Chapter Three
1019 Words
Evelyn's POV
The party was unbearable. The music was loud, the people fake, and I felt more like a decoration than James’s wife. He barely spoke to me after we arrived, too busy charming every woman (and man) who so much as glanced his way. His laugh echoed across the room, infuriatingly carefree, while I stood by the bar nursing my second glass of wine.
I didn’t belong here, and I knew it. These people were polished, ruthless, and pretentious. But James thrived among them, basking in the attention like he was the center of the universe.
I tried to ignore him at first, focusing on my drink and pretending to be invisible. But when I saw him lean into a woman with blonde curls, whispering something that made her giggle, my blood boiled.
I slammed my glass down on the counter, the sound loud enough to turn a few heads. Before I could think better of it, I marched across the room, my heels clicking angrily against the tiled floor.
“Enjoying yourself?” I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm.
James turned, his smirk immediately making me regret coming over. “Evelyn, darling,” he drawled, “I was just making conversation.”
“Conversation?” I snapped. “You’ve been ‘making conversation’ with half the room, James.”
His expression darkened, the fake charm dropping. “Lower your voice,” he said through gritted teeth.
“No,” I shot back, my anger spilling over. “I’m tired of this. Of you treating me like an afterthought while you flirt with anything that moves.”
The blonde woman shifted awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable, but James didn’t seem to care.
“You’re embarrassing yourself,” he hissed, grabbing my arm.
I yanked free, the adrenaline pushing me further than I normally would go. “No, James, you’re the embarrassment. You’re a liar, a cheater, and—”
The slap came out of nowhere, stunning me into silence. My cheek burned, the sting spreading like fire, but it was the humiliation that cut the deepest.
Tears blurred my vision as I pushed past him, running outside into the cool night air. I leaned against the porch railing, my chest heaving as sobs tore through me.
“Evelyn?”
The voice was low, steady, and familiar. I looked up to see Adrian standing a few feet away, his blue eyes filled with concern.
Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms, seeking comfort in his strength. He didn’t hesitate, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, his hand running gently over my hair. “I’ve got you.”
For the first time that night, I felt safe.
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Adrian's POV
The party wasn’t my scene. The music was too loud, the people too shallow. But I stayed because of her. Evelyn.
I tried to keep my distance, but every time my eyes found her in the crowd, I felt a tug deep in my chest. She didn’t belong here, surrounded by these self-absorbed socialites. She looked out of place, out of her element, and far too good for a man like James.
I hated how he ignored her, how he flirted with anyone who gave him attention while she stood alone. It made my blood boil, but I stayed back, knowing it wasn’t my place to interfere. Not yet.
When their argument started, I knew it would escalate. I moved closer, my hands curling into fists as James grabbed her arm. And when he slapped her, it took every ounce of restraint I had not to step in right then and there.
She ran outside, her shoulders shaking with sobs. I followed her, my heart pounding.
“Evelyn?” I said softly, not wanting to startle her.
She turned, her tear-streaked face breaking something inside me. Without a word, she fell into my arms, and I held her, hating the man who had caused her so much pain.
“Let me take you home,” I said gently. She nodded, her trust in me sending a strange warmth through my chest.
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Evelyn's POV
The ride home was quiet, the silence filled with unspoken words. When we arrived, Adrian helped me inside, his touch steady and comforting.
“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Our eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop. There was something about Adrian—his quiet strength, his unwavering presence—that made me feel seen in a way James never had.
Before I could think better of it, I leaned up and kissed him.
The kiss was wild, desperate, and completely unlike me. Adrian didn’t hesitate, his hands gripping my waist as he kissed me back. Heat coursed through me, my body pressing against his as I lost myself in the moment.
When we finally pulled apart, I felt breathless, my cheeks flushed.
“Evelyn,” he said softly, his voice rough with restraint.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, stepping back.
He didn’t stop me, but his gaze lingered,dark with desire and filled with something I couldn’t quite name.
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Adrian's POV
The kiss caught me off guard, but I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t. Her lips were soft and warm, her desperation pulling me under.
When she stepped back, apologizing, I let her go, though every fiber of my being wanted to pull her close again.
As I walked back to my house, I couldn’t stop thinking about her—how she felt, how she tasted, how her pain had drawn us together.
Evelyn was under my skin now, and I wasn’t sure I wanted her out.
I looked at my pants,my arousal clearly visible.But now was not the time.Evelyn needed to be consoled.I cursed.Her scent,like warm chocolate,and her plump kissable lips had almost driven me mad.It had taken all my self control not to lead her to the bedroom and f**k her brains out.
But no matter,I would take my time and make her mine. Then I would show her what it meant to be ravaged.
- Writer
