The Night When Everything Changed
Rain poured against the glass walls of the Harrington penthouse drowning Seattle in silver lights and thunder
Evelyn Sinclair sat alone in the living room, awake despite the late hour. A book rested on her lap, open, but her eyes were elsewhere as the clock ticked past midnight.
Her husband, Alexander, still wasn't home. He never stays out this late, and if he ever does, he always makes sure to send her a message telling her he will be running late. Even if the message might consist of just a line of words without emotion, it still works.
She sighed softly as she picked up her phone for the hundredth time debating within herself if she should call him or not when she heard the sound of the penthouse door opening startled she perked up and she saw Alexander walking in haphazardly
Her brow furrowed in shock, noticing something was wrong with Alexander
His usually perfect appearance was ruined. His tie hung loose around his neck, the top buttons of his shirt undone, and his steps were uneven.
Then it dawned on her, he was drunk, very drunk something he had never done in their three years of marriage
Evelyn immediately stood up. “Alexander?”
He looked up slowly, his dark eyes finding hers almost lazily.
For a moment, he simply stared at her.
Then he laughed bitterly under his breath.
“So you’re still awake.”
His voice was rougher than usual.
Evelyn did not answer
“You’re drunk,” Evelyn said quietly as she walked toward him.
“I noticed.” replied
The sharp smell of alcohol surrounded him as he shrugged off his coat carelessly. Evelyn caught it before it hit the floor.
“You should sit down before you fall.” Evelyn tried to help him get to the couch but…
Alexander suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The action startled her.
His grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm.
“Why do you always do that?” he asked quietly, his eyes held a glimmer of hope
Evelyn frowned slightly. “Do what?” Evelyn asked
“Take care of me.”
Her heart skipped.
Because beneath the alcohol and exhaustion in his eyes, there was something dangerously
vulnerable and raw tonight
“That’s what wives do,” she answered softly.
Alexander stared at her for a long moment before laughing again, though this time the sound held no humor.
“A wife.” it sounded like ash in his mouth
He repeated the word like it meant something painful.
Evelyn’s chest tightened.
She had spent years loving this man in silence, years pretending his coldness didn’t destroy her little by little. But tonight felt different.
Tonight, his walls looked cracked like he was a totally different person
“Alexander…” she began carefully.
“I saw Sophia tonight.” Alexander cut her off
The words immediately froze the warmth building inside her.
Of course. Sophia. Always Sophia. Evelyn said bitterly as she moved for Alexander to let her go
Alexander released her wrist and walked unsteadily toward the bar, pouring himself another drink.
“She asked me if I was happy.”
Evelyn remained silent.
“And do you know what I realized?” he continued bitterly. “I don’t even know the answer.”
Her throat tightened painfully.
Alexander leaned against the counter, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
“I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted quietly.
The confession shocked her more than anything else.
Because Alexander Harrington never admitted weakness.
Never.
Evelyn slowly approached him. “You don’t have to figure everything out tonight.” Evelyn said “We can start slowly, all that matters is that we are both willing to make the marriage work out” Her face brightened up as she spoke of hope and trying to make their relationship work.
He looked at her then.
Really looked at her.
And something shifted in the air between them.
Years of silence.
Years of restrained emotions.
Years of wanting and misunderstanding
Alexander dropped the glass on his hands and walked slowly towards Evelyn, it was like he was seeing her again for the first time, he threw caution to the wind,
He got to her, held her head and kissed her passionately, he picked her up from the floor, and deepened the kiss as he took her to their bedroom,
He dropped her on the bed and took off her clothes
You are really beautiful, Eve.”
Evelyn blushes as her face turned red, she opened up for him like a flower blooming in mid-October, as they made passionate love all through the night.
As night turned to morning Evelyn fell into a deep slumber, after a long night filled with pleasure.
She woke up to her body wrecked beyond measure, pains all over her body, hickeys of different sizes.
