EVELYN WOKE the next morning with a not-so-nice feeling of queasiness. She moaned and swallowed quavering as the sensation grew acute when she tried to sit up. She fell back on the bed, but that didn't help. Neither did Jason's big arm landing over her belly. "Ugh... get off me, Jason." Jason sat up in bed, giving her a look of intense scrutiny. "Huh? What's the matter?" He frowned. Evelyn scowled at him. She felt terrible and he was adding to it. As she readied to unleash the beast of frustration right on him, nausea caught up with her at the same time. She almost didn't make it to the bathroom in time as she threw up. Jason's expression cleared immediately and he leaped out of the bed with entirely too much vigor when she lurched back. "Are you okay? You look pale. What exactly is wrong with you?" Evelyn glared at him and snapped, "If I knew would I..." She breathed in and said more calmly. "I'll use the shower first." She shuffled to the closet— which was l
EVELYN LOOKED up into the branches of the trees that lined the streets and focused on the pitch of the birdsong rather than the incessant voice of uncertainty that laced her mind. The house numbers at Rowan streets were mostly hidden behind elaborated railings but as Evelyn's gaze browsed the houses she spotted a luminous gold and white hand-painted sign attached to a stone gate pillar. ‘Rodriguez House’ That was definitely it! Evelyn inhaled sharply and turned towards the narrow terraced house. It didn't quite look different from the others from the outside. Two stories. Oxblood red brick with tall sash windows and stone window edges. In two strides she pushed open the black wrought metal gate and crunched her way up a brick and gravel path to a covered porch. The front door was painted in the same creamy white as the window frames and a pair of trees in bright painted pots delivered a splash of welcome green against the dark wood. Evelyn could hear the rhythm of
THE DAY sped by as Evelyn tried to catch up with her work, taking her mind off the events of that morning. When it was a few minutes past four she gulped down a can of cold lemonade— which seemed to be the only thing that could stay put in her stomach these days— and fixed her gaze at the black-velvet box on her table for the hundredth time that day. She was dying of curiosity. Although there was no doubt about what was within it, she wanted to open it so badly and bombard into Locker 20 to retrieve her sister's belongings. But she waited patiently until the rest of the trio arrived. Before she knew it, Julia and Doris were already at her front door and Doris, as expected, kept fussing over her. "Are you okay?" Doris cupped Evelyn's face with both hands, searching every angle of it. "Nothing happened, right? He didn't hurt you, right?" Julia chuckled behind them. "I think we should be more worried if she hurt him." Evelyn flashed Julia a smile of agreement, then
THE SHRILL of the alarm at 7:30 am irritated Evelyn as she struggled to switch it off. It had been barely four o'clock that morning when she'd managed to doze off. Her head throbbed from exhaustion but her constant feeling of nausea seemed to be mild today, though she was pretty sure the détente was only temporary. She groaned as she pulled herself out of the bed, shuffling toward the bathroom. In the shower, Evelyn mentally tried to sort out her to-do list as hot water pelted down over her during her solitary shower. Today was going to be another hectic day for her like every other day in her life recently and she was already tired out thinking about it. Though she intended to look on the bright side today and as terrible as it seemed, she was looking forward to getting whatsoever her sister had stocked up at her safe, more than she was to meet her new employees. She smiled as she swiped soapy hands over her lush, creamy breasts. She paused when she registered that the
"CONGRATULATIONS MA'AM, your result came out positive." The doctor, Joanne Bryan— as her nameplate read— beamed at her. "You're pregnant." Evelyn went cold stone. Her hands trembled frantically underneath the table. Her face twitched. Her heartbeat picked up velocity. Everything felt surreal. She could hear the doctor saying something to her but it sounded so far away. Evelyn went milk pale as she felt her mouth dry up like the Sahara. If she wasn't sitting down she would drop like a bag of hammers. "Ma'am, are you okay?" Dr. Joanne's voice was laced with concern. It took Evelyn minutes to grasp what was going on. She looked up at the other woman and revealed a weak smile. "I'm fine." "Great." The mid-aged obstetrician dealt her a killer smile. Her stomach curled with nausea and her palms started to sweat. "How far along am I?" She asked as the woman entered notes on a laptop. Dr. Bryan looked up over the top of her glasses. "Well, you're about eleven weeks,"
EVELYN TURNED to face him in a heartbeat. "Excuse me?" "Why are you involved with my son?" That question sounded borderline insulting and she wanted to spit out how she would never be actually involved with his son even if he was the only man on earth but from the way he had asked, she had a feeling Jason hadn't informed him about their fake relationship. There probably wasn't a strong relationship between the father and son as she had assumed. "'Cause he is my boyfriend and I like him," she found herself saying instead. Case scoffed. "Nonsense. I know women like you. Women who leech on rich, kind men and siphon their money right off of them," he grounded out. "I won't let you do that to my son." Evelyn almost guffawed. Did he just refer to his son as "kind"...? Hold up, that wasn't the point right now, did he just indirectly call her a "gold digger"? A white-hot blaze of wrath engulfed her. Although she was drawn and tense, she lifted her head high. "Are you call
IT WAS past midnight when Jason gave up tossing and turning from side to side and threw back the covers on the perfectly comfortable king-size bed. He hated to admit it but he'd been having difficulties sleeping without Evelyn by his side. Somewhere in the mansion, a huge mechanical clock was striking every quarter hour with a musical chime but, apart from that solacing sound, the mansion was completely still as the proverbial silence after the storm. Evelyn had looked so exhausted after dinner that she must have dropped off to sleep the minute her head hit the pillows. She hadn't once mentioned the outburst between him and his father during one of the most uncomfortable dinners in the history of most uncomfortable dinners. It was almost a relief when Evelyn covered a yawn with her hand and said Goodnight. He peeked out through the bedroom curtains to see lights from the house on the other side of the street but, apart from that, all was still calm and tranquil. True s
EVELYN SQUINTED her eyes to the sudden brightness. She'd been so engrossed in her thoughts she hadn't heard him come in. "You switched it off yourself." "And you can't switch it back on?" "Yeah," Evelyn replied with no hesitation. Then her attention deviated to the huge plastic bag he dumped on the table. It was literally overflowing with assorted snacks. She frowned. "I said I wanted just saltines. You didn't have to bring the entire store back with you." "I got anything my hands could get on." He glared at her. "Who knows what else you would make me go get." "Well, that's very thoughtful," she replied, grabbing a cracker and ripping it open. "Oh, thanks for getting them for me." "It's not like I had a choice in the matter," Jason grumbled, which provoked a soft laugh from her. That got his attention and not in a fun way. "Did you just laugh? You do realize you are a brat, right? I've never in my life gone to a store to get anything. Not for myself. Not for anyone
To everyone who read this book— TENKISSES! You're wonderful, terrific, fantastic and I'm beyond grateful you took an interest in reading "When The Wrong One Loves You Right" I love you all... and I love feedback and reviews too, so don't hesitate to share them. I was so excited to take you on this imaginative voyage with me and now we're here at the end, I couldn't be any more gratified. So, to my big sister, thank you for being my biggest inspiration, and to my incredible readers, editor, and everyone that believed in this project, I'm so grateful to each and every one of you for your support. YOU'RE THE BEST! And I hope you love Evelyn and Jason's story. Curious to see what happened to Doris...? I know you are. And I can't wait to share Doris and Brad's story with you soon in the next book in the duology— "Love's Inferno: When Fire Meets Ice". Big Heart, Bethel W.C. Eke
"And the Grammy Award for Record of the Year goes to... Jason Lyndon for his hit song 'Hello, Lover!'" the announcer boomed into the microphone, as a huge cheer rose from the crowd. But there was no sign of Jason on stage. A moment of confusion passed through the crowd as they waited for the winner to accept the award. The announcer equally confused, gave another shot at calling him. But there was still no answer. Where was Jason Lyndon? He was just sitting amongst the other celebrities with his wife a few moments ago? Finally, Jason's current personal assistant, James Clarkson, looking dapper in his tuxedo, walked up to the microphone and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to disappoint everyone," he said. "Jason Lyndon is unable to come up on stage right now. His wife has just gone into labor!" The crowd burst into whoops and applause, understanding the situation and happy for the new parents. While the crowd was still congratulating Jason, the PA spo
EVELYN'S HEART slammed painfully against her chest, as the lights dimmed and the first model walked down the runway. THIS WAS IT! This was the moment she had been waiting for all her life, the culmination of months of hard work and endless nights of toil to craft the best collection. Now, she was here in the Paris Fashion Week and her designs readied to be on display for the world to see. And she wasn't here alone. Her loved ones who'd been there for her through it all were here to witness this big win with her. As each model stepped onto the stage, wearing her creations, Evelyn's breath ceased and her heart thumped faster. She watched as the crowd gasped and murmured, their eyes drawn to the fabrics and the shapes that her designs created. It was like a dream come true. With each new design that appeared on the runway, Evelyn felt a surge of pride and happiness. Her vision was coming into existence, right before her eyes. She could see the intricate deta
IT WAS NOVEMBER 20TH AGAIN. The day The Rodriguez would never forget. The day they had lost Clarissa. The family had been unable to hold a memorial service for her since her death because they felt it would be a travesty to honor her while her killer walked free. It was too painful to commemorate her life when there was still so much left unresolved. It felt like admitting defeat, like giving up on justice. But even though they hadn't been able to properly honor her, they had never forgotten her. They still carried her memory in their hearts, and they knew that someday, they would come a year when they'll be proud to give her the memorial she deserved. As she looked out at the multitude gathered to honor the life of her sister, Evelyn felt a surge of emotion. She had never expected such a turnout and it brought tears of joy, sadness, and a sense of fulfillment. For a week straight, the words "We're sorry, Clarissa" and "Rest in peace, Clarissa" had been topping th
"WHOOAA!!!" LIVVIE exclaimed as she gaze around The Lyndons Manor living room. "I feel like I just died and went to an inventor's heaven." Evelyn was in awe too. In the corner of the living room, there was a massive holographic projector, which could display anything from a relaxing fireplace to a movie screen. The lighting could be shifted to suit any mood, from a cozy glow to a bright, energizing hue. A zero-gravity recliner that can massage the muscles and even heat up for added comfort. The Lyndon's Manor was truly a sight to behold. It was both futuristic and cutting-edge, while also exuding luxury and comfort. The interior was adorned with state-of-the-art gadgets, from self-cleaning floors to an AI-powered fridge that could order groceries and meal kits when it was running low. Every corner was designed to maximize productivity and efficiency, while also providing a space for ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation. The decor was sleek and minimalist, with an emphasis on clean l
"JASON...?" Evelyn searched his pale and weak face as his eyes fluttered open and focused on her. When he saw her, a smile broke out on his face. "Hey!" Jason whispered, his voice hoarse from disuse. Evelyn's heart swelled with relief. "I was so worried about you," she said, her voice shaking. "Are you okay?" He reached up to brush her face but she took his hand in midway and squeezed it gently. "I think I'm okay now," he said. "You think?" Evelyn dropped his hand, abruptly. "You think...?" She began to beat his chest softly in feigning annoyance as Jason laughed and groaned weakly. "Do you know how worried I was? I thought I'd lost you. How could you scare me like that? How dare you try to die on me?" Evelyn said, still thumping his chest. "Aw! Evy..." Jason winced. "I'm a patient, remember?" "Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to hit hard," He rubbed the front of the blue and white striped hospital attire. "My chest hurt." Evelyn caressed his che
JASON DIDN'T care if the criminals were successfully disarmed by the cops, his priority was Evelyn. His heart was pounding in his chest, and his hands trembling as his eyes scanned the room for any sign of the woman he loved. Then he saw her. She was sitting on a metal chair, her hands bound to it. Her eyes were closed, her face was slightly bruised and her cloth bloodied. But she was still breathing, and he felt a rush of relief wash over him. He ran to her side, dropping to his knees and gently lifting her head, checking her body for any other sign of injury. "Are you okay?" He asked, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Ja--Jason! She did it. She--she killed Clarissa," Evelyn stuttered, her eyes unsteady. "She killed my sister." Jason nodded. "Shh! Shh! I know. I know," said softly, trying to free her from her bonds. "Get the keys to this damn thing." One of the uniform officers passed him the bunch of keys he found on the table while the rest fanned out, securi
SEVEN YEARS AGO: THE DAY OF CLARISSA'S DEATH... Clarissa was disheartened and looked all ruffled up as she trudged reluctantly away from Jason's mansion. Like having that horrible fight with her little sister wasn't enough for one day, that lunatic Diane Smithson had to show up and launched her latest exhibition of obsession on her. But how had she found out about Olivia's biological father? Clarissa thought. Julia was the only person she'd told about this. No one else. Not even her family. She was already suspicious of Julia, especially after she'd found out about her background which Julia had so flawlessly lied about. She'd still given her the benefit of the doubt because probably she might have been ashamed of her past. But disclosing what she'd told her in confidentiality was not acceptable. Clarissa pulled out her phone in the intention of confronting Julia about it but her weak voice over the phone discouraged her. Instead of confronting her, she resulted to as
EVELYN INHALED, stirring groggily. Her eyes fluttered open as she slowly began to regain consciousness. Her vision was still blurred as she struggled to figure out how where she was. She was in a dimly lit room, the only light coming from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. The room was bare, save for a few cardboard boxes and a single, metal chair that sat in front of her. She tried to sit straight, but a wave of dizziness and nausea hit her and she slumped back down. Her head throbbed, and as she raised her hand to reach for the back of her head, she realized that her wrists were chained to the arms of the metal chair she was sitting on and as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she could see that her ankles were shackled to the legs of the chair. She winced as she strained her head, striving to remember how she had gotten here, then her memory came surging with maximum force. She began to call out, hoping someone would hear her and come to her aid. As she strugg