.

“Oye!! Wait!!!”

Brandon started laughing while I dragged this hulk along.

~Time skips

5:45 p.m.

I packed all my belongings and zipped the purse. I arranged the chairs before leaving the room. After cleaning up everything I smiled in contentment. I finally turned around to leave when I saw Xander standing at the door starting at me sternly. I ignored his burning gaze and walked past him.

“Wait, Eve. We need to talk.” He rasped. I ignored his words and left.

Suddenly a harsh force from behind pulled me back. I turned around and saw Xander throwing daggers at me.

“Don't.ignore.me.”

He spoke with gritted teeth. I glared at him, “Leave me alone. I have nothing to do with you.”

I started struggling in his hold. But he ignored my words and dragged me to a cabin. He pushed me inside and locked the door.

“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!!”

I ran to the door but he abruptly turned around and held my shoulders in a tight grip.

“What the hell is wrong with me? What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you giving me a wide berth?”

I jerked away from his hands and pushed him in anger, “Because you deserve it.”

I spat. His eyes turned dark with rage.

“You knew everything. You knew everything about me. What you did with that girl was wrong. You're two-faced Xander. In front of me, you act all saint, a perfect gentleman. You were consoling me that everything will be alright and what Dylan did with me was wrong but what about you? Are you right? What you did with that waitress, was that right Xander Knight?”

End of Evelyn's P.O.V.

Xander was shaking in anger. Her venomous words were like oil in the fire. Evelyn was repeating the same words which Dylan had said to him. His anger was increasing with every ticking second. The hate and disgust in her eyes were now starting to make him loathe himself. Xander knew what he did was wrong but still, he couldn't see the anger and hatred in Evelyn's eyes for him and slowly his anger blocked all his senses as he pulled her towards his chest angrily.

“Oh!! So, am I only at fault here? What about Brandon? Didn't he say anything to that girl? If I remember right, he is more at fault than me, Eve,” he snarled. Evelyn glared at him.

“Yes, he did. But he also had the heart to apologize unlike you who is forcing me and shouting at me. There is not even a single scar of remorse on your face. Your sick behaviour is now compelling me to think that do I even know the real Xander Knight?”, she spoke with gritted teeth. Xander groaned in frustration.

“You are doubting me, Eve. Alright then, if your apology is worth some fucking teddy bears and bouquets I will give you more than that. Tell me what you want? WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT? Or wait, should I also prepare a fucking cajolery love speech so that you can forgive me then I WILL FUCKING GIVE IT TO YOU RIG-“

'SMACK'

Xander was cut off by a loud smack. His face got turned to the right as Evelyn slapped him hard across the face leaving him shocked.

*****