Chapter 123 CHAPTER 123
Evelyn’s POV
I faced them, the phone still pressed against my ear even after the call had ended. I saw the questions in their eyes.
“It was him,” I said.
“What did he want?” aunt Maya asked.
I wasn’t sure. He sounded like there was something he needed to tell me urgently. “He asked me to stay here until he comes to pick me up,” I said.
“He knows,” mum said.
I looked at aunt Maya. She agreed with mum.
I wasn’t sure.
“We need to make a deal with Viktor Calderon,” mum said. “I don’t trust the Greywoods. They'd never believe that Maya was only helping.”
I ran my fingers in my hair and paced around the room. How was Rosaleen able to know about this?
“Was anyone else there on the day this happened?” I asked.
Aunt Maya shook her head. “Just your mum and I. And that lady. Your stepmother. Madeline.”
Was Madeliene the one who told Rosaleen the story? She had known about it all these years and kept silent about it. Why would she tell Rosaleen now? To get back at me?
“Madeline must have told Rosaleen,” I said, still pacing. “I got a call from Rosaleen this afternoon, telling me about this story. That was why I came here, rushing.”
We were silent for a while.
“Evelyn,” aunt maya said. “We are running out of time. Alpha Michael may be arriving here with the police. We can’t just stay here until he gets us.”
“I don’t know anything, aunt!” I yelled. “I don’t know what this is all about. Viktor Calderon may just be playing us as well. The best thing to do is to stick with the truth.”
“The truth has never been on our sides,” she retorted. “No one would even give us a listening ear. We are guilty for being near a crime.”
Shit!
I walked to the window. I couldn’t run away. But they couldn’t remain here.
“I’ll meet him and find out what he wants,” I said. “Both of you have to leave the city.”
Mum stepped forward. “You must leave with us, Evelyn. There’s nothing here for you.” Her eyes fell on my tummy. “It’s not safe for you or the pup. We need to leave together."
“Mum-”
Running away didn’t do anything. It only made us look guilty. I wanted to fight. I wasn’t sure if alpha michael would stand with me all the way, but I wanted to fight for my family.
“I won’t leave, mum,” I said. “I’ll stay behind.”
She didn’t protest. They both returned to their rooms to pack a light bag. I could hear them talking in the room. I was scared that I was making the wrong decision.
I drove them to the airport and we found a flight that was to take off in an hour’s time. I stayed with them until the plane took off and suddenly I felt a chill in my bones. I hoped I had not made a wrong decision.
There were a couple of missed calls from alpha Michael on my phone when I drove back to the airport. There were text messages too. When I arrived at the house, I saw the door open. I parked my car and stepped out.
Before I could try to make sense of what was happening, Michael stepped out of the house, looking worried and upset. When he saw me, I saw a sigh of relief escape from him. He stepped towards me.
“I told you to stay put, Evelyn,” he said.
I stepped out of the car, and I could see Jasper was there with him. “I had to go out," I said. “What’s the matter?”
He searched my face, as though looking for something.
“Xavier is back in town,” he said.
I stepped aside. “Yeah,”
“You knew?” he asked, walking beside me.
“I found out a couple of days ago,” I replied.
“Evelyn,” he called out and I stopped. “You didn’t think you should have told me about it? He could have attacked you again.”
I spun around. “I know that, Michael.”
He reached for my arm and pulled me closer. “Are you keeping things away from me, Evelyn?” he asked, his eyes narrowing into slits.
I swallowed. My eyes could never hide the truth. Not from him. “I don’t know what you mean, Michael. Things have been happening fast.”
He brushed my cheek tenderly and his eyes softened for a moment. “I know. I was just worried about you. I didn’t want him to come after you again. I won’t be able to stand myself if I let that happen again.”
I nodded. “I know. I promise you, I’m fine.” and my voice broke. My eyes burnt with unshed tears.
He pulled me into his arms. “We can go on a trip. Away from all this mess,” he said. “We can go with your mum if you want. We’ll be away during the elections and all the mess.”
I sniffed. “Mum’s gone already.”
“Gone?” he asked. He pulled me away and looked at me. “What happened?”
I smiled sadly. “Nnot gone as in dead,” I said. “She has left New York. It’s for the best.”
He was quiet for a while. A dark emotion crossed his eyes. “Why did she leave so suddenly, Evelyn?”
The sky was turning dark and a gentle breeze was blowing, throwing some strands of my hair in my face. All around us, it was quiet. But there was commotion within my chest. His grip around my arm tightened. Maybe he had heard the news. Perhaps, the news was all over the place already.
“She didn’t do it.” Those were the words that slipped out of my mouth. His grip tightened more and his eyes became clouded with anger. I knew for certain that he knew what I was talking about.
“She didn’t do that, Evelyn?”
I stepped away from him, as his hand fell away from my arm to his side. “My mother didn’t kill your mother,” I said.