Chapter three

Chapter three

“What is it?’. Evangeline asked as her curiosity heightened.

Damien paused for a moment before opening his mouth to speak, “I have decided to move out indefinitely”.

She froze, surely his words were just a fib or a tool to torture her and certainly not true. He didn’t look amused, she noticed, no signs of foul play either- this wasn’t some lie. He was actually moving out!

“Wh- I don’t…I don’t understand.” She stuttered trying to grasp a hold of her doomed reality.

Damien’s brows furrowed deeply as he poured himself a glass of wine, he was calm and unfazed…she was on the verge of going berserk as this was just too much to bear. First she hadn’t seen him in months, then he interrupts her walk by his sudden appearance only to let her know that he was moving out again??

“What is there to understand? I’ve made a decision and my decision is fin-

“But we’re married!!” She finally snapped as she slammed both hands on the glass table, “we had been married for four years Damien!! You can’t just leave?!”

He grimaced seeing the look on her face, the nerve of this woman he thought as he let out a short sigh, “My decision is final. In a week I will have my things moved to a new location, that you do not need to know so I’d rather you not bother asking. You can stay here however, it’s a gift from my parents and I don’t intend to use-

“What about….what about our marriage?’ Already sunken in defeat, she retreated back to her seat.

This woman was cunning, Damien thought, she was either cunning or too dense to see the truth standing right in front of her. This wasn’t a true marriage, it was only a mere connection for both conglomerate families to finesse the system into holding the most power, she either knew that or was just in abject denial.

He never loved Evangeline, she knew where his heart was and still agreed to the arrangement all because she was money and power hungry, she took up the role and responsibility of carrying the future heirs of both families at the expense of her own sister. She might’ve forgotten her misdeeds but he would never, he vowed and swore an oath to make this marriage as miserable as possible and yet she still stayed- four years later and she was still here.

“I have no intention of repeating myself Evangeline. You are only my spouse on paper and that’s all you will ever be. You will never be my wife and you will never be her either so don’t bother trying”, he finally got up to retreat, “goodbye.”

He walked past her and just as he was almost out of sight she called out his name, “Damien?”

“Yes?”. His response as icy as it could get.

She felt a lump in her throat but the words of Beatrice Castillo three days ago still rang in her memory, “Your mother says it’s time to produce an heir.”

She turned around for a reaction but was met with dead-face. He remained transfixed on the spot for a minute and then he turned his back on her, then he proceeded to walk away without giving her words the slightest bit of acknowledgement.

“‘You’ve been married to my son for four years now and I’m sure the honeymoon phase is over. it’s time to get serious and do what you’re meant to do Evangeline, the Castillo needs an heir and it needs an heir fast.’ Beatrice, Damien’s mother and her mother-in-law said to her three days ago in the most stern manner. An heir would secure Damien’s claim as CEO.

This was easier said than done. It was easy to make a baby, all hot took was two people who loved each other and a night of passion but with a man who barely looks her in the eye talk less of breathing the same air as her, a baby was hard to come by. Damien still harboured hatred for her, immense hatred for a tragedy that she had nothing to do with but he didn’t want to or care to know about it.

“The room is ready now Mrs Castillo”, the housekeeper appeared, “I changed the sheets just as you instructed.”

Evangeline forced a smile as she nodded at Vanessa, “Thank you.”

“Will the mister be joining you tonight?” She asked and Evangeline almost snorted with laughter. The question almost sounded like a jab meant to mock her, but knowing Vanessa and how much of a wonderful person she was it was probably a simple and harmless question.

She shrugged, “Who says I want to share a bed with him?”

She walked away and the housekeeper watched as she went out of sight with nothing but pity for her young madam. She was a lonely girl, Evangeline. Four years of being married and still the loneliest woman she’d ever worked for in her entire forty years of housekeeping.

Mr Castillo clearly hated his wife, this wasn’t new. The staffs talked about it all the time and how much Evangeline must be a terrible person for her husband to hate her this much- but she knew, she knew her young madam was a good woman at heart who yearned for the love of her husband.

**********

The smell of fresh strawberries and bacon wafted it’s way into Evangeline’s room the next morning, she smiled just at the thought of having to eat the chef’s famous strawberry jam and his incredible eggs Benedict. Spring was fast approaching which meant the strawberries she grew at the back garden was soon to bloom and that meant a surplus amount of jam all to herself.

Slowly she opened her eyes faintly with a smile still on her face only to notice a figure standing right at the foot off her bed. Clearly she was seeing things, she thought as she rubbed her eyes to clear the morning haze which led her to jolt upright.

“D…Damien??”, she cried out as she grabbed onto the loose strap of her nightdress, “What are you —what are you doing here???”

He frowned seeing the dress on her, it was the calmest shade of maroon which was her sister’s favorite color, “Come down for breakfast.”

She blinked in confusion as this was new. They’d never shared breakfast together, he always ate on the terrance and she ate at the dining hall. It was better that way, as she couldn’t risk him seeing her eat the most unhealthy amounts of bacon and eggs.

“What’s the special-

“My mother is here to see us”, he cut her off and his eyes traveled to the strap of her dress that hung loosely around her shoulder, “Get dressed.”