Chapter 8
"You're still lying," Victor said, his gaze growing colder. "You keep asking me to trust you, but your actions say otherwise.
"I told you before, everything I did for Gwen was for the heir. Why do you keep stirring up trouble? What possible good would it do us if something happened to the child?"
My chest rose and fell sharply as all the pain and anger I'd been holding back caught in my throat.
I wanted to question him, to fight back, to scream at him that I'd never hurt anyone. I wanted to ask if he'd forgotten the vow he made in front of the statue at the orphanage.
He once promised he'd always believe in me.
But in the end, I looked at him, feeling utterly drained.
"Fine. If you don't believe me, then that's it. We're done. I'll give you everything you want. You, Gwen, and your children can finally be a real family," I said, my voice trembling.
Victor froze, staring at me in disbelief. "What did you say?"
"Wasn't I clear enough? I'm done. I'm letting you go. You and Gwen can finally be together," I said, looking at him through tear-filled eyes.
A deafening crash echoed through the room.
Victor slammed his fist down on the table beside him.
Blood immediately started streaming down his knuckles.
He didn't seem to feel pain at all.
Then he grabbed both my wrists, his eyes blazing with fury. "Evelyn, what the hell are you talking about? You're the only woman I've ever loved! Everything I've done was for us, for our future. And now you're telling me to be with someone else?"
I stared at him. For a long time, neither of us said a word.
Finally, Victor took a deep breath and pulled me into his arms. He held me so tight that it felt like he wanted to make me a part of himself.
"It's over now. Gwen's already forgiven you, and I'm not going to hold it against you anymore.
"But don't ever bring up leaving again. Everything I've done has been for the day we can finally walk away together," he said, his arms locking around me.
I buried my face in his shoulder. But I kept the truth to myself.
Screw it! I was leaving, no matter what.
After a long silence, I asked softly, "Did she forgive me that easily? No demands?"
Victor stiffened.
For a moment, he didn't say a word.
Then he slowly let go of me.
"She..." Victor started, his voice trembling. "Gwen wants a wedding. She wants something official, so the kids will know their parents did love each other once."
He avoided my gaze and quickly added, "It's all fake, for show, for everyone else to see. We did it for the kids. Don't overthink it."
I stared at him, unable to say a word.
They already had two kids. And now they were getting married. How was any of this supposed to be fake?
Victor kept rambling on about the wedding, the responsibilities, and the future waiting for us after we left.
His voice kept breaking, faltering with every word.
I watched his lips move. Suddenly, I felt so exhausted.
I closed my eyes, shutting out every word he said.
From start to finish, I didn't say a single word.
Victor stayed by my side in the hospital for three days.
He took care of me himself the whole time.
He'd blow on every spoonful of herbal medicine to cool it down before bringing it to my lips.
If I made the slightest sound in the night, he'd wake up instantly, grab my hand, and only go back to sleep once he was sure I was okay.
Whenever the doctor gave me a shot, he'd pull me close and gently shield my eyes with his arm.
"Don't look. It'll be over soon," he said softly.
But the moment I was discharged from the hospital, he threw himself into planning the wedding.
To keep me from interfering, he took my phone and posted guards outside my door day and night.
The whole manor felt like a prison. The only person allowed near me was the housekeeper.
I didn't make a scene.
I didn't argue.
Instead, I quietly packed my bags.
On the day of the wedding, my phone was finally given back to me.
It was packed with photos Gwen had sent me.
The photo of Victor sliding the ring onto her finger.
The photo of Victor kissing her while everyone clapped and cheered.
The photo of Victor smiling as he cut their wedding cake.
Every single photo was like another knife, carving deeper into my already shattered heart.
When I was about to turn off my phone, the bedroom door opened.
Ernest stood in the doorway and said, "It's done."
He handed me a plane ticket. "I did what you asked."
His expression was still impossible to read.
"As long as you leave today, Victor will never find you. no matter what," he added.
I stared at the ticket for a long time. Then I took it.
I grabbed the suitcase I'd packed days ago and walked out of the manor.
The sun was shining brightly.
The sky was clear.
I didn't look back.
I walked toward the waiting car, one step at a time.
I didn't say goodbye to Victor.
Because I knew deep down, we were never going to see each other again.