Chapter 3
We didn’t fight. Don’t worry.” Evan said dismissively. “Maybe Ava took her out for a bit. I’ll have someone check”
Just as he hung up, his phone buzzed again. It was his secretary,
“Mr. Carter, bad news! Your wife is missing. All that’s left at the scene is a cut chain,” the secretary reported anxiously.
“What?!”
Evan shot to his feet, his eyes wide with alarm.
nd her! Dead or alive–I want her found! She couldn’t have just dug herself a hole and disappeared!
I thought his first reaction would be concern for my safety.
But no, he assumed I had run away on purpose.
The disbelief left me speechless.
Once again, I’d given him too much credit.
“Evan, don’t stress. Maybe Ava’s just being dramatic and took Chloe to get back at you,” Lila said, her tone light.
“You know how girls can be–always pulling stunts like this.”
Evan frowned and slammed his hand on the table.
“Typical Ava. Using a child as a pawn to get attention. It’s disgusting.”
“When I find her, shell regret it,” he added, his voice dripping with contempt.
But he would never have the chance to punish me again.
He’d never see the obedient, self–sacrificing woman I once was.
He might not even see my whole body ever again.
Lia’s lips curled into a sly smile, a glint of satisfaction in her eyes.
Evan made another call to his secretary, ordering a full–scale search, then returned to his dinner with Lila.
“Drink up, Evan,” Lila coaxed, pouring him another glass.
“Sure,” he said, smiling, and drank without hesitation.
Glass after glass, he emptied them all.
It surprised me–Evan never drank.
Not at dinners, not at parties, not even at work events where refusing seemed rude.
Alcohol made him lose control, and he hated that.
Yet for Lila, he broke his own rule.
If that wasn’t love, what was it?
As for me?
I was just a tool to be used and discarded.
After a few drinks, Evan’s face turned red, and he slumped onto the couch.
Chapter 3
Lila rushed over, pretending to trip and landing conveniently in his lap.
“Oh no! I’m so clumsy.” she said in a syrupy voice, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes. Her fingers lightly brushed his chest as she steadied
herself
Evan’s gaze softened, and his hand moved to her waist almost instinctively.
