BREAKING THE YOKE OF LOVE

BONDING

The following day was a sunny morning, when Eva woke up, she realized that she was in her bed, all covered up. Patrick must have carried her there. Eva had a minute to reel over the s*x she shared with her fake husband, it was one memory that she would never forget. She assumed that if the master of the house had shared a passionate, close moment with her, it would create a friendly and approachable bridge in their relationship. While Eva recalled the s*x, Firece, her subordinate and cruel personality remembered her conversation with Catherine and how the woman offered to render her help. Fierce decided that she would test the waters and keep Catherine conversation with her private. If there was a shot in protecting her son, she would take it. She prepared for the morning, carried her son and went down to check on her new home. It was then that Eva realised that Patrick had servants in the home. Eva saw female maids dressed in drapes carrying food to dining table, while some cleaned the house. She met Patrick neatly dressed and preparing to having breakfast with his mother, Catherine.

“ Goodmorning everyone. “ Eva was in cheer, that was because of the fun she experienced the previous night.

There was no response, instead everyone minded their plate. Eva gently placed Nathan on the table and fixed him a plate of maserella sauce and soya beans to eat. The rate at which no one responded to her made her ponder.

“ Patrick, “ She playfully thumped his arms. His reply was brutal, he seized her arm and placed it on the table. “ That was one night of passion, it means nothing to me, don't let it ruin reality. “ He told her.

Catherine mockingly laughed. Patrick's response made Eva cave in so much that she had tears standing at the bridge of her eyes. She swallowed hard and continued eating.

Catherine made eye contact with her, signalling her to keep their conversation the previous night a secret. And Eva understood the memo.

“ I want the boy to myself today, I'm taking him to the park. “ Patrick began.

“ You mean Nathan? “ Eva struggled to say.

“ Yes, we have to bond. “ He smiled at her, “ He's my son now, isn't he? “

Eva could only nod her hair.

“ Can I have him? “ Patrick asked in a not so nice tone.

“ Of course, “ Eva agreed.

“ And you, I want you to make good use of that twenty-five million dollars I gave you. “

Eva sat up, “ I thought you were never going to allow me use it. “

“ I never said so, i just didn't want you to abscond with it. “ Patrick gestured at his mother who paid close attention to the both of them. Catherine stared into their eyes as though she was searching for something trivial. Patrick went on, “ Go to Ferdinard's and get all the elegant things you can find. More money shouldn't be an issue Eva, I want you looking like my wife. “

Eva couldn't contain her pleasure, she missed shopping, especially rich shopping. Her ex lover Jason never entertained any expenditures, it wasn't like they could afford it anyways. Eva contained her emotions as she didn't want to further upset Patrick or appear shallow, and so she sat still and focused on her food. A large part of her was seeking out ways to escape Patrick's hold.

“ So, “ Catherine spoke loud enough to gain Eva's attention, “ How are you getting used to this place, any thoughts about escaping? “

Eva's fork dropped, was the old lady reading her mind? “ What are… what are you talking about? “ She stuttered.

“ I'm just asking, do you have any delusions of running away? “

Patrick laced a sharp glare at her, also searching for answers.

“ Of course not, “ Eva said now afraid.

“ You shouldn't, there is no way you can escape the Sawyer family, and if you do, I'll kill you myself. “ Catherine hissed and got to her feet, “ Son, I have some important business to attend to, don't miss me too much. “

Patrick shifted his glance from Eva to his mother, “ Care to tell me what your business is all about? “

“ How to help you win the functions this year and to take back Yakizi. And also to monitor Cypher and your father's proceedings. “ Catherine lied.

Patrick stiffened a short smile, “ Mother, thank you so much. I don't know what I'll do without you by side, you're truly a blessing. “

Catherine placed a peck on Patrick's cheeks and vacated the sitting room. Eva, perplexed and confused, she rushed behind Catherine, following her all the way to her car.

“ Ma'am… ma'am, “ Eva called underneath her tendering breath, “ I need to speak with you please. “

Catherine waved a look at her, “ Any problem miss, if I need you, I'll call for you. “

“ Why are you sounding that way about me to Patrick? Are you trying to have him kill me? We spoke last night and I agreed to tell you everything he tells me. We had a deal and you said you'll help me survive here. “

Catherine beamed, “ By the way you screwed him last night, did he tell you anything useful? “

Eva arched a brow in both perplexity and offence, “ Excuse me? “

“ Did he? “ She asked.

“ No_

“ You see, so don't come to me if you have no information. “ Catherine entered her car and drove off. Eva's confusion and suspicion started to grow on Catherine Sawyer, she wondered why indeed she wanted information on her own son. Was it in a bid to protect him, or was there something else involved? Eitherway, the Sawyer's are a dangerous family and she hadn't met them all.

Just then, Patrick's head of security Dean showed up with a white bandage covering his chest region. When Eva saw him, she was moved with compassion for the man. She remembered the shooting incident caused by no criminal but Patrick's mother herself, Catherine Sawyer.

“ Hey, Dean right? “ Eva went over to him and placed her palm on his forehead to check his temperature, the man still appeared sick.

Unbeknownst to her, Patrick was by the window watching her. And when he saw her touch his security guard, that alighted his first sign of jealousy. The man felt an itch of the breach of possession, the new wave shocked him and so he grinned but still watched them.

“ You’re having fever, Dean. “ Eva continued.

Dean was uncomfortable with his boss's wife touching him, “ Ma'am, “ He pulled backwards.

“ Did you have medicals after the shooting? “ Eva deeply cared and so she asked.

“ We all did. “ Dean answered now touched by her generosity.

“ You don't look well, I should have you check properly. “ She tried touching his forehead again, but he dodged. Dean made eye contact with Patrick. His glare was harsh and longing, filled with fright, Dean bade Eva farewell and left her.

“ Take some medications later! “ Eva screamed at him as he left.

An hour later, Eva was ready to go to the luxury store where Patrick had registered her to shop, Ferdinard's. While he had prepared Nathan for the park experience. The two sets got into separate vehicles and headed for their said destinations.

The park was full of both parents and kids when Patrick got there. The first thing he did was to release hold of Nathan in check to see if the child would rush into the field or cling to him. Nathan clinged to the Patrick's trousers and refused to play. Patrick bent to Nathan, “ You don't want to play? “

Nathan shook his head, detailing a negative reaction.

“ Why? “ Patrick asked.

Nathan's face saddened, “ Because my mommy is not here. “

Patrick felt his heart melt, and he let Nathan see it. “ Well, your mommy went to the mall. I am here now. “ Patrick wanted to introduce himself as Nathan's father, but he cared about the child's memory now.

“ What about your daddy? “ Patrick was fishing for new answers.

“ My mommy don't like him, she says he left her. “ Nathan said.

Patrick was stunned. Before he could indulge more with Nathan, an ice cream truck parked. The boy's attention was drawn to it, Patrick paused his talk and walked Nathan to get him ice-cream. He would bond with him some other time.

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( EVA'S POV )

Eva got to the luxury store and couldn't stop glaring around. Everything present caught her attention, including the door and lightning. That was by far the most beautiful and opulent shop she had ever seen. Ever since she was in sophomore year, she hadn't been on this scale of shopping before, she couldn't afford it. She did as Patrick had told her and began to buy all she adored. Her yearns trespassed clothing as she got shoes, bags and even colognes. For a moment there, she forgot that she was a kidnapped woman, forced to render her child and herself to another man as family. Shopping exclusively had caused her to belong to Patrick Sawyer.

Eva tried on a Louis Vitton bag when she noticed a slender tall lady watching her. As she laced eye contact on the woman, she randomly recalled that the lady had been looking at her since she got into the shop. Eva didn't need to contact the woman, she came to her.

“ Hi there. “ The woman greeted.

Judging by the way the woman dressed, Eva concluded that she wasn't in the shop to purchase. She appeared shabby.

“ All I can say for now is that I will speak to you when you have information about the predicament you're in. Only then can we help each other. “ The lady handed her a card and disappeared.