章 17: You're Family
Evangeline picked up her shoe and put it on taking the pistol as well. She then ordered a guard to send a maid to clean up the glass shards in the office. As she made her way to her room, she saw Caleb waiting for her at the door.
"Hello, Evangeline. Good afternoon. It's good to see you again," he said with a smile, handing her a box. "This is from Dominic. He asked me to give it to you."
Evangeline looked at the box with disgust and clenched her fingers. Thinking to herself, she muttered, "After what happened in the office, this bastard has the audacity to send me a gift. I'm sure he must have taken someone's life to obtain it."
She glared at Caleb, then the box, and turned away. "I don't want it. Return it to him," she said sharply.
Meanwhile, Richard was in a small motel room. After his picnic with Evangeline, he had brought a woman back with him and slept with her to satisfy his urges. He left a bundle of money beside her on the bed as she lay there.
"This is better than doing this with Evangeline. I can't do it," Richard said to himself as he put on his clothes. As he turned to leave, the woman grabbed his hand.
"Will you come here again?" she asked, holding onto him.
"Maybe next time. I have some matters to attend to," he replied, removing his hand from her grip and leaving the room. As he walked through the doorway, a hand emerged from the shadows, stopping him.
"Hello, Richard, or should I say Henry?" a hooded figure smirked from under the hood. Richard couldn't see the face clearly due to the shadow cast by the hood.
Back at the mansion, Evangeline stood at her bedroom door, raising an eyebrow as she stared at Caleb, her arms folded. "Dominic shouldn't think he can just buy me over with jewelry or bribe me with gifts. What does he want?" she asked angrily.
Caleb laughed nervously, understanding the situation. "Well, they sent someone from the police station due to the ongoing investigation in the house. Dominic thought this might soothe your mood. Also, the officer requested that he replace any of the kitchen workers after the criminal is caught. They can return once it's safe, but he can't do it without your permission," Caleb explained with a shrug.
Evangeline glanced at the box in his hand. "Didn't this bastard say he wants to use me to get what he wants and was pointing a gun at me, making a bet, just because I walked into the office acting like his family had inherited it to him? I don't understand this man at all," she muttered to herself. Taking a deep breath, she nodded and said, "Agreed. But return it to Dominic. Tell him I don't want it. If it's for my protection, he's free to do whatever, but not by buying gifts with someone's blood."
She was about to open the door when Caleb said, "It's the Emerald Jade."
Evangeline stopped in her tracks and turned to Caleb. "What?" she asked, shocked. She wondered how Dominic knew she wanted this jewelry. It was something she had mentioned to her brother when she was 18, but due to traumatic events, she had forgotten about it. Holding her head, she said to Caleb, "Call the physician. I don't feel well."
Evangeline staggered and gripped the doorknob to steady herself. Caleb nodded and left to call the physician. He went to Dominic, notifying him about Evangeline's health, and Dominic quickly called the physician on the telephone.
Back at the motel, Richard and the hooded stranger were engaged in a fierce fight, both already wounded. Richard attempted to punch the hooded figure, but the stranger pulled out a gun and fired. The bullet missed, only grazing Richard's face. The sound of the gunshot caused a commotion in the motel. Richard fell to his knees, coughing blood and clutching his side, though he had managed to injure his opponent as well.
"If you don't kill the young lady of the Sarogaths and do what you're supposed to do, we'll handle the case ourselves. And it will be ugly for you," the stranger groaned in pain. Adjusting his hood, he jumped out of the window and vanished. Richard collapsed, unconscious and bleeding. Luckily, a friend of Magdalene, who worked at the motel, saw his body and sent someone to notify her. Magdalene rushed to the motel with some guards.
The physician arrived shortly after Dominic called him. Evangeline was sitting in the living room with Dominic, watching as the physician examined her. She looked pale. The physician checked her pulse and examined her eyes. Then he noticed some marks on her neck and cleared his throat.
"Those marks... Ahem," he began. Dominic had noticed them too but said nothing, boiling with anger and jealousy. He wondered why he hadn't seen them when he was in the office with her, maybe he was too carried away by teaching her a lesson with the gun and playing with her emotions there which he enjoyed a lot especially her expression and reaction to what happened between them in the office.
"You've lost a lot of weight, my lady, without realizing it. You need to take your medicine; it's taking a toll on your health. Make sure you take care of yourself, get some rest, and take these," the physician advised, giving Evangeline some multivitamins. She nodded and left with a servant following her. The physician then turned to Dominic, carrying his portfolio.
"May I have a word, Mr. Dominic?" he asked.
"Is something the matter?" Dominic inquired.
"It's bad news, I'm afraid. Evangeline's health is getting worse. Also, you need to be careful when engaging in...intimate activities. Her body is fragile," the physician said, referring to the marks. Dominic understood what he meant. He maintained his composure, but internally, he was frustrated. He desired Evangeline, but her current attitude and the bet he made with her complicated matters.
"Make sure she doesn't get pregnant. It's normal for married couples to have children, but given her current condition, it's a dangerous risk. When she's fully recovered, she can think about having a baby. And you need to persuade her to take her medicine. She can be stubborn and arrogant sometimes, and she has a lot on her shoulders. I'm really concerned about her,Ever since she was little and her parents are now dead it's really tough" the physician added, his tone tinged with sadness.
"I understand," Dominic replied with a bit of silence for a while then he just sighed
"Thank you for coming today. We'll see you next time," Dominic said, reaching into his pocket to tip the physician. But the physician stopped him.
"No need for that, young man. Evangeline's family, and you're married to her. You're also family," he said, patting Dominic on the shoulder. Dominic was touched by his words, which reminded him of someone who was like a father figure to him. His life had been hunted down by his family, and he watched the physician leave. He had no time to cry, as he had grown accustomed to pain; crying was unnecessary.
~CHAPTER END~
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