80 Chapter 32 (1/2)

Evangeline's colorless and dull eyes glinted in recognition when Eric's face subjugated her entire view. But it constricted again while her body shuddered in hatred when Angel moaned Eric's name in pain.

Angel's misty eyes were holding a tear. Her face aggrieved while her nose was red and her quivering lips, which let out Eric's name intimately drove Evangeline to madness once more.

Snappily, Evangeline pulled her hand from Eric's grip. She raised it again, attempting to smack Angel's lecherous scheming face. And for a second time, Eric seized her hand. Only this time, more tightly, stopping her from harming the hateful woman.

”Let go of me!” Evangeline hissed. She was so angry her body quivered, trying to control herself from harming Eric.

Grimacing, Eric frowned even deeper, and his voice now had a tint of anger.

”Evangeline . . . stop it. It's . . . unsightly . . .”

Evangeline, who was struggling to get her hand back from Eric's grasp, abruptly stopped moving. Her brain, which was full of nothing but anger and jealousy, realized something while her eyes, which were blazing with fury, calmed down.

At this second, that time with Sisley replayed in her mind.

––”Why stick to a man who doesn't love you that much? You're losing your sense of self.”

. . .

. . .

Sisley's face became gloomy, and her tone turned serious.

”Evangeline . . . you're only saying that because you don't understand. But once you do, try saying it on my face again?” ––

Ah . . .

It was like something she couldn't see––no, refused to see, was now being laid bare before her eyes, and the dark fog and heaviness she felt for the past days were clearing.

She, who was a person of ironed will. A person of pride and arrogance. A person who knew her worth. A person who didn't need anyone nor depend on anyone. A person who could look in the mirror and say that she was all she needed. She was enough . . . was gradually losing her sense of worth just because of a man?

A reason she so swore wouldn't be the reason which would change her.

However, without knowing it, she disregarded her pride to wait for a man. She discarded her worth to chase after a man who didn't even love her. She became dependent on a man who didn't even want to spend a bit of time with her.

And now . . . now that she realized what she was doing, her intense eyes steadily turned calm. But there was no glint nor sparkle in them unlike before.

Eric's solemn expression revealed a crack. His eyes flashed with worry when he saw the gradual changes on Evangeline's face.

She was calm as usual, yet he could no longer see the vivacity arrogance in her eyes nor the mocking, taunting, and haughty fake smile on her lips and his grip on her hand loosened bit by bit until he thoroughly released her.

Before he could voice out his worry for her, Evangeline raised both her hands and grabbed his collar, and forcefully pulled him closer until he felt a sudden pain from the impact of her teeth against his lips.

. . .

. . .

Everyone was stunned while Angel's mouth parted in shock. And before they could recover, Evangeline released Eric's collar and lifted her hand once more.

SLAP!

Without warning, something like sparkles of burnt spots appeared on Eric's vision, and for a moment, only ringing sounds kept bugging his ear before his mind completely cleared when he felt the numbness on his left cheek followed by a warm thick liquid trickling down his skin.

Blinking, his eyes slowly traveled towards Evangeline, who was now holding a smile, which made his hair tingling on edge.

”That's goodbye, Eric.”

Without waiting for anyone to react, Evangeline flipped her hair, grabbed her purse, and walked out from the set. Not a care that she was still wearing a medieval maid's costume.

Eric, who still didn't know what was happening, felt his heart tightened while a crushing fear ate him, overpowering the indifference in his eyes. He had a feeling that once he let Evangeline go, he would never see her again.

Before he knew it, his body moved and chased after her. He extended his hand in an attempt to reach out and stop her.

”Eric.”