Chapter 24 Pain
Evelyn
As I walked downstairs with Jacob, the last thing I had expected was to see a woman who seemed both familiar and unknown. Her hair, once short, now cascaded down to her waist, and her complexion appeared slightly darker, making her even more beautiful. But it was her eyes that caught my attention the most-they no longer held the gloominess I remembered; instead, they exuded pure happiness. She looked happy. Truly happy.
Standing by her side was a man, his arm wrapped around her waist, as she engaged in lively conversation with Dad and Clara.
"What's the matter?" Jacob's voice snapped me out of my daze. He looked at me with concern.
I could not answer him. However, as his eyes followed to see the sight, he soon realised the reason behind my sudden stillness.
"Oh, there she is. Jacob's here too," Clara called out, gathering everyone's attention. "Come join us."
All eyes turned towards me, and my breath quickened as years of suppressed anger began to rise. I didn't want to speak to that woman or even see her face.
"Evelyn, come on," Jacob pleaded, grasping my hand in an attempt to coax me forward.
"No. I don't want to meet her," I replied, my voice trembling as I struggled to maintain control over my emotions.
"But she's a guest. It wouldn't be polite if you just walked away," he reasoned.
"I don't care. She means nothing to me. I-I..."
"For your dad... do it for him. He invited your mom because he wants to mend your relationship," Jacob interjected, knowing exactly how to convince me. His words infuriated me and left me feeling powerless.
"Come with me," Flashing me a small smile, he pulled me along.
"Hi, everyone," he took the initiative to strike up a conversation with my mother and her boyfriend. "Evelyn was just a little nervous, so sorry for the delay."
I heard a sigh of relief from both Dad and Clara at Jacob's words. They knew I wasn't just nervous, but they wanted to avoid any awkwardness at all costs.
"Hey, Evelyn," Mom's voice reached my ears, and reluctantly, I shifted my gaze towards her, though it was the last thing I wanted to do.
Her voice held a softness, and her eyes were filled with hope, which made me feel a twinge of guilt. She understood that I wasn't happy about her presence. It was evident that she was trying to communicate her remorse.
But as the memories of everything my dad and I had endured flashed before my eyes like a projector, everything seemed to dissipate into thin air.
greeted her,
smile visibly faltered. She tried to mask it, but her disappointment
Dad interjected,
Jack. It's nice to meet you," I said, my attempt
you too. Your mom talks about you all the time, and I must say, you look a lot like her," he replied warmly, choosing to overlook my previous
haven't had many opportunities to notice our similarities. We haven't spent much time together," I chuckled. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you both. I hope you have a pleasant stay
another moment, I
*****
open the
I managed to speak through my sobs,
room all day. You can't isolate yourself like
want to talk about anything," I sniffled,
leave you like this. If you don't open the door, I'll have
voice muffled as I buried my head in the pillow, unable to stop my tears from flowing and
filled with frustration. "After that, you can't blame me
time alone,
room for the past six hours, refusing to talk to anyone or leave this damn den of yours. Your dad's going crazy out there, while you call this isolation some kind of 'private moment.' And you think I'm the one who doesn't understand?!" His worry was evident, overshadowed by his frustration, "Stop acting like an idiot and
wiping my
down my face. The emotions
the room and crying like a five-year-old who lost a fluffy doll kinda thing or got one of those
out strong, but it still came out similar to a toddler's after crying, "And it's not a stupid glittery doll, it's a
in nonsensical behaviour, and you know what? I
me again, Jacob. Consider this
cry over trivial things and create a mess," he taunted,
I
seem like you have the guts to take such a step. You're too afraid to even step out of your little den. It's no surprise, considering
pillow and sat up. Furiously I wiped my
fucking dickhead, how
inside the room, smashing his lips against mine, and sealing them in a fierce kiss. He kicked the door shut and pushed me onto the bed as he kissed me, hard and
over my head as if making sure that I don't move and feel every touch
sign of anger or frustration that I could see on his face, he
my tears, "Otherwise who ruins such
mad at him for calling me an idiot and was thinking of all sorts of ways of yelling at him, but this time, my reaction came out wholly contrary to what I'd thought it'd be. I found myself grabbing his collars and pulling him all the way till our lips moulded together once again. I kissed him, the same passion that surged within when he kissed me, now overflowing with every one of our movements. It made me forget about everything, the weight of my chest that was bothering me ever since I saw
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