come back to me

chapter 3

Evelyn

We reached Anthony's parents'house.. mark ran inside and as soon as he saw Anthony's father, he jumped at him. hugging him tightly.. mark is their only grandchild.. they love mark even though they hate me. but I'm happy that my boy doesn't have to face their hatred.

i followed mark and Anthony walked behind me. i hate these types of situations because i can feel his intense gaze on my back. maybe that gaze is filled with hatred and disgust..even though almost everyone here hates me, he never lets me miss one gathering.. my older brother Michael or Mic is different. only him and grandma never hated me. grandpa was angry at first but then he forgive me when mark was born.but after 5 years of our marriage, grandpa passed away. it was a really hard time for all of us. my mark was totally silent for days. it took a lot to get him back to normal.

now i was sitting there alone watching mark playing with his grandparents..

suddenly grandma came and sat next to me..after grandpa died we both became closer..she asked me things about Anthony. if he's coming home now or not.

it wasn't a secret that Anthony doesn't stay at home most of the time..but he does when mark asks him.

mark is his lifeline.. even though he hates me but he's a really good father to mark. to be honest, if the hatred wasn't there then he would have been a better husband too.. one thing about him that the day he married me, he made sure no one disrespects me.

I'm actually respected as Mrs. smith.. the only thing that bugs me is the look of hatred or should I call it disappointment in his eyes. Remember i told you what happened 8 years ago? he was more of disappointed with me than angry.. and that really hurts because even though i was drunk as well but when i see the look of disappointment in his eyes, i feel guilty. i chatted with grandma for a while when Iris, my mother in law

came and announced that she has a special guest for tonight. we all looked at her as she spoke. and then she looked at the door as if someone would walk through it.and someone did. my heart dropped when i saw the person who walked through the door.it was Jennifer.. jenna was wearing a beautiful white gown with simple makeup. she looks like a doll.. i really don't understand how can someone look so pretty without even trying..

everyone fell silent as she walked in. only my mother in law was happy.. Jenna walked past me towards iris and hugged her.. the warmth on her face that i never got from iris.. my eyes instantly went towards Anthony. his face was pale.. his eyes wide as if he saw a ghost. so he wasn't expecting jenna here too.. i tried to read his eyes but it was blank. jenna and iris started talking as if catching up after a long time. and in some time, iris pointed at Anthony who was standing there like a statue.. Jenna gracefully walked towards him, my heart was beating faster than ever.. and it stopped when jenna hugged him. Anthony froze for a moment and when he came back to his senses,his eyes met mine.

he stared at me for some time and then hugged her back. my heart felt like someone just broke it into many pieces. but what was i even expecting from him? he's probably emotional.. he's meeting the love of his life after years so of course he'd hugged her and wouldn't want to let her go.but it still feels bad.. i saw mark looking at his dad and jenna with a confusing look.

i hope he won't be thinking too much. mark is just seven but he's really smart..and an observer.. his great-grandfather said that he's the exact copy of Anthony. and i totally agree.. i looked away from Anthony and jenna and focused on mark. i walked towards him and took him to somewhere else to give him something to eat. just to distract him. i heard all their voices from outside. jenna told Anthony how she had missed him.. Anthony's voice wasn't that loud there . maybe because he was surprised to see her there.. i came back there and met grandma. she had the annoyed look on her face to see jenna. she never liked her. and the dislike is probably still there.. i looked around and saw Anthony going towards the kitchen.. i sat there looking down. i can feel many people's eyes on me.. it's really annoying to be honest. my introvert self hates this attention. i saw Emma, Michael's girlfriend going to the kitchen and Michael followed her.

Emma, Michael and Anthony were friends from highschool.. and emma knows everything that has happened years ago.. i looked down again feeling suffocated. if it wasn't enough, i felt someone's presence and when i looked up i saw jenna. she was looking at me with hatred and disdain.

"long time no see, Evelyn" she said . her voice sharp and filled with venom..

"hi" i managed to say

"you must be happy living the life that belongs to me" she spitted

"jenna I-" she cut me off "don't even try.. you've ruined everything.. but one thing now I'm back and I'll take what's rightfully mine" she said.. little did she know that I'm also planning the same thing.. but it'll be a lie if I say that it didn't hurt

"best of luck " i simply said and got up from the chair and walked away from her to find mark..