Chapter 8

A year into their marriage when Jack started drinking. He will come home almost every night, drunk and angry. Eva is trying her best to be an understanding wife. She would take care of him, feed, bathe him, and change his clothes even when Jack would tell her, blaming her that she no longer receives offers in her modeling career.

"Babe, let's eat? Dinner's ready." Eva calmly announced to her husband, Jack, who's lying in their bed.

"Do you know what I see in you right now?" Jack asked her in a rude tone. "Desperation."

Eva was stunned by her husband's statement, but she chose to be quiet. They are already the talk of the neighborhood one and a half months after their marriage. Every time that Jack would come home, he drunk. But even in his drunken state, he would still abuse Eva. And she can't complain, his words were always "you're my wife, and this is your obligation."

Eva was about to go downstairs to eat alone when Jack grabbed her shoulders and pushed her to the wall. This caused her head to hit the wall and bleed. Jack heard Eva's moans of pain, but he didn't care. He took her there. Standing, hurting, bleeding. He took her roughly, without passion, without respect. Eva couldn't do anything but accept what life has given her. She started to think that maybe Jack was right. Perhaps it was her fault that she ruined his life.

"I don't want to come down. Bring my food here." Jack demanded after he finished. He just removes himself from her without warning, apology, or appreciation.

After putting on her underwear and shorts, Eva went downstairs to get Jack's food. But when she finally stepped into the quietness of the kitchen, Eva's tears began falling uncontrollably. Her body shook with every silent scream, and wished that everything would go back to normal. That Jack would go back to the way, he used to be.

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The following day, Giselle arrived at their house with a homemade dish she cooked. She wanted to spend some time with her best friend. After Eva got married, she became busy with her husband. Which Giselle completely understands. She tried to give them as much time as they need to enjoy their newlywed status.

"Hi, best friend!" Giselle enthusiastically greeted her best friend, who just smiled and hugged her tightly. She thought Eva was just tired to she kept quiet.

"Hi! How are you?" Eva greeted her, smiling? But she can feel how fake her smile is.

"Where's your husband?" Giselle asked.

"I'm here. How are you? Jack asked Giselle.

"Babe, I have to go. We have a client meeting." Jack announced. Giselle watched him as he walks towards Eva, who's keeping her down. He hugged her and kissed her head, but Giselle noticed something. Eva secretly winced. Giselle kept quiet and waited for Jack to leave before firing her questions.

"Is he hurting you?" Giselle said, more like a statement than a question.

"What? Of course not." Eva couldn't maintain her eye contact.

"Really?" Giselle tried to confirm.

"Yes, why would you think that?" Eva looked away.

"Because of this." Giselle grabbed Eva's arm and witnessed how she winced in pain. The moment she arrived, Giselle noticed that despite the humid weather, Eva is wearing a long sleeve. Then she saw how Eva winced while Jack was hugging her. "What is he doing to you, Eva?"

"Nothing. He's not doing anything." Eva lied.

"Is that so?" Giselle said she watched Eva turn her back on her to put the dish at the table. Giselle used her long umbrella to poke Eva's left leg, and she was right. Eva almost fell on the floor if she wasn't able to grab the nearest chair for support. "He's not doing anything to you?"

"He just carried away sometimes." Eva finally put the dish down. "He's not doing anything to me, I promise."

Giselle stared at her best friend for a little while, then finally shook her head. She can feel something is wrong, but Eva won't tell her. Giselle let out a loud sigh and sat down on the chair near her. Eva was pretending to set up the table for the two of them, but Giselle can clearly see how her hands and her chin shake. It was Eva's sign is she's trying to hold her tears.

"You know that I can tell if you're lying, right?" Giselle crossed her arms and looked at Eva intently.

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Jack arrived at their office early. He doesn't want to leave the house yet, but Giselle being there irritates him. He felt like he wants to smother her face whenever she's near. Jack sighed to calm himself. He can't let Giselle's visit to their house ruin his day.

"Hey, Jack, Boss wants to see you," Jericho said as he peeks his head on his office door.

"Why?" Jack asked, confused.

"I don't know, man," Jericho said, then left.

Jack decided not to make their boss wait. He immediately went to her office and knocked three times. After hearing her said "come in," Jack carefully opened the glass door. He was always mesmerized by the elegant design of the room. Cozy, extravagant, but not intimidating.

"Aren't you going to sit down?" A lustrous voice of a woman said from the window.

She is Vanessa Van Heim. A thirty-four-year-old single lady with a net worth of 7 million a year. The Van Heim Architectures is not her only business. She's a woman of ambition, drive, and fierce passion.

"How are you, Jack?" Vanessa asked without looking at him.

"I'm doing great, Ms. Van Heim," Jack responded confidently.

"Good, sit down." Vanessa turned around to face him. Jack suddenly felt like he is sweating badly. She is wearing a tight, blood-red plunging neckline. Vanessa smirked when she saw how Jack looks at her. Jack noticed it, so he tried to look away. But no matter how hard he tries, Vanessa's revealing dress kept calling for his attention.

"Like what you see?"

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Giselle went home after spending some time with Eva. She observed her actions, her expressions, her jumpiness. There's a lot that she wanted to say to her, but Giselle decided against it. She doesn't want to start another fight with Eva. Jack will have an easier time manipulating and bullying Eva.

"Hey, I was expecting bubblier, happier you after visiting Eva," Lindon said when he noticed that Giselle was too quiet. He came to visit when Giselle arrived home.

"I think Jack is abusing Eva," Giselle said with a hint of hatred in her tone.

"Do you have proof?" Lindon asked. "I have a cousin on the social service; I can ask her for help."

"When I arrived, she was wearing a long sleeve in humid weather," Giselle explained. "Then Jack hugged her, and I saw her winced. I grabbed her arm, and it hurt her too much. She can't even walk properly. I poked her leg with my umbrella, and she almost fell face-first on the floor."

"Damn, what is he doing?" Lindon asked more to himself. "I ask for my cousin's help. Don't worry, we are going to do something about it.