“Alright, Daddy will take you back to Imperial Garden.”
Nicole must still be incredibly worried.
The Maybach sped like a bullet down the roads, heading in the direction of Imperial Garden.
When they arrived there, the other three kids were elated at seeing their sister.
“Maya! Daddy found you!”
“Maya, are you alright?”
“Maya, it’s so great that you’re back!”
Back with her siblings and mother, Maya could feel tears threatening to roll down her cheeks again. She sprinted over and threw herself into Nicole’s arms. “Mommy!”
“Maya, just what exactly happened?”
“Mommy, I-I ran into some bad people!”
“Bad people?” Nicole’s heart jumped into her throat.
“Yeah!” Maya nodded before launching into her story again.
Someone took her away on purpose? Was it human traffickers?
Questions swirled around Nicole’s mind.
Evan was standing off to the side, his eyes glued on Nicole. He wanted to talk to her but did not know what to say.
Even if he did, he was sure the words would not leave his lips.
“Daddy, sit down! Why are you standing?” Maya questioned while blinking her eyes innocently.
Juan and Kyle snuck a glance at their mother. Her expression was hard and distant. She was clearly furious at their father. The atmosphere was so tense that they did not dare speak up.
Nina hesitated slightly before running off to the utility room. After a while, she returned with a feather duster and handed it to Nicole. She then announced, “Mommy, you can get your revenge now!”
Nicole did not even glance at her daughter. All she did was sit there silently.
Maya stared at Nina like she was crazy. “Nina, have you gone nuts? How could you tell Mommy to hit Daddy?”
“He dared to marry another woman when Mommy lost her memories! Shouldn’t Mommy get her revenge for that?”
Maya’s fingers flexed as she turned to look at Nicole with surprise. Has Mommy remembered everything?
Since Nicole did not make a move to take the feather duster nor speak, Evan paced toward her with heavy steps.
“Don’t bottled up your anger. Take it out on me if it makes you feel better!”
His words instantly set her off.
Her head whipped around and she focused her infuriated gaze on him. “Mr. Seet, why should I hit you? You’re someone else’s husband now. What right do I have to beat you?”
Her words were like daggers that stabbed him in the heart.
His fingers twitched reflexively but he could not refute her statement.
“Mr. Seet, please don’t come to Imperial Garden in the future! From now on, you and I shall go our own ways. In fact, let’s just pretend we don’t know each other!”
Grief and hurt filled Evan’s eyes at her harsh words. Is she cutting off all ties with me?
At that moment, it was like somebody was carving at his heart with a knife. He could not breathe.
So this is what it feels like to have your heart broken.
“Mr. Seet, please go home!”
Then, Nicole turned and walked toward the stairs without another word or glance in his direction.
Evan did not know how he managed to walk out of Imperial Garden. His mind was blank as he plodded on—every step felt like he was stepping on cotton. Before he knew it, he was back at Hillside Villa.
Susan ran over to support him the moment she spotted how terrible he looked.
“Evan, what happened to you?”
“Don’t touch me!” He deftly avoided her hands and headed for the stairs.
The cloud of pain and sadness that surrounded him was nearly visible. Susan watched as he stumbled his way up the stairs, tears welling up in her eyes.
One year.
It had been one year since they had their wedding ceremony in K Nation and returned here. Evan had not even touched her once.
Nicole only just regained her memories and she’s taken his heart again. Heh! The depth of their feelings for each other is truly remarkable!
Liquid trailed down her cheeks even as those frail-looking fingers curled into tight fists. It almost looked like she was squeezing something to death.
Evan remained in his study till the early hours of the morning. His face was so cold and hard it was like he was carved out of marble.
At dinnertime, a maid came in to call him down for dinner. He did not bother replying as he sat there with red-rimmed eyes. A terrifyingly cold aura emanated from him. Gulping, the maid did not dare linger long, scurrying out as quickly as she could.
When Susan herself came in, he still did not make a sound. Hence, she ordered the maids to bring in the food. Crying and pleading, she tried to coax him into eating. His only reply then was, “Get out!”
