Stealing The Devil's Heart

Chapter Five – Who’s Everly?

Elena

I stood like a statue, alone, cold on the dance floor, watching Damien disappear with Everly. Why did he dance with me if he had to leave with Everly? My throat tightened with fury, and I balled my fists. Was Damien playing a sick game with me?

Who was Everly? Why did she always stick to Damien? Why didn’t he protest even once, but follow her out?

I had to know the answers, or my head would burst. Unconsciously, I moved forward, following them outside the door to the driveway. It seemed Damien was leaving with her.

“Ellie, where are you going?” Ashley’s voice halted me, and I turned to look at her.

But a car engine revved, and I came to my senses. Damien was leaving, and I wanted to stop him.

“I...” There was no time for explanations, and I rushed out to the porch just in time to see Damien’s car pulling out. So he was going home with Everly. Why? Who was Everly?

Gripping the railing, I breathed in the cold night air. I felt betrayed. It was the same feeling I felt four years ago when I left Beacon. The bright crescent-shaped moon mocked me for being so gullible. So did the twinkling stars strewn across the sky. It was a beautiful night for the lucky ones who had found love. But for me, there was nothing but heartbreak. Why did I always let him do this to me?

“What are you doing here, Ellie? Let’s get back,” Ashley joined me, giving me a suspicious look.

“Nothing. I needed some air. I need a drink. Let’s go.” I swore I wouldn’t let this affect me. I would find out everything about Everly and Damien.

“Beer?” She grinned, and I nodded.

The others were there in the entertainment room, and Ashley forced me to join them. We watched a movie until late. Alex and Serenity retired to their room halfway through the movie. But we watched it until the end.

A happily ever after romantic movie! If only they came true in real life.

I hit the bed, looking forward to the last rehearsal the next day. I wasn’t part of it since mine was a surprise visit. But I could watch the bridal party and the groomsmen rehearse their parts. Would Damien be a part of it?

The next day, I was apprehensive about meeting him. The way I melted in his arms so easily last night, I was sure he was mocking me. That was what he wanted, right? To see my reserves break. To check if I still had a soft spot for him.

I did. It wasn’t easy to forget your only love.

“Ellie, aren’t you joining in the group dance?” asked Alecia as they rehearsed the steps.

“No, I can’t pick up the steps in a day.” It was a lie. I was a graceful dancer, just like my mom. But somehow I lost interest in everything.

“You can if you try. Please, Ellie. Stop sulking and move your ass. Come here.” They dragged me onto the dance floor and forced me to pick up the steps.

We practiced and enjoyed ourselves the entire day. The girls whisked me away to the nearby mall. Alex splurged on me despite my protests. By the time I returned to the house, I was in brighter spirits than the day before.

Strangely, Damien didn’t visit all day, and neither did Everly. I was dying to ask about them. But who could I ask without arousing their suspicions?

“There’s the rehearsal dinner now. The guests would have already arrived.” Alex looked worried as he drove home. His phone buzzed with a call for the tenth time since we started from the mall. He was indeed a busy man.

“Who now?” groaned Serenity.

“Damien.” He accepted the call.

I was all ears, trying to eavesdrop.

“That’s fine, bro. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He disconnected the call, but I was bursting with curiosity. Wasn’t Damien coming over tonight? What was he doing with Everly?

“What did he say?” asked Serenity.

“He has gone home. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

I released the breath I had been holding. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe he had just gone home. I had to learn to trust more.

I relaxed more, laughed more, and enjoyed dinner with my family. I spent more time with my mom, and she showed me her ongoing writing projects.

“I have checked with Mount Saint Mary College nearby for your MBA, sweetie. They have flexible programs you can opt for even after a full-time job. You can check their website and enroll.”

I nodded, but I couldn’t decide. My dream was Cornell.

I returned to my room when the door opened, and Ashley peered in. “Aren’t you sleeping yet?”

I shook my head and patted the place beside me on the bed. “I can’t sleep.”

She sighed and sat next to me. “Why?”

“I don’t know what to do with my life anymore. My dad wants me to go back and join his real estate business. I hate it. Mom wants me to pursue an MBA at Mount Saint Mary College here and join the family business.”

She frowned and lay down on my bed, gazing at me. “What do you want, Ellie?”

I looked away, unable to tell her what I really wanted.

“I haven’t thought about it yet. I want to pursue an MBA, but not here. My dream is to study at Cornell University.”

She sat upright, looking excited. “Then go to Cornell. Who’s stopping you? I’m sure Aunt Jess will be proud of your decision.”

I smiled at her with relief. “Thanks. You relieved me.”

She regarded me closely and shook her head. “You don’t look relieved, Ellie. Something is bothering you a lot. You can talk to me if it helps.”

My eyes widened in a dilemma. Yes, I needed a talk. I had so many unanswered questions driving me crazy. “Um, it’s not important.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why were you running after Damien and Everly last night?”

My jaw dropped at her direct question. I hadn’t expected her to notice. “Oh, I wanted to talk to Everly. Is she your friend?” I remembered her incomplete introduction.

Ashley frowned and nodded. “Yes, we’re friends. But I didn’t invite her here for Alex’s wedding.”

I gaped at her in surprise. If she hadn’t invited her, who had? “Oh, then?”

She gave me an apologetic look. “No one did. She came looking for Damien.”

I gasped, trying hard to digest the news. “Why? What does she want with Damien? Do they know one another?” Suddenly, I realized how little I knew the man I loved. We never had a heart to heart talk, never a soulful connection. It was an unrequited feeling on my side and a game for him to torment me.

Ashley sighed and nodded reluctantly. “They have a history together. Don’t you know about them? Back in their college days, they were about to get married. But something happened, and they broke up a day before their wedding. I’m not sure what happened, but Damien had never overcome the hurt. You came over to Beacon for the first time around then. Do you remember? Now Everly has returned to him. Maybe they’ll clear their differences and get back together. He has gone to meet her folks, I think.”

Words failed me as I clutched my chest to stop the pain. It was the same pain as I had felt that night four years ago. “Oh, I..”

She sighed and rose to leave. “Forget him, Ellie. He’s not for you.”

She left, but her words kept echoing in my head like a broken record. How did she know about my feelings for Damien? Was I so transparent? I bit my lip hard to stop the tears from spilling over. No, I wouldn’t cry over Damien Sylvester.

How could he play with my emotions when he was planning to marry Everly? Did he think I was available to him just because I loved him?

I regretted dancing with him. How could I allow him to use me? Just one look and I forgot my defenses. How did I fall for his charm all over again? No, this wouldn’t do. I had to get away – as far away from Beacon and from Damien.

My decision was made. I would get myself enrolled in some universities far from Beacon and escape after the wedding. I checked out a few and applied online.

Afterwards, I lay on my back and closed my eyes with satisfaction. I wouldn’t announce my plan to anyone yet. I didn’t want Damien to know.

Damien could marry Everly and live happily. I would close that chapter of my life forever.

I would move on from him now.

Just one last day to go.