Chapter Eighty-Seven

EVELYN’S POV:

We went to the living room to watch a TV show together, my dad and I, but I wasn’t concentrating. Without Leonard, I felt incomplete. I’d grown so fond of him in the past few days, and now I felt a bit sick knowing he wasn’t near me. 

I felt feverish and I requested a cup of coffee, which Leonard's mom instructed one of the cooks to make for me.

Deciding to use the time for work, I excused myself from the living room.

“Do you need some help?” Leonard's mother asked as I stepped onto the staircase, her eyes drifting to my injured leg. Her voice was filled with worry.

“I’m alright,” I managed to smile at her. This woman is the sweetest person I know right now, she doesn't let any detail slip away, she cares so much.

I smiled remembering my first ordeal with her.

“Let me know if you need anything,” she said again. I nodded and left.

Once in my room, I grabbed my laptop and got to work, keeping my secretary on a call the whole time as we exchanged files. It took me at least three hours to wrap up everything, but I secured a meeting for the next day. Fortunately, I could afford to postpone it.

The meeting was with Coco Cooperative, one of the most outstanding companies in the state. We had negotiated an offer with them for a while, and it was accepted last week. I needed to meet with their CEO to ensure everything stayed on track.

After finishing my work, I headed downstairs with my laptop and briefed my dad on the latest progress. Once again, he didn’t hold back from expressing how proud he was. Leonard’s mom, on the other hand, showered me with congratulations. My mood lifted for the first time since Leonard left.

Just then, my phone drew everyone’s attention with its ringtone. I pulled it out—it was Leonard. Smiling sheepishly, I answered the call and stepped out to the balcony.

“Hey, darling,” his voice came through, deep, gentle, and calming. A blush crept onto my face.

“I’m fine. I’ve been working, and I have an appointment…” My voice trailed off when I heard a familiar voice in the background.

“Baby, you have to believe me,” the voice said. It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t immediately place it. I froze, my heart sinking.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I was determined not to let them fall. Then, it hit me. The voice was Samantha’s. My chest tightened as the realization washed over me.

I couldn’t hold back the tears anymore; they rolled freely down my cheeks. My phone was ringing nonstop—it was Leonard again—but I didn’t answer. Instead, I sank into a chair and cried my heart out. Afterward, I composed myself, wiped my face dry, and returned to the house, determined not to disrupt the peace inside.

Luckily, no one was in the living room when I stepped in. I grabbed my laptop and headed straight to my room.

“Are you okay, Evelyn?” my dad asked from behind me.

“Yes, Dad,” I replied in a steady voice.

“Right,” he sighed. I hurried inside before he could say anything more.

Once in my room, I placed my laptop and phone on the bed and paced around. My pain had turned into anger. The phone rang again. This time, I grabbed it and smashed it against the floor. Pieces scattered across the room.

Feeling overwhelmed, I left for the bar in the house and grabbed a bottle of wine. Back in my room, I drank straight from the bottle, shot after shot. My head grew heavy, and the room started spinning. As I was about to collapse, someone caught me. I heard a muffled voice calling my name before everything went black.

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I tried to open my eyes, but they felt heavy. A sharp ache pierced my head, and I gasped.

“Evelyn,” my dad called softly.

I tried again, and this time the pain had lessened.

“Dad… What happened?” I managed to ask.

“You passed out, and I brought you to the hospital.”

“Where’s Mia?” I asked, but his expression turned dull.

“I left without her,” he muttered.

Then, like a flood, the memories returned. My heart tightened, making it hard to breathe.

“I was listening to your call,” my dad confessed. “When you left the living room, I followed shortly after. I wanted to relax on the balcony. I didn’t know you’d been drinking. Then, I heard a scream. I rushed inside and caught you before you hit the ground. The doctor said you just need rest. You’re light-headed from the alcohol, and since you drank so fast, the effect hit harder.”

“But you should’ve brought her along,” I said, referring to Leonard’s mom. “None of this was her fault.”

“I couldn’t think straight. I was mad,” he admitted.

The doctor came in with some reports and discharged me. It was 6 p.m. when we left and booked a ride back to my father’s house. At home, everything seemed normal. My dad made coffee for me while the cooks prepared dinner, which we ate quietly before retiring for the night.

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That night, I couldn’t sleep. I missed Leonard’s mom. My thoughts raced—was Samantha’s appearance just a misunderstanding, or was there more to it? My stomach churned with nausea. I ran to the bathroom, threw up, washed up, and returned to bed. The night felt endless, but eventually, sleep claimed me.

The next morning, my dad made sure I had an early breakfast and took my medication. Afterward, I returned to my apartment to prepare for work. By 8 a.m., I was ready to go. For safety, I didn’t drive. My dad had his security team escort me.

At the office, my secretary greeted me warmly.

“It’s nice to see you again,” I said with a smile.

Together, we inspected the office for any issues. Finding none, I settled in, worked on some files, and prepared for my meeting with the Coco Cooperative CEO.