Chapter 148 - 53 (1/2)
”Evangeline . . .”
Evangeline turned and glanced at him. She raised her brow in what Calvin hoped was a signal of a pleasant surprise.
He stood beside her and asked, ”How do you find my yacht?”
. . . Ah . . . He was supposed to ask how she was doing.
Evangeline focused her gaze elsewhere in an attempt to ignore the source of the new annoyance.
”I don't know why you ask me that. Do you want me to say how awesome, luxurious, and befitting this superyacht is to your standing?”
Calvin heard the sarcasm in Evangeline's tone, not that she was attempting to hide it. His lips pressed into a white slash before he asked a question that has a painfully obvious answer.
”You're still nursing a grudge against me, aren't you? I mean, I get it. I was a jerk and imm.a.t.u.r.e back at that time. And I . . .” He paused when the words got stuck in his throat. But he still forced it out, nonetheless.
”. . . I apologize.”
Evangeline stared at Calvin with head tilting to the side, and an eyebrow rose so high. ”I don't know what's going on today. Is it apologizing day? Everybody seemed to say sorry a lot today. Or is this some kind of a prank like what you always did in the past?”
”Eva––!”
Raising her hand, Evangeline didn't let Calvin continue. ”You don't have to say sorry. I mean, you're one of the people who made me what I am today, and for that, I should be grateful. In the end, I was only sorry I hadn't defended myself sooner.”
Calvin stared at Evangeline. Her eyes, which were so warm and gentle before, were cold and hard now. Her smile, which set his heart ablaze, was colder than the weather and more fake than counterfeit products.
Calvin's lips pressed together in a slight grimaced. ”You've. . . changed . . .”
Evangeline chortled rather dryly. ”Well, after that event, I'm not the same girl anymore.”
”. . .”
Calvin stared into Evangeline's eyes, which also stared back at him. She would blink from time to time. Her eyelids were fluttering like the soft petals against the gentle winds. It was simply . . . spellbinding. And he wanted her all the more.
It was not too late. Not too late to be honest. Not too late to tell the truth.
”Have you received my gifts and letters?” he started. ”I've been sending you gifts and emails these last years.” Yes, he sent her all sorts of gifts and all kinds of letters in the past years under an alias. Hoping to catch her attention and, as he planned, she would approach and contact him.
But no such thing happened.
”Gifts?” Evangeline skimmed her perfectly manicured fingers along her jawline. ”I received tons of gifts each week, and all of them were donated to animal conservation.”
Flipping her hands in dismissal, she added, ”Regarding the letters and emails, I received hundreds of it each day, so I had my servants ran through them.”
”. . .”
Calvin needed some time to digest everything. His posture was stiff, fingers curling, and a vein throbbed visibly on his forehead as he asked through his teeth with force restraints.
”So you mean to say . . . you didn't even open them?”
Evangeline impatiently snorted. ”Open them? I haven't even seen them.”
”. . .”
Calvin's expression was tense, fists tight, fingernails biting into his palms. He thought Evangeline got the hint through his gifts and letters and emails. Thinking she was just playing hard to get.
But the reality was, she didn't even know he was courting her for years.
His jaw was pained from clenching his teeth. His expression was scrunched, then relaxing, trying to regain his calm.
No matter. It was not too late. Everything will come to be, eventually. He had faith in his self and his abilities.
”Evangeline, even when you're like this, haughty and arrogant . . .”
He cupped her face, which she didn't back away. His eyes softened, begging even, but it was his pride that changed his words.
”You're still so beautiful. Lay down your arrogance and be my wife.”
”. . .”
. . .
. . .
Evangeline backed away, laughter bubbled in her throat, and Calvin's jaw tightened when he could no longer feel her hot skin between his palms. His eyes squinted upon her mocking laugh.
”Are you alright in the head? What made you think I'll marry you?”
”Why not? I believe you're the only woman worthy to be by my side.”
Calvin rose to his height, radiating with confidence and power. ”Abandon your inhibitions and foolish ideals. From now on, seek only me and be stained only by me. If you do, I swear I'll give you all the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e there is to feel, and you'll live like a Queen for the rest of your life.”
”. . .”
”. . .”