After prison I changed

chapter 4

The two men had already grabbed me, tossing me on the cold, hard ground.

“Ten lashes,” Richard snapped. “She should be thought a lesson.”

The whip was flung in the air and seared into my back.

I bit my lower lip, refusing to let out a sound.

The second lash.

The third lash.

Blood had soaked through my dress.

But I wouldn't give in to scream, cause that was the satisfaction they needed.

By the eighth lash, I was languishing.

Just then, Josephine's voice cried out.

“Stop hitting her!”

Her eyes filled with fake tears.

“Father, please forgive her.”

I was about to sink into darkness when I heard Devonte's voice.

“Stop—”

He rushed to my side, but it was too late. My world spun, and the last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Devonte rushing to my side, his hands trembling as they caught me.

When I regained consciousness, I was in my bedroom, laid on my back.

The wounds on my back hammered.

Devonte sat beside me, cleaning my wounds.

When he saw my eyes flutter open, he leaned in, his voice sounding hoarse.

“Are you okay?” He reached for my forehead, but I recoiled back.

“I hope that was enough proof for my innocence.” My voice croaked.

“Enough of this, Evelyn.” He sounded completely exhausted.

“Josephine had intervened to save you because she couldn't bare to see you getting whipped again. You should be thanking her.”

Thanking her??

After framing me?

I stared at Devonte. The last flicker of warmth in my heart had just died.

“You would never believe me, no matter what the truth was.”

“It's not about believing you or not.”

“It is,” I cut him off.

I sat up, ignoring the knife-like pain on my back.

“You just can't bring yourself to trust me, Devonte. Why!” My voice sharp-edged.

Devonte's face hardened.

“Okay, let's say you're telling the truth, but you almost got Josephine killed, and now you've put her in danger again.”

“No, I didn't!” I countered.

“Josephine lied, and she will continue plotting against me, putting my life in danger….”

“Why can't you see that?” My voice trailed.

“That's enough, Eve.” He turned, facing me.

“Josephine has done nothing wrong to you, but it's in the past now.”

He took a deep breath, then sprawled back on the bed while trying to pull me into his arms.

“Eve, you will always be my wife.” His voice soft.

“As long as you stop going after Josephine, we could start over like before. I promise.”

Start over??

He still thinks everything is my fault.

I could never be the victim in his eyes.

I was the evil and jealous sister that needed to amend her ways.

I looked at him. I didn't have anything else to say.

He waited for my response while his face grew darker.

Then he stood up.

“I get it.” His voice strained. “You're still mad at me.”

Silence.

He waited a bit longer before throwing his hands up in defeat.

“Josephine wants me to take her to the museum. She was terrified last night, and I'm trying to make it up to her.”

“Why telling me?” I stared at him blankly.

“Go.”

Devonte's face twisted. He hadn't expected such a response. The old me would've cried, begged for him not to go see Josephine.

But the new me didn't care at all.

“You really don't care.” His voice laced with sadness.

I couldn't tell if that was a test or not.

“Why should I?”

Devonte just stood there, trying to examine my expression.

“Fine, good.” He nodded.

The door slammed behind him.

I leaned back and fell into slumber.

When I woke up, my phone was buzzing.

I got dozen of texts from Josephine.

“Stupid b***h, don't you see Devonte doesn't want you?”

“He was supposed to take me to the museum today.”

“You stopped him.”

“I'm gonna show you who Devonte really cares about.”

I read all the messages and tossed my phone on the bed.

What was she trying to do?

The painkillers were making me groggy, and I fell back in bed.

When I woke up again, I doubled over, coughing relentlessly as my chest burned.

The room was filled with smoke.

I hurried to the door and twisted the handle, but it was locked.

I looked outside the window facing the long hallway.

The house was on fire.

No, just the floor where my room was.

I peered through the c***k. The fire had spread rapidly, pulling down doors.

I pounded loudly on the door.

“Devonte!!” I hit louder.

“Devonte, help me!!”

My voice was lost in the chaos happening downstairs.

“Boss, Miss Josephine and Evelyn are stuck on the second floor.”

“Control the fire before it moves to another floor.”

I kept pounding.

But all to no avail.

Devonte ran up to the first floor. He

Was coming towards my room.

But then I heard my father's voice.

“Devonte, please save Josephine. Save her first.”

Devonte went silent, then I heard his footsteps hurrying away from me.

I finally understood Josephine was behind this. She wanted to show me who came first in Devonte's life.

The room grew hotter and the flame had destroyed my door.

I couldn't wait to be saved my Devonte.

I picked up a heavy antique and smashed it on the window.

Looking at the height from above, I swallowed and jumped off without thinking twice.