Chapter 2

 

Evelyn's POV

"I'm truly sorry about this. I... I never thought that something like this would happen," she said with a trembling voice. Her eyes were getting wet with tears.

My eyes almost zeroed at her, realizing that she wasn't actually apologizing but instead mocking me. I could tell very well what a real apology was. Her lips were slightly raised at the side and her eyes were unnecessarily wider than usual.

If they were something I learnt during the years of being friends with her, it was that she could switch emotions as fast as a chameleon changes colors.

"How many months is it?" I asked next, ignoring her replies to my questions. The sound of the igniting engine beside me added to the tension as it served as a reminder that we were still at the airport.

Her shoulders trembled again, her lips parted just the same time as a tear slid down her cheek. "It's been five months," she answered.

I took in a deep breath as my gaze fell on the bump again. This had been so shocking even though I told myself countless times that nothing could be shocking after getting betrayed.

"I wanted to tell you on the phone but I figured it'd be wrong of me so I decided to tell you once we arrived," she lowered her head. Her acting was top-notch. Fury burned through my veins but I tried not to give them the satisfaction of seeing it.

She lifted her head up, her lips curled between her teeth as she gave me a pleading look. "Evelyn, I know you weren't expecting this and also this might sound selfish but can I keep the baby? I wanted to know your thoughts about it," she added.

I clenched and unclenched my fists as I realized what she was trying to do. I doubted whatever I said would even be considered. This was just a manipulation and as suspected, Seth stepped in.

He had been utterly quiet since but not because of shame but pride. "Do we need her permission to have our child?" He snapped, a frown etched across his face. His brown eyes were filled with unhidden hatred, and his clean-shaven jaw was set. I once considered him to be handsome but with a closer look, I could see the aging at the corners of his eyes. His tousled hair that made him look like a rogue on a run and the faint dark circles below his eyes.

"Y-yes. She's still your wife," Veronica said, her voice laced with resentment.

"I don't consider her that," he pinned his gaze on me while he entwined his hand with hers. "To me she's nothing," he added.

"Sure, have the baby, but that child will still have to call me 'Mom'." I snapped back, but kept my voice soft and gentle just so no passerby could hear our conversation despite the tension in the air.

"You're utterly shameless," he hissed.

Clearing my throat after noticing the tick on his jaw, I spoke again. "Would you rather meet your parents or have a place with Veronica?" I inquired without sparing Veronica a glance.

He turned his head to look at her and for a brief moment I thought he would choose the latter but he suddenly turned to answer. "We need to drop our things off. I know you're smart enough to understand what that means. Take us to a hotel and then I'll discuss the rest of the latter," his tone was authoritative. It was a slow blow insult.

Exhaling sharply, I gestured to my car. Seth hesitated but soon settled Veronica in the car before I drove off. After a minute's drive, we arrived at a fancy hotel and Seth quickly moved to settle Veronica in.

"How long would the drive take?" He asked while sitting beside me. Of course he agreed to meet his parents which had come as a surprise. I expected him to stay with Veronica and not just abandon her at the hotel. However, I was the last one surprised. If there was anything Seth was good at, it was betrayal.

A snort escaped my lips when he leaned back leisurely without a hint of regret in his eyes over leaving her behind.

"What's funny," he snapped his head to look at me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "For someone who claimed to be in love, you really know little about the term. Not only did you dismiss Veronica, but you also left her alone in the hotel," I commented dryly, my toke dripping with sarcasm.

His face turned sour and his eyes darkened. "You already know why," he said shortly and I could see the anger in his eyes and feel it radiating through him that it sent a cold chill down my spine.

It was true. I knew exactly why he couldn't refuse seeing his parents and although he appeared all tall and mighty, he had a little to boast off and that was his title as the heir to the Jupiter pack. He had nothing of his own.

All his properties were mine, leaving him with nothing. He might be with Veronica but the public only knew one person as his wife.

"My parents might be blind enough to give you everything that's rightfully mine, but they'd never give you one thing you need and that's me," he sounded just like always, prideful, arrogant and overconfident about himself.

"And don't you dare try to hurt Veronica just so I can come back to you. You could have everything but don't expect that I'd ever be yours. Never," his voice was dripping with malice.

My hand tightened around the steering, my throat became painfully dry. The dinner I ate last night churned in my stomach as the turmoil of emotions increased. All these years I had been nothing but a shell of myself, broken beyond repair and he had more control over me than I showed it. Not physically but emotionally. He had made my heart beat for him only to rip the heart to thousands of pieces. And I was done giving him that much control over me. He didn't deserve it.

"Let's get divorce." The words rolled off my tongue like it had always been there, at the tip of my tongue, waiting for this day.

I couldn't spare him a glance as the tension hung in the air again, and silence stretched between us, making it hard for me to guess his reaction.

A low dark chuckle erupted from his throat before he burst into a fit of laughter. The sound was so unpleasant that it made the hair on the back of my neck rise.

"You're quite hilarious. You want a divorce? Is this a joke you've been practicing for a while? Because if it is then I should applaud you for that," he waved me off, and his dismissal only irked me further. "I mean, why would you leave me when I'm the reason you have everything you possess? You're nothing without me whether you admit it or not. Because I believe your heart is not the one speaking," the confidence he exuded was irritating.

Gritting my teeth, I spoke again. "You're right about one thing. I'm not speaking with my heart but also with my brain. To be honest, over the past three years I have learnt to move on from what happened between us. With that said, I don't want to be in an empty shell of a marriage with you," I replied so calmly that I almost felt proud of myself.

I had gone through enough to finally pull myself from his strong hold. He wasn't someone who deserved anything from me, not even my indignation.

His eyes were boring holes on my skin as they lingered on me in shock and doubt. Soon he laughed again. "Come on, I doubt you mean that. There's no way you suddenly changed your mind after what happened, after you almost sacrificed your life because you wanted me back. You slit your fucking wrist, Evelyn. Like I said your jokes are expensive," he drawled, his eyes filled with doubt.

I closed my eyes briefly to inhale. The tension in my shoulder made it hard to maneuver the car. He was trying to make a point but if only he knew that attempting suicide a year ago wasn't entirely because of him.

"If you truly want me to believe you then you should do better because right now you don't sound fucking believable," he continued.

My throat tightened in anger as I rolled the window halfway to allow much air to slice the tension in the air but it wasn't enough to dissipate it. I was growing frustrated and exhausted while trying to make him believe me.

I bit my bottom lips and I wince at the taste of copper. The same familiar taste I felt in my mouth years ago after he broke the news of his relationship with Veronica. I had been so furious, hurt, shocked and regretful that I lashed out at her, slapping her several times until he stepped in.

The weight of their betrayal on my chest made it hard to breathe when he called me a slut. That one word was able to make everything freeze for a couple of seconds.

"Oh, come on!" his deep groan pulled me out of my thoughts as I entered the Jupiter packs territory. I lifted my head up to find his mother – Luna Janet and his father – Alpha Raymond standing at the doorsteps.

I parked the car before coming down to meet them but Seth was a couple steps ahead of me. His parents' smiles were at me before they gave him a suspicious look.

"Did you bring your little fox back with you?" They demanded as he got closer. His eyes widened in disbelief before shooting me a hard glare.

Also surprised by it, I quickly raised my hands. "I didn't snitch," I said while staring at his parents with pure curiosity.

****

Seth's POV

My jaw clenched at the sight of her. I couldn't help but steal every glance possible. Her black silky hair was beautiful under the sunlight.  Soft pale skin, green eyes and small plumped lips that were irresistible. It was hard not to be drawn to her striking appearance even though it had been three years since I last saw her.

She looked even more beautiful. Plus, it was hard to erase the memory we had together. I remembered everything like the feeling of her warm hands against mine. We had been childhood sweethearts and I watched her excel in everything, causing everyone to adore her. She always had the spotlight while I hid in the lurking shadow but despite that feeling of inferiority, I still confessed to her, expecting her to throw me off but she accepted me. Nothing felt more incredible and I couldn't stop smiling like a fool in love.

"Thank you, but I'd really appreciate it if you don't address her as a little fox," I defended Veronica, besides she was the mother of my unborn child.

My breath caught in my throat as I stole another glance and this time she was smiling at whatever my father said. I couldn't believe we fell apart but the moment I set my eyes on Veronica in the wilderness, only two words came to my mind. Pure and kind. She was so different from Evelyn, who acted proud and enjoyed the center of attention.

The knot in my stomach refused to go away after hearing her ask for a divorce. My face paled and my heart paused for a couple of beats. The least I had expected from her was a divorce even though the marriage was a sham. Staring at those beautiful green eyes, I still doubted her request. How could someone who loved me to an extent she wanted to take her own life ever think of leaving me?