Chapter 4

Evelyn's pov

The fountain pen trembled in my hand as I scribbled my signature at the bottom of the divorce paper.

I dropped the one next to the paper and stared at the black ink drying on the white paper. This was it. This was me severing whatever ties I had with Micheal Sullivan.

As I stared at it, I wondered if I was making the right decision. I lifted my hands towards the paper to pick it up but stopped myself midway.

‘Don't give up hope, Evelyn. This is you finding freedom.’ I told myself.

I folded the paper neatly and placed them on his desk along with my wedding ring. This happily ever after wasn't mine.

I pushed back my chair and stepped away from the desk. Then, I turned to the door with my suitcase in hand.

I whipped around, my eyes flicking back to the papers, doubt creeping in.

“Was I doing the right thing?” I repeated.

Suddenly, images of Chloe and Micheal together in bed flickered in my head and fingers tightened around the suitcase handle. Yes, I was doing the right thing. There was nothing left for me here — love, kindness or even a future. Micheal gave that all to Chloe. The one he really loves.

As I stepped outside into the cold, night air, I pulled my hoodie tighter around me. My eyes fell on the guards by the gates, hoping they wouldn't question my departure.

Well, they did.

And when they did, I lied. I told them I was visiting a distant friend who was in trouble. They hesitated at first and even asked about my bruises. I lied again and again until they let me go. Lying had become easy.

I looked back at the mansion. Micheal wouldn't even notice my absence. That's how invisible I was. I turned ahead. Well, not anymore.

I hailed a cab and slipped into the backseat. The driver asked where my destination was and I whipped out Hannah's rumpled card.

“Oh. I know that place. It's not very far from here.” He said with a smile.

“Thank you.” I muttered as he returned the card.

I sank back into the seat with a sigh, praying to God or whoever was in heaven that Hannah wouldn't turn me away.

My silent “prayers” were answered.

The cab arrived at a radiant mansion downtown.

“Here it is. The Collins’s live here.” The driver said.

“Thank you.” I paid the car fare and watched him drive off.

“Who are you?” A familiar voice asked behind me.

I froze. I know that voice.

“Who are you?” She repeated.

I turned around slowly. As soon as our eyes met, she gasped.

“Evelyn?”

Hannah welcomed me with open arms and without hesitation. “Oh my. Come in.”

The guards stationed at the gates opened it and I entered.

“Thank you.” I whispered.

“Come, dear.” Hannah wrapped her arms around me. Her warmth made me feel cozy. Like I was home again.

“Come in.” She led me to the mansion. “You'll be safe here.”

Then she guided me to the couch. “Don’t you worry. You're safe, dear. I live here with my nephew, Lucas. He's upstairs.”

Moments later, Lucas appeared. He was tall - six foot one with dark gold hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to look right through me.

While Hannah introduced us, he didn't ask prying questions like other people would, instead he offered me a smile and a handshake and told me I was welcome to stay in his house for as long as I liked.

Apparently, he owned the mansion they lived in.

We had dinner together and Hannah decided to show me to the room I would be staying in. It turned out I wasn't the only young woman Hannah had helped with this kind of “situation”. She was so kind it hurt.

Before I went to bed, she patted my hair softly. “Don't worry. We'll help you start over.”

The days that followed were a complete whirlwind.

Lucas, ever since he heard my story, I “disappeared” completely. At first, I thought it had something to do with the supernatural but he meant changing my identity — getting new hair, new clothes and even a new name. It was a good plan but I refused.

I couldn't do it. It felt like I was erasing my old self and becoming someone I'm not. But time after time, as I stared at my “lovely” reflection in the mirror, the scars of my past stared back at me. It made me realize Lucas was right. I had to let go of the past if I wanted to move on.

One Saturday morning, Hannah snipped away at my hair and added a “fake” birthmark on my cheek. When she was done, she passed me the mirror and I was blown away.

The woman staring back at me was a different person.

My shoulder-length blonde hair was now a sleek, , dyed black.

“You look beautiful.” Hannah beamed me a warm smile.

I returned her smile. “Thank you.”

My gaze returned to my reflection in the mirror. No one would know who I am. At the moment, it was the right thing to do but deep down, I didn't feel comfortable about it.

Two weeks later, I became another member of the Collins’s. Everything felt natural now. I was with people who didn't know my past and in a nicer neighborhood. This was the life I wanted. The life Micheal couldn't give to me.

One afternoon when Hannah left for her shift, Lucas and I decided to go shopping.

I had insisted on going to the one nearby but Lucas insisted we visit somewhere else.

A knot grew in my stomach. “What if I run into someone I know or worse, Micheal?”

“Don't worry, Evelyn. No one will recognize you and even if they did, we could always say you're her look alike. People find their doppelgangers all the time.” He said with a wink.

“Okay.” His words comforted me. Even though they gave me some sort of assurance, doubt settled in the pit of my stomach like stone.

After getting the basic things we needed, we decided to wander around the boutique.

Lucas chatted away about some art exhibit he was invited to in Italy and how he wanted to buy a piece there. I nodded absently, my eyes cautiously watching the people in the mall.

He must have sensed my worry because he laced his fingers with mine and pushed the stroller with a free hand.

“I'd love to show you some time, wife.” He said aloud.

I blinked. “What?”

“The art exhibit?” He said aloud again and I wondered if he lost a screw upstairs.

He leaned closer and whispered. “You look terrified, Evelyn. Someone might think I kidnapped you.”

“Oh. I'm sorry.” I hadn't realized I was sulking.

“It's alright,” He gave our linked hands a squeeze. “Let’s go home.”

He definitely read my mind. I wanted to leave.

He turned the stroller the other way that led to the counter. One more step and we'll get out of here.

We arrived at the counter where Lucas began to process the payments with the cashier.

My eyes wandered around the mall, wondering if there was something we were forgetting.

A familiar perfume hit my nostrils and my stomach flipped.

No. No.

The clicks of heels got closer and I flinched.

Don't turn around!

“Evelyn?”

My blood turned to ice.

“Evelyn Octavia Taylor!” The woman called aloud this time.

She was doing this intentionally to make a scene.

Slowly, I turned around to meet her.

There she was, holding a shopping bag in one hand and her iPhone in another.

She gasped. “So it is you.”

“Hello.” I said through gritted teeth.

She waved it off. “Nah. Call me sister-in-law.”

Then she narrowed her eyes. “Hmmm. You look like my sister-in-law but … different.”

Lucas came to rescue. “That's because she isn't.”

Sarah took a step closer. “What?”

Lucas took my hand. “Yes. This is Linda, my wife.”

“No.” Sarah squinted her eyes. “She looks like Evelyn.”

My breath hitched. Why was she relentless?

“You're holding up the line!” Someone called from the back.

Sarah shot the stranger a glare. “You better shut up!”

Then she turned to me. One more stare from her and I swear, I'll run.

“Hmm.”

Lucas pulled me behind him. “You're mistaken, ma'am. Maybe your sister-in-law is somewhere around here.”

“Sure.” Sarah said, flatly.

She's given up?

“Thank you.” Lucas turned around to complete the payment. We carried out groceries and hopped out of there.

“Who was that woman anyways?” Lucas asked as we walked to the BMV.

I heaved a sigh. “Micheal's younger sister, Sarah.”

He opened the trunk and helped me put in the groceries.“Well, she's got quite a mouth on her.”

“Every Sullivan does.” I replied with another sigh. It's been a long day.

Lucas opened the door to the passenger seat. “Shall we?”

“Yeah.” Before I could climb into the driver's seat, I heard it.

“I knew you were Evelyn. I was right!”

We both turned to see Sarah standing by the car.

When did she get here?”

“You can dye your hair and change your name but I'll always know who Evelyn,” she chuckled. “When Micheal said you ran away, I thought he was joking. The Evelyn we know is submissive but oh, I was wrong. You've got guts.”

I lost it. “Sarah…”

“Wait till I tell Micheal.”

I looked at Lucas. “What do we do now?”

“No?” He looked back at me. “We run.”