Amora masked her unease and said calmly,"It’s nothing.It’s my friend's birthday.I promised I’d stop by for dinner."
Evan did not even question it and said,"You need to apologize to Belinda for what happened at the last party."
Amora’s eyes glinted with sarcasm.She gave a cold smile."You talked about me behind my back and now you expect me to apologize?"
Evan’s tone grew impatient."Don’t forget,the Elowen Family is one of our company’s most important partners.Her father personally asked me to take good care of her."
Amora replied indifferently,"Evan,who are you trying so hard to please?Whoever it is,it’s none of my concern."
Evan frowned."Please?Amora Mireille,you’re being completely unreasonable."
"I’ve got an emergency meeting.I need to head to the office now.Calm yourself down and I expect to hear that you’ve apologized to Belinda by tonight."
With that,Evan slammed the door and left.
A moment later,Belinda sauntered out of the master bedroom,dressed in a revealing silk nightgown.
"Amora,why do you always upset Evan the moment you come back?"
"I’ve been absolutely exhausted lately.Evan says you’re boring in bed and you never sleep well either."
"And by the way,I'm pregnant with his child."
As she spoke,Belinda gently rested a hand on her belly,pride gleaming in her eyes.
A sharp pain flashed across Amora’s face as her mind drifted to the baby she lost on that snowy night.
Belinda,mistaking the look on her face for jealousy,raised her chin even higher and added with a sneer,"You and Evan were together for eight years and you still never managed to get pregnant."
"Is it because you’re infertile?"
"Is that why the Delmare Family never accepted you?"
Amora recalled how,after they got married,Evan had slowly begun to neglect her,blaming it on his career.
In the beginning,they still had a normal married life.However,then he started coming home later and later and became increasingly distant and unwilling to even touch her.
"Amora,the company is really busy right now.We can have kids anytime."
"I’ll be on a business trip for a while.Take good care of yourself."
Then,three months ago,Evan came home drunk and slept with her again.
She had thought that meant they were finally reconnecting,that their marriage might go back to the way it used to be.
Unfortunately,she was wrong.
It turned out that he had already betrayed her long ago,using work and travel as excuses to keep his affair hidden.
A bitter sneer tugged at Amora’s lips.She grabbed the water cup from the table and splashed its contents directly onto Belinda’s face.
"Does your father know that his daughter is sleeping with someone else’s man?"
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose everything and disgrace both the Elowen Family and the Delmare Family?"
Dripping wet,Belinda screamed,"Amora Mireille,how dare you throw water on me?"
"I’m telling you,the engagement party for Evan and me is happening next week.You two were just dating,never legally married!"
"The title of Mrs.Delmare has always been mine from the start!"
With that,Belinda stormed off and slammed the bedroom door shut behind her.
Amora stood frozen.
Evan Delmare…he could not even wait until the divorce was final to get engaged?
One week from now,on the exact day she planned to leave.
Amora went up to the attic and dug out an old box."Evan,since you’re getting engaged,it’s only right that I,as your ex-wife,give you a gift."
Half an hour later,Amora closed the box and even tied it with a lovely ribbon.
"Evan,I wish you and Belinda a happy marriage and a lifetime of true love."
***
Three days later,Belinda hosted her birthday party at the villa.
Amora stood at a distance,watching indifferently as Evan and Belinda basked in the spotlight,surrounded by laughter and praise.
Just as she was about to slip away quietly,Belinda made her way over with a radiant smile.
She leaned in and whispered,"Guess what?If you and I were to fall into the water at the same time,who do you think Evan would save?"
"Today,I want you to give up on him completely."
The very next second,she yanked Amora into the swimming pool with her.
Amora was caught off guard and could not break free from her grip.
Just as she was about to lose consciousness from the lack of air,she saw Evan dive into the pool to pull Belinda into his arms.
Soaking wet,Amora struggled to climb out of the water on her own.
Evan held Belinda tightly,his face filled with concern and distress.
Belinda’s face was pale as she spoke softly,"Amora,I know you don’t like me…but how could you do something like this to me?"
"Did I do something wrong that made you hate me that much?"
Evan’s face turned stormy in an instant.He stood up and strode toward Amora.
A chill ran through Amora’s body."Belinda,it was you who…"
But before she could finish her sentence,a powerful force slammed into her,sending her tumbling to the ground.
Evan roared in fury,"Amora,how could you be so cruel?"
Amora looked up at the man standing over her in disbelief,as if he were a stranger."You don’t believe me?"
Evan’s voice was cold and final."Get out!"
This was the man she had loved for eight years.
Not only did he strike her over Belinda,but he was now kicking her out of the home they once built together.
Three years ago,he had blindfolded her and taken her to the villa’s entrance.
"Amora,this is my gift to you."
"This will be our home from now on."
But now,it no longer belonged to her.
Amora let out a bitter laugh and stood up."Fine.If that’s what you want."
"Evan Delmare,you better never regret this."
As she walked away,Evan was momentarily shaken by the sight of her retreating figure.
Could it be possible that she was not the one who did it?
However,when he saw Belinda’s pitiful and innocent expression,that fleeting doubt vanished from his mind.
Belinda was pure and gentle.How could she ever do something to frame Amora?
Also,given everything Amora had done lately,it was about time he stopped caring.
When Amora finally stopped walking,she found herself back on the old campus grounds.
She suddenly remembered the time capsule Evan had buried there the day she graduated.
Back then,she had begged to see it and he had teased her lovingly,"Amora,let’s wait until we’re eighty to open it."
Amora dug out the time capsule and saw that it was inscribed with,[Hello,80-year-old Evan,this is the 20-year-old Evan.]
[You must be reading this letter with our beloved Amora.Are your children or grandchildren nearby?
I’m so glad that you’ve loved her for all these years.
They say love can change in an instant,but Evan Delmare’s love for Amora Mireille will never change.]
Amora had not even realized she was crying until she saw her tears soaking through the letter.
"Evan,you changed a long time ago."
"We can never go back."
Her phone rang and she instinctively pressed the answer button.
"Evan,you love me the most,don't you?"
"Yes,I love you the most."
"You only love me,right?"
"I only love you.As for Amora,I just feel familial affection toward her."
Hearing the voices on the other end,Amora quietly tore the letter into pieces.The dull ache in her heart twisted like a knife,so sharp and suffocating she could barely breathe.
"Evan Delmare,I will never forgive you."
On the day of Evan and Belinda’s engagement,Amora climbed into Finneas’s car.
Finneas had striking features.He was handsome,but not in a sharp or overpowering way and his composed demeanor carried a quiet depth.
His shirt and trousers were immaculately tailored and his entire appearance radiated grace and control.
"Well,happy divorce?"
Amora gave a faint smile and looked down at the photo on her phone,a photo of Belinda and Evan side by side.
[Do we look like a perfect couple?]
Then more photos followed.
[This ring sparkles so much.Evan picked it out just for me.]
[This wedding dress?Custom-made by a well-known designer.]
[Amora Mireille,I actually pity you.Eight years of love turned you into a used-up woman.Who would ever marry you now?]
Amora blocked Belinda without hesitation and closed her eyes.
From this moment on,none of them had anything to do with her.
At the hotel,Evan felt an unexplainable wave of anxiety.
Four days had passed since Amora left and she had never returned.
He finally opened his contacts list and decided to do something,maybe to give her a way back in.
Evan called her several times,only to be repeatedly declined.Trying to contain his growing frustration,he kept calling.
[The number you are calling is busy...]
Then,Amora sent a message.[There’s a gift for you in the attic.]
Evan frowned and quickly replied.[Why aren’t you answering my calls?]
[Do you even realize what you’ve done wrong?]
But his screen lit up with a mark that showed that his message was not delivered.
Evan’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Amora had blocked him?
He immediately stood up and made for the door.
His mother immediately grabbed his arm."Evan,where are you going?"
He answered,"She blocked me.I need to find her."
Agatha’s face turned cold."Today is your engagement party with Belinda.You are not going anywhere!"
Evan froze.He looked around and then his gaze landed on the event signage on a screen nearby.
[Evan and Belinda Engagement Party]
"Mom,what are you talking about?I thought today was just a regular banquet?"
"And Amora and I...we haven’t even finalized our divorce yet…"
Seeing his mother’s expression deepen into silence,confusion overtook him.
His mind went completely blank.He shook off her hand and rushed outside.
He reached the attic and pushed open the door,his heartbeat pounding harder in his chest.
Seeing everything had been cleared out,except for a single pink satin gift box sitting in the middle of the floor,his hands could not help but shake.
