PROLOGUE
____________
Evelyn POV
Today was the day I planned to tell him the truth.
I was sitting alone on the living room sofa with the TV on, a program I had no intention of actually watching. My eyes kept darting to the time on my phone, and my foot tapped restlessly against the floor.
It was six in the evening. I was sure Kendrick had already parked his car. Just the thought of it made my heart race uncontrollably, and I found it hard to breathe.
The sound of the door opening startled me. My chest was heaving, and a cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck.
"Hey," Kendrick greeted me.
He gave me a quick peck on the lips and placed a paper bag on the table. "Are you feeling better?"
I nodded. "Yeah, much better."
My eyes followed him as he went to grab two cans of soda.
"What did the doctor say?"
I swallowed hard. My eyes darted around the room nervously.
I felt the sofa shift as Kendrick sat down beside me. He pressed the cold soda can against my neck, making me flinch.
"You haven't answered my question, sweetheart..." he said softly.
Slowly, I turned to face him, trying to steady my pounding heart. "Everything is fine."
Our conversation ended there. I fidgeted with the soda can in my hands, tracing its rim with my fingers. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kendrick let out a soft chuckle at the movie playing on the screen.
Suddenly, my throat felt parched, but I couldn't bring myself to take a sip. The sound of my own heartbeat was roaring in my ears.
I thought to myself, this is it.
I clenched my fist. "Ken, I'm pregnant."
The words came out in a rush as I squeezed my eyes shut.
The next moment, the only sound in the room was from the television. I cautiously opened my eyes and turned to look at Kendrick.
He was frozen, staring straight at the television.
"Ken..." I called out softly.
Kendrick blinked, then picked up the remote and turned off the TV. He looked at me with a strange expression I had never seen before.
"Don't joke, Evelyn." His voice, usually so warm, was icy cold.
"I'm not joking, Ken. The doctor confirmed it."
"No. That's impossible."
"What do you mean, Ken? We've done it several times—"
He stared straight at me, his gaze hard. "Get rid of it."
His words left me speechless. My eyes began to burn with tears.
"Ken, you have to take responsibility."
"I don't want to. Just get rid of it."
My tears started to fall. I reached out to touch his arm. "Ken, I'm begging you. You have to take respon—"
Kendrick jerked his arm away, cutting me off.
"Don't touch me! Listen, Evelyn. I will never marry you—"
"Please, Kendrick."
Kendrick let out a loud groan. He stood up from the sofa and ran his hands through his hair in frustration. I stared at him, my eyes pleading, tears streaming down my face.
"For God's sake, Evelyn. You were never more than a plaything to me. You were just a bet I placed. I never should have—"
I couldn't hear anything else he said after that. My mind went blank, replaying the word 'plaything' over and over.
"A plaything?" I mumbled, the word escaping my trembling lips.
"Yes, a plaything. You were just a plaything to me, Evelyn. So stop asking me to take responsibility. It will never happen, not ever."
My breath hitched, and my tears stopped. No words could form in my mouth.
A sharp, searing pain shot through my chest, as if I'd been run through with a sword, killing me for a moment.
So, is this the end of our relationship?
Is this the truth behind the man I loved with all my heart?
This is so hard to believe.
Kendrick...
Kendrick clearly loved me... didn't he?
***
I looked down at the soda can in my hands, its surface beaded with condensation. I quickly wiped my tears away.
There was nothing left to cry over.
It was all clear now.
Everything I had imagined was just an illusion.
My lips curled into a bitter smile, followed by a broken laugh that echoed in the room, my voice hoarse and raw.
I looked at Kendrick one last time, then walked out.
This is the right path, I told myself.
I paid no mind to Kendrick as he walked ahead of me.
It was all over. Right here.
A searing heat spread across my face, followed by a numb tingling. The slap from my dad sent the tears welling in my eyes streaming down my cheeks. I knelt before both of my parents.
"Forgive me, Dad. Please forgive me. Give me another chance. I promise— I swear I'll do anything you ask."
"Promise? You dare talk about promises after all this, Evelyn!" my dad's shout echoed through the room.
I bowed my head even lower, not daring to look at him.
"You promised you wouldn't date until you were 18! But look at this! I forbade you—"
"Stop it, Robert! Don't hurt her—" my mom cut in, her voice trembling as she saw my dad step closer to me.
"You—you're the reason for this too, Claire! If you hadn't let her live alone in that apartment, none of this would have happened! You've spoiled your own daughter!"
My mom's sobs were heart-wrenching, but I was powerless to do anything. My dad fell silent for a few seconds.
"My decision is final. Evelyn, from this moment on, you are no longer my daughter. Get out of this house," my dad said coldly.
My head snapped up, my eyes wide with shock. My body went rigid before starting to tremble uncontrollably.
"N-no, Dad, please. Give me a chance."
I crawled toward him and prostrated myself at his feet, but he pushed me away.
"Quiet! I'm sick of hearing you. There are no more chances. You've shamed me. I gave you my trust, and you destroyed it. Now you're free; go live the life you want. Never set foot in this house again," he said.
"Robert! Are you insane? You can't do this!" my mom cried hysterically.
"I can. Carlo! Carlo, get in here now!"
My lips trembled violently. I rubbed my palms together, pleading for forgiveness.
"D-dad— Dad! I'm sorry, please forgive me!"
I kept repeating those words over and over. My mom also begged incessantly, but my dad remained unmoved. He even held onto my mom, restraining her from reaching me.
I felt my body being forcibly lifted from the floor. My crying intensified as I tried to break free from Carlo's grip, but it was useless.
Carlo kept dragging me out until we reached the front gate. The man looked at me with pity as he locked the gate, following my dad's orders.