Chapter 78
Alexander's piercing gaze locked onto Evelyn, his brows drawn together in a tight frown. The fiery anger that had burned in his dark eyes moments before vanished without a trace.
He leaned down, his fingers brushing away a stray lock of hair from her forehead. His voice was softer than she'd ever heard it. "You told me you were carrying my child before you went to prison. What happened to our baby?"
The question sliced through her like a freshly sharpened blade. Old wounds tore open, fresh pain bleeding through the carefully constructed scars.
Evelyn let out a hollow laugh, her lips twisting into a bitter smile. "Exactly as you said, Mr. Blackwood. She's gone. Why ask now? Will your questions bring her back?"
"Evelyn, answer me properly." Alexander's voice carried an unfamiliar urgency.
She met his gaze, her smile never reaching her tear-filled eyes. "How very like you, Alexander. Always knowing exactly where to pour the salt." A single tear escaped, tracing a path down her pale cheek. "After all these years, I can survive your cruelty, your hatred, even your indifference. But do you know what destroyed me completely?"
Her breath hitched. "You gave me hope. Made me believe in us. But it was all my foolish fantasy. You called another woman's name when we were together. You paid doctors to terminate our child. You had her ashes scattered before I could even say goodbye."
The air between them grew thick with silence.
Evelyn could hear both their heartbeats - out of sync, just like their lives had always been. More tears soaked into the pillow beneath her as she remembered childhood promises made on sun-drenched beaches. "I won't lie to you, Alexander. Part of me will always be tied to you. But it's not love anymore. It's hate."
She repeated the words like a mantra, feeling chains of old attachments finally breaking. "I hate you, Alexander Blackwood."
If anything remained of her feelings, it was only nostalgia for the naive girl she'd once been - the girl who believed his promise to make her his bride.
Exhausted, Evelyn closed her eyes. She was so tired of loving, of hurting, of remembering.
Alexander watched her retreat into sleep, his chest tightening as if pierced by countless needles. This unfamiliar ache left him restless. He lay beside her, pulling her cold body against his, but no amount of contact could warm the distance between them.
Just before sleep claimed her, Evelyn heard his whisper: "You're lying to yourself, Evelyn. You still love me."
Did she?
The question followed her into dreams of childhood beaches and running after a boy who never looked back. What had once been sweet memories now festered like wounds that would never heal.
Morning light found Evelyn waking to her internal clock. Memories of the previous night brought fresh pain, followed by bitter amusement. The man who'd broken her beyond repair dared to ask about their lost child now?
She rose, washing away the night's tears with careful makeup. The closet surprised her - all her old clothes remained untouched, as if frozen in time. Victoria's things hadn't replaced them after all.
Selecting an outfit at random, Evelyn descended to find Alexander in the living room.
"You're awake." His tone gave nothing away.
Her lips curved without warmth. "Disappointed, Mr. Blackwood? Were you hoping I'd sleep forever?"
The sharp clatter of silverware against porcelain made her flinch. Had she pushed too far again?