PROLOGUE
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Evelyn's POV
Today was the day I had planned to tell him the truth.
I was sitting alone on the living room sofa with the TV on, some program I had no intention of actually watching. My eyes kept darting to the time on my phone, and my foot tapped nervously against the floor.
It was six in the evening. Kendrick would have parked his car by now. Just the thought of it made my heart race and my chest feel tight.
The sound of the door opening made me jump. My heart was pounding, and a cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck.
"Hey," Kendrick said.
He gave me a quick kiss and put a paper bag on the table. "Are you feeling better?"
I nodded. "Yeah, much better."
I watched as he walked to the kitchen to grab two sodas.
"So, what did the doctor say?"
I swallowed hard, my eyes darting around the room.
I felt the sofa dip as Kendrick sat down beside me. He pressed a cold soda can against my neck, making me flinch.
"You didn't answer my question, sweetheart..." he said, his voice soft.
I slowly turned to face him, trying to calm my racing heart. "Everything is fine."
That was the end of our conversation. I fidgeted with the soda can in my hands, running my fingers around the rim. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kendrick chuckle softly at the movie on the screen.
My throat felt dry, but I couldn't bring myself to take a drink. The sound of my own heartbeat was roaring in my ears.
This is it, I thought.
I clenched my fist. "Ken, I'm pregnant."
The words tumbled out as I squeezed my eyes shut.
For a moment, the only sound was from the television. I cautiously opened my eyes and looked at Kendrick.
He was frozen, staring straight ahead at the TV.
"Ken..." I said softly.
He blinked, picked up the remote, and turned the TV off. He looked at me with a strange expression I'd never seen before.
"Don't joke about this, Evelyn." His voice, usually so warm, was ice-cold.
"I'm not joking, Ken. The doctor confirmed it."
"No. That's impossible."
"What do you mean? We've been together many times—"
He stared right through me, his gaze hard. "Get rid of it."
I was speechless. My eyes burned with unshed tears.
"Ken, you have to take responsibility."
"I don't want to. Just get rid of it."
Tears started to fall. I reached out to touch his arm. "Ken, I'm begging you. You have to—"
Kendrick jerked his arm away. "Don't touch me! Listen, Evelyn. I will never marry you—"
"Please, Kendrick."
He let out a loud groan, stood up, 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 fling to me. You were just part of a bet. I never should have—"
I didn't hear anything else after that. My mind went blank, stuck on that one word: 'fling.'
"A fling?" I mumbled, the word barely escaping my trembling lips.
"Yes, a fling. You were just a game to me, Evelyn. So stop asking me to take responsibility. It will never, ever happen."
My breath caught, and my tears stopped. I was speechless.
A sharp, searing pain shot through my chest, as if I'd been stabbed.
So, is this how it ends?
Is this the truth about the man I loved with all my heart?
It's so hard to believe.
Kendrick... he loved me... didn't he?
I looked down at the soda can in my hands, its surface wet with condensation. I quickly wiped my tears away.
There was nothing left to cry about. It was all clear now. Everything I had believed was just an illusion.
A bitter smile touched my lips, followed by a broken laugh that sounded raw and hoarse.
I looked at Kendrick one last time, then walked out.
This is for the best, I told myself.
I ignored Kendrick as he stood there.
It was over. Right here.
---
A searing heat spread across my face, followed by a numb tingling. The force of my dad's slap sent the tears I'd been holding back streaming down my cheeks. I knelt on the floor in front of both my parents.
"Forgive me, Dad. Please, 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 shouted, his voice echoing through the room.
I bowed my head, not daring to look at him.
"You promised you wouldn't date until you were 18! But look at you! I told you not to—"
"Stop it, Robert! Don't hurt her—" my mom cried out, her voice trembling as she saw him step closer to me.
"You—you're part of the reason for this, Claire! If you hadn't let her live alone in that apartment, none of this would have happened! You've spoiled her!"
My mom's sobs were heart-wrenching, but I was powerless to help. 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," he said coldly.
My head snapped up in shock. My body went stiff, then started to tremble uncontrollably.
"N-no, Dad, please. Give me another chance."
I crawled toward him and threw myself at his feet, but he pushed me away.
"Enough! I'm sick of hearing it. There are no more chances. You've disgraced me. I gave you my trust, and you threw it away. Now you're free; go live whatever life you want. Never set foot in this house again," he said.
"Robert! Have you lost your mind? You can't do this!" my mom screamed hysterically.
"I can. Carlo! Carlo, get in here now!"
My lips trembled violently. I clasped my hands together, pleading. "D-dad— Dad! I'm sorry, please forgive me!"
I kept repeating those words over and over. My mom begged too, but my dad remained unmoved. He even held onto her to stop her from coming to me.
I felt myself being forcibly lifted from the floor. I cried harder, trying to break free from Carlo's grip, but it was no use.
He kept dragging me out until we reached the front gate. The man looked at me with pity as he locked the gate behind me, following my dad's orders.