"You did it, Evelyn. Congratulations!" Evelyn stared at him in confusion as the words slowly started to sink in. she looked at the broken vase on the corner and then at his dark face.
"Mother came to scold you because you left without breakfast?" it did not happen in the past. But then, she was not late for breakfast in the past too. Suddenly she remembered how the housekeeper had left the house hurriedly in the name of buying more groceries.
"Ha! Are you trying to deny it even when you are caught red handed?" Damien snickers when she did not reply but kept looking at him in a trance. He was sure she was just trying to find excuses so that she would shrink away the responsibilities of her actions. At the same time, he felt disgusted. On the surface, she acts like a kind and obedient girl, but she did not give a single opportunity to force him to like her. But all he felt was disgust.
Evelyn blinked, finally returning to her senses. It was not the first time he had been scolded by Regina for hurting her. She had always been dominant and thought Damien would give in like he used to be obedient in childhood. Since she had always been busy with her own companies and taking care of her sick husband, she had thought giving a punishment to Damien once in a while would be enough for him to keep around Evelyn.
Evelyn knew that the woman wanted to help her. But she could not help but feel conflicted with this kind of help. If she wanted help, she should have pleaded for a divorce instead. But in the past, Evelyn was too blind to see that. She had felt that Regina was like a true mother always standing on her side and it was Damien who could not see right. But she did not care in this life.
"I have not called her. If you do not believe me, you can check my call history." she explained slowly as she took out her phone for him to see. He raised a brow looking at her calm face and then laughed with venom in his voice.
Damien laughed in a bitter and mocking tone. "Don't pretend, Evelyn! Who else was at home except you and me? My mother came here to defend you like she is yours mother not mine. And you! oh, you must have been so pleased. Did you call her after I left? Did you cry hard into the phone about how cruel I was to you? Is that how it is now?"
Evelyn's brows furrowed, His eyes were bloodshot with frustration. But this time, she was surprised that she did not feel anything. She did not want to waste her breath in explaining him at all.
"I have already told you that i didn't call her," she said calmly. "I didn't even know she came to see you. I was busy cooking and then came here to bring your breakfast. And we are not the only people in the house. There were maids and housekeepers too." She placed the lunchbox on the table and pointed toward it.
But his eyes were full of mockery.
"Oh?" he sneered with a look of disgust in his eyes, "So now you are lying too? Not only that, but you are ready to sabotage the servants's image just to save yourself." Evelyn wanted to laugh. So the servant's image was more important and could not be sabotaged while she could be treated like dirt by this man. She even forgot she could never reason with him.
And she did not care anymore.
"I am not lying," she replied. Her voice wasn't defensive but it sounded tired as if she was dealing with a child that kept throwing tantrums.
Something in her tone made him pause, but the fire inside wouldn't let him stop. He wanted her to apologize like she always had.
But instead, Evelyn just placed the bag on his desk.
"Keep pretending and I will make your life hell." He held her by her wrist and she frowned. She tried to get her hands free but he only held her tighter. "You are not leaving the office until you apologize to me for your actions and promise me that it would never happen." he challenged her again in a cold tone.
"I am sorry, it is my mistake, I will not contact your mother again." she said, taking a long breath. "Would this be enough?" she did not sound cold but it was soft, almost gentle. And yet they struck like a stone.
Damien blinked. "What?" She accepted it? She had never accepted it in the past!
"I said I am sorry." She looked at him again with an exhausted look. She took a deep sigh. "Can you let go of my hands now? To reflect on my mistake, I am returning to the house and will not come to the office for this week."
He stared at her, completely thrown off. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means," she said, taking a step back, "I do not want to drag this matter, Damien. You want me to apologize, I am apologizing. Tell me if you want anything else, I will do that too."
Damien stood frozen. He could not explain what that was supposed to mean. He had known that she had always been obedient to him. But this time, even her obedience felt cold.
He kept looking at her with a conflicted look.
"Have you called her or not?" he asked after inhaling a deep breath. Evelyn frowned and then looked at him again.
"Did you not say that i have called her already. Why are you asking me then? No matter what I say, it would be a lie in your eyes!" she said softly as she shook her head.
Damien opened his mouth to retort. But no words came out. He opened his mouth and closed it. She tried to move again but he blocked her.
"You are not leaving until I accept your apology!"