Chapter 3
I went back to the bedroom and started packing.
My gaze landed on the ID card with the name "Eve" printed across it. That name scorched my soul, a constant reminder that I was just a replacement.
I sorted through every piece of jewelry he had ever bought me and sealed them all into boxes.
I tossed every photo of us into the fire and watched them crumble to ash.
The moment I finished, Alexander's call came through.
There was a time when I would pick up before the first ring even finished.
This time, I just watched the screen light up and go dark, over and over.
"What do you want?" I didn't answer until the ninth call. My voice was flat.
"There's a welcome-back dinner for Evelyn tonight. Be there." He barely contained his impatience, pausing for a long moment before he spoke.
"I don't want to go."
"You have to come. If you don't show up, Evelyn will think she ruined things between us. She'll feel guilty. She'll be upset." His voice hardened into a command.
"So just to make her happy, you think it's perfectly fine to make me miserable?" I almost laughed out loud.
"Eve, don't forget your promise. You said you'd grant me one request, no questions asked." Alexander's tone turned ice-cold.
I closed my eyes. My nails dug crescents into my palms, and a quiet, agonized "fine" was all I could manage.
"My request is that you dress appropriately and attend Evelyn's welcome dinner tonight."
"Okay."
The call ended, and every ounce of strength drained from my body. I slid to the floor.
He texted the address moments later. It was the lounge bar where his circle always gathered.
Before I left, I took one last look at the villa I had called home for three years.
Then I took a cab to the bar.
The second I pushed open the private room door, every pair of eyes locked onto me.
"Well, well, Eve. You came to welcome Evelyn back. Please tell me you didn't show up empty-handed." Someone broke the silence first, their tone dripping with amusement.
"Ignore them. I'm just happy you're here." Evelyn bounded over and hooked her arm through mine, all warmth and smiles.
I shifted my body slightly to slip free of her touch, and my gaze swept past Alexander, who sat at the head of the table.
Then, slowly, I slid the sapphire ring off my finger, the one he had personally designed for me, the one that was supposed to mean "eternal love."
With every pair of stunned eyes in the room on me, I took Evelyn's hand and slipped the ring onto her finger.
"It looks so much better on you. I hope you like it." I tilted my head, admiring how it looked, and gave her my most genuine smile.
The room fell silent. Everyone in that room knew that ring was the one Alexander had designed by hand for his proposal. There was only one like it in the world.
"What are you all staring at? Weren't you guys playing a game? Deal me in." I ignored the thick tension in the air and strolled toward an empty seat, grinning.
Every gaze in the room ping-ponged between me, Alexander, and Evelyn.
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Evelyn's face, gone almost before it appeared. She settled into the seat beside Alexander, close enough to touch.
Once the game started, I threw back shot after shot of hard liquor.
When I lifted my glass again, a large hand clamped down on my wrist, gripping hard enough to bruise.
"What the hell are you doing?" Alexander's eyes churned with barely contained fury.
"Let go." I looked him dead in the eye.
We were locked in a standoff when the fire alarm screamed through the building. "Fire!"
Everyone scrambled to their feet. I was swept along with the panicked crowd when a dull, heavy blow struck the back of my skull.
My vision blurred instantly. My legs gave way, and I crumpled to the ground.
"Alexander!"
The last thing I saw before everything went black was Alexander carrying Evelyn in his arms, racing for the exit without looking back.