Chapter 39

"Hello?"

". . . Mom . . ."

Cherry paused for a moment before she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Don't call me that. What if this call is recorded?"

"Don't worry . . . I've already paid someone inside. This call is safe."

Cherry rubbed her forehead. It was hurting as well as her eyes.

"Even so . . . don't call me until everything calms––"

"Uncle Robert is dead."

". . ."

". . ."

"I see . . . ,"

". . . You knew?"

Cherry took in a deep breath. "Of course I knew."

"Did . . . d-did you slept with him?" Angel's voice wavered.

"No. It's been almost a year since Robert and I sleep on the same bed. He knew he was sick. That was why he distances himself. He told me . . . and I . . . I immediately got tested and was negative."

Angel breathed the air she held. "Anyway, do you want to see him? I could arrange for it. The law has that rule that you could––"

"No." Cherry's smile was wicked as her voice was condescending. "I don't care about that man except for his riches. You should know that I never loved him except for his money."

". . . I see . . ." Angel cleared her throat. "Well . . . I just wanted to inform you."

". . . I'll hang up now," Cherry said and ended the call. She didn't want to speak to Angel because she felt ashamed for what she did. And that it was still dangerous to talk with her at the moment.

She got up and was escorted to her cell.

Inside the confined small space, Cherry laughed. Small little waves of laughter until it turned into repressed howls.

----

Chapter 40

After two weeks

Evangeline got off her car and surveyed the surroundings. In her view was a mansion made of bricks and large French windows—the one where rich people confined themselves and called home.

It was larger on the outside and definitely much larger on the inside. It could probably fit a small community, but she doubted even one was welcome. The master of the house was dead but not a speck of dust laid on its pristine walls. The house was perfect. Only it felt desolate.

Stepping inside, the head butler welcomed her. If the exterior was desolate, the inside was like a graveyard. There was no life in the interiors except for the servants who acted more like mannequins with their close mouths and downcast head.

"Can we get you anything, Miss Heart? Tea perhaps?" the butler said.

Evangeline shook her head. Eyes were roving around. She was there to sell the house. Since Robert was dead and Chery Lin was in jail, all of Roberts's assets would go to his only son. But a one-year-old could hardly speak, much less managed an entire empire. So those responsibilities fell on her shoulders.

At least when the rightful heir is of legal age.

First things first, she would either sell or demolish this godforsaken mansion born from Robert's sins.

"Da!"

Caught by that innocent voice, Evangeline turned and looked at the little boy clinging to her leg.

The people present audibly gasped and looked at each other in fear. How did the young master throttle all the way here?

Evangeline's forehead creased as she looked down at the baby. "Well, this must be the bastard son?"

No one spoke. No one even dared to breathe.

Evangeline picked the boy and raised him at her eye level. Their eyes were different. Hers contained nothing but contempt, and his contained nothing but innocence. And when he smiled, his eyes shone with affection.

And she remembered.

Once upon a time, she asked her father what love is. Her father sat her on his knee and looked her in the eyes.

"Love is when I looked at you."

. . .

. . .

It was silent for a moment. A moment of awkward, heavy silence before Evangeline's face broke into a smirk.

"You've got father's eyes."

Everyone's mouth drop as Evangeline carried the boy in her arms.

"Rob!"

All eyes turned to Angel, who was catching her breath, worry coated her face. Then her worried expression turned to shock before she composed herself.

Clearing her throat, Angel sauntered towards Evangeline and extended her hands. "Come here, Rob. What did I tell you about strangers?"

Evangeline scoffed. "Strangers? I think you and I knew who the real strangers are in this house." Evangeline handed the boy when he flexed his little hands toward Angel.

Carrying the boy in her arms, Angel looked at Evangeline with suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

"Haven't you heard? Robert Krisnov handed everything to me until that squirt is of legal age. So I'm deciding whether to have this house demolish or," she licked her lips and added, "sell it."

Angel was silent for a moment before she said, "Do what you want."

"Then I will." Evangeline turned but stopped at Angel's following words.

"I heard you're leaving?"

Evangeline looked at Angel and faked a smile. "Yes. Though this would have been more touching if I liked you. But since I don't, you don't have to concern yourself with my departing."

Angel rolled her eyes. "I just wanted to tell you that even though Uncle Robert entrusted everything to you. You can't have custody over Rob. I have given every legal right to care for him until he is of legal age."

Evangeline smirked. "Who wants that little squirt?" she said and looked at the little boy one last time before she turned and sashayed out of the house.

When Evangeline got inside her car, she dialed a number. "Michael, don't bother to come. I decided to let that house live . . . for the meantime, at least."

She then ended the call and looked at Eric beside her. "Let's go?"

Eric didn't say anything and just smiled without joy. This was the day that Evangeline would leave for Paris, and it still felt unreal. He wanted to go with her. Stay with her until she was settled. But he couldn't. Leaving Burberry was against the rules. An exception was already given when he went to Everland months ago and when he had a day trip to BlackPine. Another violation, and he would be disowned on the spot. He was having second thoughts, but it was actually Evangeline who convinced him to stay.

Starting the car, Eric was silent while Evangeline was practicing her French. She was full of smiles and oozing with excitement, whereas he was full of dread.

Eric didn't want to see her off. He didn't want her to leave. He wanted to tell her that being apart . . . he hated it. And that hate grew every moment they were nearing the airport.

Eric stopped the car in the parking lot and turned to Evangeline.

"Eve."

Evangeline blinked. Her head a little skewed to the side. "Yeah?"

Eric bit his lips, knuckles turning white against the wheels. His expression then broke into a smile. A hologram of his sadness that he couldn't reveal.

"Take care."

Eric didn't know what happened next, but he found himself inside the airport. He, along with Asher, Satele, and Daniel, was giving their farewells.

"I don't know what you're going to do there, but I bet that you'll come crying back here in just a month," Daniel said, didn't know whether to hug Evangeline or not. He decided it would be awkward, so he didn't.

"If I ever did. That would be crying back here with the best stylist award," Evangeline mocked and leaned a little closer to Daniel's ears. "I bet that it would be you crying back to Everland because Lilybella left you."

Daniel's face burst red. "Y-you!"

"Eva, wait for me, okay? I just need to sort my papers here, and I'll follow you straight away," Asher interrupted in all seriousness.

Evangeline wanted to shake her head. She briefly looked at Satele, who was avoiding eye contact, face all crumpled.

"Are you sure about that?" Evangeline asked and nodded in the direction of Satele.

Asher looked at Evangeline then shifted his gaze at Satele. Torn between two women, Asher opened his mouth but closed it again and again.

"I . . . I . . ." Asher was at a loss for words.

"You're fired, "Evangeline declared and crossed her arms. "It seemed that you found a new Queen to serve. So you're fired." She flipped her hair and sauntered towards Eric.

"I don't need a servant who is not loyal to his master," she muttered before she stopped in front of Eric.

Eric's lips parted, but Evangeline already hugged him tight before he could speak.

"Call me every day, okay?"

Eric's tight expression loosened a little as he hugged her back. "Of course."

Evangeline then kissed him on the lips that made Asher's mouth drop. Asher wanted to break them apart, but Satele held his shirt.

Kissing him like there was no tomorrow, Eric closed his eyes and savored her warmth. But before he could hug her back, she backed away.

"Any more, and I might not go," she said, choking a little. Her eyes breamed with tears, and it seemed it would fell at any moment.

"I love you," she proclaimed one last time before she went her way. Hurry in her steps before that overpowering emotion stopped her from going.

Eric's vision blurred, and his chest felt so heavy it might give in. He couldn't see. All he knew was, she was gone.

Inside the plane, Evangeline looked down at the city of Burberry. She couldn't even imagine that she would start a new in a foreign country.

It was all thanks to Eric. Meeting him, he mended what was broken and healed what was scarring. Her trust was shattered, but he took his time earning it back.

Without him, she would probably just continue her life without purpose. But since meeting him, this crazy idea of her, him, and a little boy kept rewinding in her head. This idea of designing dresses and clothes for their children brought a smile to her face.

She loved him. With devotion and purity that she didn't know she was capable of doing. She always thought that they would be together forever. But things changed. Not her feelings. But something inside her changed. Being away with him made her realized that it was not just physical love. It was something more.

Even afar, she felt his presence. Saw his smile. Heard his voice. He was not with her, but it felt like he was always with her. This feeling . . . this was something that could no longer be defined as just love.

It's a connection between two souls.

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A/N

Thank you very much for supporting Eric and Evangeline in their love story. Stay tuned for Side Stories XD