On the bookshelf, a stack of grimy love letters sat neatly arranged. These were the ones he’d gathered up that day. Each letter was a testament to his love for Elira.
Some had been blown far away by the wind, and some had been picked up and sold off as scrap by scavengers. He’d gone to every length to track them all down.
But one was still missing.
The very first letter he’d ever written to confess his feelings–the one that marked the beginning of their relationship and Elira’s favorite of them all.
His hand trembled as he reached for the pile, a single tear falling onto the mahogany desk, leaving a faint, blurred
stain.
He couldn’t find it. Did that mean the start of everything between them had been a mistake?
Memories of Elira flooded his mind.
Back in school, she was radiant and resilient, her strength captivating. No matter how harsh the circumstances, she never lost herself–she was always Elira.
On their wedding day, the love in her eyes was so deep, he thought he might drown in it. Later, every corner of their home was filled with traces of her presence.
When he worked late into the night, she’d bring him soup, the worry on her face sweeter than any dessert. She’d curl up on the sofa in his study, stealing glances at him over and over. On the photo wall she’d decorated, she once said they’d travel the world together.
“Evan, when we’re 80, let’s put our picture up here, okay?” She’d laughed, eyes full of hope. “Even if we’re old and gray, we’ll still be in love.”
The memories wound around him like a thousand threads, each one pulling tighter–hurting down to the bone.
Evan finally understood–his own cowardice had cost him the woman he loved most.
If he’d had just a little more trust, would everything have turned out differently?
Early the next morning, Aveline stood hesitantly outside his door. “Evan, I made some oatmeal. Would you like a lit- tle?”
“Stop wasting your time. Elira is the only one in my heart.” Evan’s laugh was cold. “I’m sending you to a maternity center–you’ll stay there until the baby is born, and we’ll do a paternity test as soon as it arrives.”
“If the child is mine, I’ll give you a sum of money. The baby will be mine–and Elira’s.” His tone was dangerously
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Chapter 8
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cruel. “If it’s not mine, you and that kid can go to hell. Understand?”
“Why? You said you didn’t love her, that you loved me!” Aveline’s eyes filled with despair. “Didn’t you say you’d marry me and love me forever?”
Evan’s voice was icy.
“Someone like you–filthy–do you really think you deserve that?
“You’ve already made plenty of money off me, so why pretend you care about true love?
“Let me make this clear one more time–I only ever saw you as a disposable, temporary plaything.
“And now, you’re not even clean. You just disgust me.”
Aveline collapsed to the floor, defeated. Tears streamed down her face, but her eyes were vacant and numb.
“Evan, aren’t you going to ask me why I betrayed you?
“They forced me. I had no choice–they threatened me and took pictures.
“But you never asked. All you ever saw was how dirty I was.
“I’m not dirty–I was forced! What did I do wrong?
“You’re so cruel. I hate you!”
Suddenly, she lurched to her feet and slammed her stomach against the edge of the table.
Evan jumped up, staring at her in disbelief. “Are you insane?!”
Aveline’s voice was shrill, blood gushing from between her legs.
“I am insane! The craziest thing I ever did was love you, trust you, and believe you could give me a better future.
“Evan, you’re a liar.
“You deserve to die alone, childless, forever.
“You deserve for Elira to never forgive you!”
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