Chapter 12 Six Months Gone, But Not Forgotten
653 Words
Gina got pregnant, so Fabian's mom arranged for her to move into Fabian's newlywed villa.
The moment she stepped in, she could feel something was missing—like that peaceful woman who used to sip tea in the courtyard had completely vanished.
"Fabian, you're back," Gina greeted him as soon as she heard his footsteps approaching.
Fabian's eyes, usually so cold, immediately softened. He reached out and gently brushed her cheek. "Dummy, didn't I tell you not to wait up?"
Gina blushed and nestled into his arms with a shy little smile.
When the house staff brought the food in, Gina immediately poured him a glass of water, her every move full of quiet attentiveness. But as he watched her, Fabian's mind began drifting—he couldn't stop thinking about Evelyn.
"Fabian? Fabian?" Gina called his name twice before he snapped out of it. As soon as he did, a flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes—Gina caught it right away.
Pretending she hadn't noticed, she gave a subtle look to one of the maids nearby.
"Ma'am, should I throw out the newspapers from a few days ago?" The maid stepped up on cue, purposely holding up one paper with Evelyn's scandal plastered front and center, making sure it was right in Fabian's line of sight.
The racy photo and bold headline did the job—Fabian put down his fork, brows furrowing. "Let me see that paper."
He'd only been away from Stellmere for a couple of days, and Evelyn had already made headlines for such a scandal?
Gina's eyes lit up slightly as she scolded the maid, all dramatic: "Why are you still holding that? You trying to make my sister's shame a public spectacle or something?"
The maid stammered an apology and tried to leave with the paper.
"Give it to me!" Fabian snapped.
The maid froze, then gingerly handed it over. Fabian snatched it, eyes glued to the page—Evelyn, caught up in a mess, and now tangled with Lucas?
It had barely been a few days apart, and she was already doing this?
Evelyn, you're unbelievable.
Rage boiled over as Fabian tore the newspaper to shreds and flipped the entire table.
But Gina? She didn't even flinch. In fact, she looked downright smug, like everything was unfolding exactly as she'd planned.
Whatever feelings Fabian had left for Evelyn—they'd die right then and there.
Six months later—
After leaving Stellmere, Evelyn had been taken by Lucas to a quiet, old-fashioned little town. But after what happened to her face, she became withdrawn, barely speaking, buried in self-doubt.
Lucas had tried all kinds of things, but she spent every day just sitting by the window, watching the world go by in silence. After a while, even he didn't know what else to do.
"Evie, the draft is coming through. You'll catch a cold like that," Lucas said gently when he came back and saw her perched at the window again.
Her belly had grown big and round, and her hand rested on it while she stared blankly outside.
"You haven't stepped out in over six months," Lucas continued, squatting beside her. "I know this place with a great vibe. Want me to take you?"
She said nothing.
He kept trying, "Evie, the baby's due any day now. Sitting around like this isn't good. The doctor said you've got to move more, or it might affect the baby when it's born."
Lucas knew the one thing she still cared about was this child. Staying locked away like this wasn't doing her any good.
She froze, her hand pausing on her belly. She looked over at him. "The doctor really said that?"
Relieved she responded, Lucas nodded. "Yes, absolutely. And don't worry—no one here knows you. No one's going to stare or care."
Evelyn bit her lip, thinking for a long time... then slowly nodded.
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