She had fallen to her knees afterward, striking herself ninety-nine times, begging. Her face swollen, blood streaming from her nose, she swore to me through her sobs.
“Adrian Penn,” she wept, “If I ever betray you again, let ruin fall on me. I, Evelyn Chase, swear to remain loyal and devoted to you for the rest of my life.”
That vow still rang in my ears. Evelyn ordered every whisper buried, silencing anyone who dared mention the child. She knew the subject was my taboo. Neither of us ever spoke of it again, yet silently, we both prayed for the baby.
My focus back at present as I loosened my grip on Carter. Evelyn let out a small sigh of relief, her tone softening.
“Adrian, your temper—”
My blade flashed, driving straight into the bone above her brow. And I smiled.
“Evelyn, those who betray true love must swallow a thousand needles. This is only the first.”
The knife tore in, then slid out.
Blood spattered hot across my face. I watched the proud mark above her brow vanish, replaced by a mangled wound. A twisted smile curved my lips—until Carter shoved me back with all his weight.
I staggered, then lifted my head to meet his furious glare.
“How dare you lay a hand on her?”
The next instant, I closed the distance between us, my fist smashing into his jaw.
“If you want to prove you’re anything more than a kept man, then show me. Stop living off her and stand like a man.”
I grabbed a fistful of his hair, slammed my boot into his knee and forced him to kneel before me, his eyes lifted up in pain and defiance.
“Either make me take you seriously—divorce Evelyn from me and become her next husband…” I bent down, my voice curling into a smile. “…or wait for the day I destroy you piece by piece.”
Carter’s eyes welled red, his body trembling like a dying fawn, yet stubborn fire burned behind the tears.
“Kill me, then!” he shouted. “If you don’t, I will never leave Evelyn’s side! I’ll be with her until the day I die!”
I froze.
Memories clawed back. I was sixteen again—my father ambushed, sinking into the sea, my mother sacrificing herself to push me to shore. The sunset burned crimson with blood. And there was Evelyn, waiting on the coast, fearless, a girl who carved a path through death itself just to drag me back to life.
Evelyn—her brow split open like a badge of honor, her back scarred from battle—had crashed into my heart that day with one desperate cry.
“Adrian! Run!”
Terrified and desperate, I had still rushed back into the sea of blood to survive with her at my side.
Now, she shoved me away with all her strength. Blood streamed from her brow, spilling down her lashes like scarlet tears that dripped straight into my chest.
“Adrian,” Evelyn winced, closing one eye against the pain, “you’ve disappointed me.”
“I’m not refusing divorce out of love.” Evelyn pulled Carter into her arms.
“It’s because,” she said, “your parents once saved me. Because you and I have bled for each other. But don’t test the last of my patience. If you do, Adrian Penn—I swear you’ll regret it.”
Carter collapsed into her embrace, sobbing.
“Evelyn! I don’t want to stay here anymore! I’m scared!” His fists knotted in her clothes, his cries hysterical. “I don’t want to live with this madman! He’ll kill me, he’ll kill me!”
The air went still.
For a moment, I saw my sixteen-year-old self again—wild, broken, shoving Evelyn away. Yet she had only drawn me close, whispering softly in my ear: Don’t be afraid. I’m here.
Now she held Carter the same way, stroking his back, soothing him with those same words. “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Evelyn’s eyes locked on mine, sharp with warning. “I won’t let you hurt Carter. If you won’t yield, then don’t blame me for what comes next.”
