At the clap of Roslyn's hands, a bodyguard appeared with a full array of skincare and makeup, plus an outfit that was nothing short of sizzling.Evangeline's mouth twitched in a half-smile.Roslyn had come ready for anything.Evangeline had made her bed, and Roslyn was not about to let her lie in it.Before long, Evangeline, her eyes smoldering with smoky makeup, found herself at Whiskey Barrel Pub, the biggest nightclub in the South, courtesy of Roslyn's insistent tugging.The strobe lights danced across the room, and the thunderous beats of heavy metal music set the crowd in motion, their bodies swaying instinctively to the rhythm.Towering among the dancers, a man in sleek black slacks and a crisp white shirt moved with a grace that belied his formal attire, drawing eyes with every fluid step.On the sidelines, Julia, clad in a modest white sundress, watched him with a mix of shock and envy.Walter, her Walter, was a revelation on the dance floor. She had only come to the cl
Only when the server emerged with their drinks did Julia seize her moment, darting in front of him.A triumphant glint swept over her as she looked at Evangeline.'Evangeline, you're so smug, aren't you? Well, tonight's the night you're going down in flames,' Julia thought, a gleeful smirk playing on her lips.Evangeline, settled in her booth, received her cocktail.It was a stunning shade of bright blue, the ice cubes casting a cool mist. If she leaned in close, the crisp scent of tequila would tease her senses.Evangeline's lips curled into a pleased smile.'Tomorrow' was blue, no? That was exactly the drink she had had in mind.She took a delicate sip, letting the flavors dance on her tongue.The liquor was potent, rushing to her head, and Evangeline knew she would be over the edge if she had more than half.She reined in the urge to gulp it down and, as the dance floor pulsed with a new song, she eagerly pulled Roslyn into the throng.The beat was infectious, and Roslyn w
Evangeline fought back with everything she had, kicking and flailing in the man's hold, but it was useless. Her resistance only seemed to pull him in closer.Then, a sharp pain shot through her ear."Evangeline, if you don't stop squirming, I won't be responsible for what happens next..." hissed a voice, hot and close.A shiver ran down her spine.Despite her heavy disguise, he knew her. That was no ordinary creep.The pain in her ear brought back a flicker of clarity.Who was that guy? She had to find out.As her head spun, she heard the click of a door unlocking.Through the dim light of the hallway, she caught a glimpse of his face—blurry, but familiar.Those features... They somewhat looked like Walter's.Impossible. What were the odds that she had bumped into Walter there, in a nightclub where Roslyn had dragged her to let loose?She must be seeing things. She rubbed her eyes, desperate for a clearer view.The door shut, plunging the room into darkness.Evangeline, he
Walter was determined to make Evangeline realize who she was dealing with."Walter, you are a monster!"Evangeline turned off the shower, braced herself against the tub, and stood to face him."No, you're worse. You're a real demon!"Didn't my uncle tell you that I'm divorcing you tomorrow? So what are you doing here? What's the deal? Are you trying to be trendy with a parting shot before the divorce, Mr. Walter Gordon?"Evangeline's biting words left Walter with no chance to argue back.The moment Evangeline stepped out of the chilly water, a wave of heat engulfed her. It was an all-consuming blaze, as though she was a steak sizzling on a grill.What on earth was happening to her?She tried to bear the searing pain, but a refreshing sensation on her cheek caught her off-guard. Her eyes snapped up to meet Walter's, who was looking down at her with a chilling smirk."Finally awake, Evangeline? Do you see who's before you?""I'd know you anywhere, Walter. You could be a pile of
Evangeline had no time to react as Walter grabbed her arm, hoisted her, and tossed her onto the bed. The brief contact with Walter's body, cool through their thin clothes, was too much for her already frayed nerves.The relief she felt was like rain after a long drought, so soothing that she could not help but sigh.However, why should she give in to Walter, a man she despised?What she did not realize was that Walter was struggling too. He felt as if he were on fire, his thirst unquenchable.The very person who had ignited that flame was still in bed, whispering sweet nothings, her hands pushing against him relentlessly.He inhaled deeply, fighting the urge to give in to temptation. When he looked at Evangeline, his patience seemed to grow.His hand gently caressed her warm, blushing cheek. "Evangeline, tell me, who's with you in bed right now?"Evangeline, driven by instinct, moved closer to the composed presence before her, her mind too muddled to think clearly."... Walter.
"Let me show you what a true beast looks like!"Evangeline had drunkenly called out for Alex with such joy, a sound that still echoed in his ears.That was why he was determined to prove to her through his actions that it was always him by her side, the one who passionately claimed her, always him.Evangeline had woken up in a rage, and he realized she was filled with regret.Regret for surrendering to him the night before.He got out of bed and started putting on his clothes that were scattered around, doing so with a calm precision.Walter was undeniably good-looking. Even in crumpled clothes, his charm was untarnished."Evangeline, weren't we supposed to meet at the County Clerk's Office? Make sure you're not late."If Evangeline had never loved him, then he would grant her wish. He would agree to the divorce and let her chase after Alex.With a decisive slam of the door, Walter left without a backward glance.Just pulling up his pants and walking away, Walter was the epit
Evangeline's brow creased in frustration.How could she not be slow? Did Walter not have any idea why she was so?She was about to let out her pent-up anger when Walter cut her off. "Alright, alright, you're here now. Just speed it up, will you? I'm in a hurry."Indeed, Walter was rushing Evangeline.The reason for his rush became apparent soon enough. He was worried that if he waited any longer, and if he let himself think about Alex, the guy Evangeline could not stop thinking about, he would lose his cool. The divorce might fall through.He balled his hands into fists. They had made a deal, and he was determined not to back out.Evangeline had not expected Walter, who had last time fled like a frightened turtle, to be so quick to agree this time around.It worked out for her, less hassle.She walked into the County Clerk's Office before him.Filling out the forms and getting the certificate took 10 minutes.Walter walked away without a backward glance.Evangeline looked at
"I just came to get checked out, no need to make a big deal of it. Thanks for the offer, though." Evangeline's tone was not exactly warm, yet she was nothing if not courteous.Her issues with Walter were her own and would not spill over to anyone else—that was her line in the sand."The room's right next door."Caden tried to pull away."Really, it's not necessary, I'm all done here," Evangeline shook her head firmly. She held up the medicine box for him to see, the label clear as day.Levonorgestrel tablets. These were emergency contraceptives for use within 72 hours post-incident.Walter's expression went through a rapid transformation, turning stormy and dark.If Evangeline's earlier reaction outside the County Clerk's Office had left him with a glimmer of hope, maybe, just maybe, she had cared for him once. Now, however, he knew better. It took quite a bit of loathing to bolt to the hospital for birth control the second they split up, and Walter knew it.During Caden and Ev