Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Black's Palace

12:00 a.m.

Evelyn was in deep slumber when all of a sudden, she felt something soft beneath her. Her brows furrowed and unconsciously she removed her hand from her eyes and touched it. Her breath hitched.

It was a bed.

Evelyn immediately opened her eyes as she sprang up but was immediately pushed down by a heavyweight that was placed on her lower waist. She looked down only to see a veiny, muscular arm wrapped around her waist possessively. Her brows creased in confusion. She turned her neck to the right only to flinch back in fear.

Dylan was sleeping right beside her; his face held an expression of peace and contentment. Evelyn instantly jerked away from his hand. Dylan frowned and opened his eyes only to see Evelyn glaring at him. But to her surprise, Dylan looked at her and his lips broke into a smile.

“Why am I-“

"Happy birthday my Genie"

His words immediately froze her struggles. She stared at him agape while he just chuckled at her shocked face. Dylan then sat on the bed and beamed. Evelyn immediately scanned the room when her eyes landed on his cell that was kept on the table beside the bed. She picked it up and checked the date.

“It's July 12,” she mumbled. Dylan smiled and held her hand.

“Yes, today is your birthday my dear wife.”

He said softly and gently kissed her hand. Evelyn immediately jerked away from him but he didn't let go as he again planted a soft kiss on the back of her hand. Evelyn threw him a detestable glare. She kept pulling her hands away from his hold but the more she struggled, the more kisses Dylan planted on her hand. His kisses were way too sensual as he would linger his wet lips on her hand for a while and then would slowly detach them with a sloppy sound. Evelyn was squirming in his hold like a dying fish. She no doubt wanted to push him off her but her racing heart and her flustered face were narrating another story. Dylan's gaze was intense while Evelyn's continuous struggles were making him hard.

Evelyn looked at him with scared eyes and that was his last straw. With one jerk, Dylan abruptly pulled her to himself making her fragile body collide with his hard one. Her eyes turned wide as saucers. Her heart started hammering in her mouth when she saw Dylan gazing at her lips lasciviously. His eyes were drowned in desire.

A shuddering breath escaped her lips when her eyes landed on his Adam apple that bobbed up and down with the rhythm of her heartbeat. Dylan's eyes kept turning darker and darker. He clenched his jaw tightly as if he was controlling himself hard but her sweet fragrance was racing up his hormones wildly. His eyes darkened with lust as he started decreasing the distance between them.

Evelyn was going crazy. She won’t know what was happening to her. She wanted to push him away yet she couldn't do that. She wanted to move her face away but Dylan's intimidating, lustful gaze pinned her on her spot. Abruptly her lips turned dry and she unconsciously opened her mouth to lick her chapped lips. Dylan immediately lost his mind as he found her innocent move heavenly erotic. Without giving a shit about anything, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and was about to slam his lips on hers when suddenly the door burst open startling both of them.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU"

The sound of the door creak finally brought Evelyn out from her trance. She looked up only to see Maria, Brandon, Xander, and Dylan's parents standing at the entrance. Except for Mrs. Black, they all were smiling and singing for her. Xander was holding the cake in his hand while Brandon was holding gift boxes while smiling at her. Evelyn's eyes abruptly widened in shock but soon got filled with heavy tears.

“Happy birthday, Eve.”

Xander chirped and entered the room. Evelyn immediately snatched her hands away from Dylan and got up from the bed. She ran to Maria who opened her hands for her. Maria quickly engulfed her in her arms and hugged her tightly.

“Happy birthday my daughter”, she spoke while tears of joy spilled from her eyes. Evelyn then broke the hug and looked at Brandon who was smiling at her.

“Happy birthday Cutiepie.”

He chuckled while extending his arms for her. Evelyn laughed and hugged him too. Brandon patted her head as he heard her sniffing. He slowly lifted his eyes and looked at Dylan whose gaze was only fixed on Evelyn as he kept staring at her while smiling like a fool. Mr. Black then wished her and patted her head gently. Mrs. Black too wished her but it was clear in her eyes that she was practically forced in doing this. Evelyn didn't say anything and mumbled a small thank you to her.

“Hey, cut the cake. My hand is hurting.”

Xander whined as he shifted his weight from one leg to another. Brandon rolled his eyes, “It's a cake, not a dumbbell, shorty. I think you should get yourself checked. Your glucose levels are low, or perhaps you're getting old Pooh?”, he said while faking a gasp. Xander narrowed his eyes at him.

“Thanks, Doctor Tate but your advice only infuriated me. I think by giving two-three punches to some notorious brats, my blood pressure level would jump to the peak. Would you like to volunteer?”, he gritted. Brandon's face lost color as he looked at him in horror. Evelyn chuckled and shook her head.

“Guys stop. And by the way what are you both doing here?”

“Uhmm, I can't remember. Let me think”, Brandon replied as he rubbed his temple with his index finger, pretending to think hard. Evelyn glared at him and flicked his forehead.

“Owie!! Why did you hit me?”, he cried while massaging his head.

“Don't act okay. Can't you tell me that you came here to surprise me?”, Evelyn said.

“When you know everything then why the hell are you even asking it?”

Dylan mumbled inaudibly as he looked away from Brandon and Evelyn who were squabbling like couples.

Dylan's P.O.V.

I kept staring at my wife and my friends who were laughing and enjoying themselves ostracizing me completely. To say I wasn't getting affected by all this would be a blatant lie. I was beyond pissed no, fucking raged and why wouldn't I? My wife hates me and wants to stay away from me but at the same time, she loves my friends and considers them as her family. But what to say? Whom to blame when I destroyed my life with my own hands.

Still, I wanted to win Eve that's why I made every arrangement myself to see her happy. I was the one who had contacted her parents so that all the misunderstandings between them gets cleared but her foolish mother started blabbering nonsense in front of her. I was present in the hall hearing the mother and daughter arguing hard but Eve couldn't see me as she was completely engrossed in her heated argument. Everything was working according to my plan but I didn't expect her mother to be this stupid. At that moment I just wanted to smash her head on the wall when she started portraying Eve as a money bag and me as a source to gain luxury. Her venomous words destroyed my entire fucking plan and like always I became the villain in Eve's eyes.

I regret calling them, I wanted them to sort things out not make them more complicated than it already was. That's why I roped in Maria and Dad to help me in this midnight birthday celebration. Dad was the one who informed Brandon and Xander about it. Although Maria was initially against it yet somehow, I was able to convince her as I want to make things up with Eve.

“Alright Eve, make a wish,” Xander chirped. Evelyn smiled and clasped her hands. I kept admiring my beautiful wife. Why? Why I couldn't see her pure heart before? I am such an ungrateful bastard. When she was right in front of me, I refuse to even look at her but now I can do anything for her one single glance but she always avoids me like a plague.

Eve opened her eyes and blew the candles. She then cut the cake. As expected, she first fed the cake to Maria then to my Dad and Mom. This is the thing that attracts me towards her and that is her pure heart. We all are well aware that my parents were also involved in my evil plan but still, she respects them. Not only I was shocked by it but Mom was too as I know she wasn't expecting this at all. I saw a glint of regret flash in her eyes for a second but she quickly covered it with an ice-cold expression. But my heart shattered into pieces when I saw that after serving them, Eve served the cake to Brandon and Xander.

'Well, what can you expect, you fool?', my conscience jeered me.

He is right. I deserve this. But I couldn't hide the pain and hurt on my face which Brandon sensed immediately as he looked at me when Eve fed him the cake. He immediately shifted his gaze towards me, his expression did change into a sad one for a nanosecond but he quickly looked away from me as if he instantly regretted his decision. He hates me now. The same goes for Xander. He hasn't spared a single glance at me since he came here.

Eve finally turned back and looked at me. I smiled at her. She cut a piece of cake and walked towards me. My eyes sparkled with joy but my happiness didn't last long as she extended her hand for me to take the cake. She hates me that much. Tears pooled in my eyes but I quickly pushed them back. I took the cake from her hand. I tried to feed her but she abruptly turned her heels away and went towards Brandon. My hand was still in the air. Dejected, I slowly retracted it.

Xander kept watching everything silently. I looked up and finally, our eyes met. His gaze was cold but slowly his lips tilted upwards as he smirked at my defeated self. A sad chuckle escaped my lips as I looked at him hopelessly. Well, I am responsible for the state which I am in today. I pushed everyone away from me who loved and cared for me. I never realized that by torturing Eve I am only digging my own grave. I wanted to break her, torment her, isolate her but today...

While she got her whole family with her, I am left all alone in this whole world.

She wanted love from me and I only gave her pain. Her words started ringing in my mind and they are now hollowing me alive.

"One day you'll regret this, Dylan Black"

Indeed, I am regretting and it is killing me now. My parents stared at me with upset faces. Even Maria looked at me sadly. I didn't react and quietly walked away from there.

I wanted to give my marriage a chance, our relationship a chance but after witnessing everything with my own eyes, I have changed my plan now. This time I will let Eve decide whether she wants to give me a chance or not. I have planned the biggest surprise for her which I will give her this evening. I don't know how'll she react, all I know is that I am trying my luck and this is my only chance. And whatever will be her final decision, I will happily accept it with my whole heart.

I stopped near the entrance and looked at Eve. She neither sensed my presence nor she is even bothered by my departure. She is in her world, smiling and laughing along with Brandon and Xander. If I had would have been the old Dylan, I would have straight away snatched her from everyone and locked her up with me but now I am changed. She already hates me; I don't wish to intensify it further.

'I wish I was the one there for you my Eve but at least finally I was able to do something that brought a smile on your beautiful face'

Tears welled in my eyes as I stared at her laughing happily without any tension, without any burden. Finally, I brought the liveliness in her back, even unintentionally I returned her old life.

"You're the reason for my life now, Eve. My heart will only beat for you. Today I swear on life that as long as I am alive, I will make sure to protect the smile on your lips, the spark of your eyes, the charm of your face, the dreams of your life. I will do anything to fulfill your life with happiness even if…

I have to sacrifice my happiness for that"

*****