Chapter 0004

For an hour, Evan drove around town aimlessly, thinking about the divorce. Thanks to his so-called friends, he was second-guessing his decision.

It was past midnight when he still had no specific direction where to go.

He thought about going to a hotel or his office, but suddenly, he remembered one person who could understand him, Nicole. Thus, he drove to Nicole's apartment.

When Evan arrived at the apartment, he rang the doorbell several times. Finally, when the door opened, he saw Nicole's smiling face.

She was surprised to see him, and he could tell by how her eyes widened and gleamed. Faintly, she said, "Evan, you are here!"

"I need someone to talk to," Evan revealed. "I hope you don't mind."

Nicole quickly let him in and guided him to the living room. She said, "What's bothering you, Evan?"

Then she frowned, and with a sad expression, she asked, "Did you fight with Shantelle? I'm sorry. I don't know how she learned that I had returned. I was surprised when she came barging into my door last Tuesday."

Nicole quickly cried and said, "I should have never come back here and make trouble for you and Shantelle -"

"I've asked for a divorce," Evan revealed.

"What?" She asked in shock.

"I told Shantelle I want a divorce. Since my father stepped down at the company, he can no longer force me to stay married to Shantelle," Evan revealed, looking past Nicole.

"Are -are you sure?" Nicole inquired.

Evan groaned. He lowered his head and rested his face against his palms, saying, "It has to be done. I want out. This wasn't how I wanted my life to be."

Nicole stretched her hands to rub Evan's shoulder. She said, "I know how you feel, Evan. It's hard when everything is taken from you - like how your father deprived me of getting an opportunity here in Rose Hills. You and I both know what it feels like to be stuck in a situation you can't escape."

In a caring tone, she added, "I wholeheartedly support your decision. You deserve to make your own choices."

To Evan, Nicole was a good listener, and that always gave him a sense of comfort. It reminded him of how he became friends with Nicole in the first place.

When Evan was still taking his master's degree at Lockwood University, he met Nicole while borrowing a book from the library. She was working as a librarian there. At first, she quickly caught his attention because her back looked like Shantelle's. Besides that, Nicole was very efficient in giving Evan the books required for his research. Then, every time he visited the library, they would chat briefly.

Evan and Nicole seemed to like the same things. Outside the library, they often bumped into each other, especially in the places where Evan spent his free time. It was as if fate was bringing them together that Evan casually dated her. So when it was time for Evan to take on a more prominent role at the company, he offered to bring Nicole to Rose Hills. He wasn't sure yet of how he felt about her back then.

Nicole did not have friends or family, and Evan felt sorry for her. Evan thought, with his connections in Rose Hills, Nicole would have a better life in the city of his birth.

Unfortunately for Evan, he forgot about one thing.

Shantelle Scott.

He failed to factor in Shantelle in his decision to bring a woman to Rose Hills. How could he forget that his parents had always wanted him to marry Shantelle?

Evan could only blame the distance. He was technically gone for seven years, returning only a few days every year and forgetting about that verbal arrangement between their families.

However, before Evan could consider things thoroughly, his father acted harshly against Nicole. He looked down at her and tried to pay her off. When it did not work, and Nicole remained in the city, his father forced him to marry Shantelle.

Evan let out all his frustrations with Nicole. Feeling relieved, he said, "Thank you for hearing me out, Nicole. I'm glad I came here. Is it okay if I sleep in the guest room?"

"Of course, Evan. Technically, this is your house," Nicole replied.

Evan guided himself into the guest room. He smiled at Nicole, who was standing outside the door. He said, "Goodnight, Nicole."

"Goodnight, Evan," Nicole answered with an amiable smile.

When the door slammed shut, Nicole frowned. She was very disappointed that Evan did not let her in. She walked closer and even tried to open the door. However, it was locked from the inside.

She cussed but reminded herself of how Evan was divorcing Shantelle! She made her way to her room and mumbled, "Be patient, Nicole. In due time. The wait is all worth it."

***

In the morning, Nicole prepared breakfast for Evan. Then, recalling how Evan complained about Shantelle's paranoia, she took a picture of him while drinking his coffee.

Over the past few months, she had secretly sent clues to Shantelle that Evan had been seeing her. The photos did not have to suggest that they were in a relationship. Nicole knew Shantelle had always been insecure when it came to her.

Since Evan was divorcing Shantelle, she no longer hid her identity. 'Soon, Evan will be mine, like it should have been two years ago, bitch!'

Nicole smirked as she sent the photo to Shantelle. She gave Evan her back and awaited Shantelle's reaction.

After a few minutes, she received a response, and oh, how it was favorable to her. A sinister grin became painted on her face with the realization that Shantelle had given up!

She imagined herself living with Evan, sleeping beside him in the bed, and finally making love. Her relationship with Evan had always been ambiguous. When they were casually dating back in Lockwood City, they had kissed, but they had never gone beyond that. Evan never gave her a title, whether a girlfriend or a fling.

When Evan married Shantelle, everything changed. Evan held back with her and put a distance between them. It was worse when Evan's father banned her from the city. She could not get a job, and Erick's men constantly threatened her away.

Nicole had no choice but to stay away for over a year. Once in a while, she would reach out to Evan, but their communication was minimal.

Finally, with her back in Rose Hills and with Evan holding the CEO position of the Thompson Group of Companies, Nicole was more determined to be with Evan. She smirked as she thought, 'Soon, with Shantelle gone, Evan will remember who he truly likes, and that's me. I did not sacrifice so many years to fail!'

"Thanks for breakfast, Nicole. I better head back and remember, you have an interview at the public library. Don't worry. Father would not interfere from now on. He has become tired of fighting me."

"Really?" Nicole asked. "That's good news. That means I can finally pay you back for all the help you gave me."

"No, don't pay me back. I owe you for what my father did." Evan suggested. He then turned in the direction of the common restroom and asked, "Can I use the toilet?"

"Sure, Evan," Nicole said with a smile.

She watched as Evan first attended to some of his messages. He left his phone on the table before going to the restroom.

Nicole was cleaning the table when she saw Shantelle's message. Her hands itched to see what Shantelle had to say, especially since she had revealed herself to her. Thus, she opened the text. Thankfully, Evan's mobile was still open from his earlier use. She did not need his password at that point.

When she saw that Shantelle had sent a screenshot of her picture message, Nicole panicked. Even if she had used an alternate number, it was obvious that the picture came from her. The angle of where the photo was taken gave it away.

'Evan can't know!' She quickly deleted the screenshot Shantelle sent, including the message where she had agreed to the divorce. "Bitch! Do you think that will work?"

She laughed. She rolled her eyes and said, "Sorry, Evan will never know about it. You are such a loser, Shantelle Scott."