Chapter 204: Isolated

Evan takes the stairs three at a time. He can hear Robert's footsteps echoing several floors above. "Slow the elevator," Evan shouts, "Make it stop on every floor."

"Yes, sir," Robert shouts back.

Evan glances at the painted sign on the wall: 22nd floor. He's panting with effort, and there's a stitch in his side. He's dizzy, and his forehead aches. If I don't catch her now, I never will, he thinks. There's no way I can compete with an elevator.

He runs into the lobby and pounds the call button, hoping he's not too late. The elevator dings and the doors slowly slide open. Avery calmly meets his eyes. Evan steps onto the threshold and spreads his arms across the doorway. A man in the elevator coughs.

For the first time, Evan notices that Avery's not alone. A young couple stands to the left side of the elevator. The man scowls at Evan and protectively wraps an arm around his petite girlfriend.

"Get out!" Evan roars.

The young man seems to puff up. He squares his shoulders and steps toward Evan. Though he's ahead shorter, he carries himself confidently. Evan immediately wants to punch him in the face.

"Come on, Jason," the petite woman whispers. "Let's just take another elevator. It's not a big deal."

Jason ignores her and approaches Evan. Evan can feel the man's hot breath when he speaks.

"Just who do you think you are?" Jason asks. "You need to get lost. You're upsetting my girlfriend."

"Jason, come on," the girl says. She tugs on his arm and tries to pull him away from Evan.

Jason seems reluctant to go, but he allows the woman to tug him into the lobby. Evan steps into the elevator and pounds the close door button. Avery turns her back to him. He grabs her shoulder and turns her around. She's flushed with anger and lovelier than ever. He pinches her delicate jaw between his fingers and forces her to look up at him.

She scowls and then slaps him across the face. Evan is stunned by force—his head turns painfully, and he tastes blood. The side of his face stings and the sound seems to echo in the elevator.

"Slap me twice more," he says hoarsely.

Avery slaps him again and again. Then she balls her small hands into fists and pummels him in the chest. Her anger makes her strong, he thinks. He allows her to hit him, watching as she slowly tires. A light sheen appears on her forehead and above her lip, and she breathes heavily.

"That must have been at least twenty," he says. "Tell me, what does that mean? Undying passion? Obsession?"

"It's punishment," Avery says.

"For me?" Evan asks. "I suppose I deserve it."

"Obviously, it's for you," Avery says. "I've already been punished enough."

"How's that?" Evan asks.

"The last three and a half years with you have been enough punishment for a lifetime," she says. "At first, I blamed you, but I know it was partially my fault. I was young and foolish, and I couldn't see you for what you are. But now, I've learned. I can't get the last three and a half years back, but I can start fresh. We're done, Evan. Really and truly done."

Tears fall down her cheeks, and he doesn't know what hurts more: her words or her tears. He wants to wipe them from her face, take her in his arms, and apologize for everything, but she won't even look at him.

"Avery," he whispers, "Please, don't do this."

"If you've ever cared about me at all, just let me go," she says.

The elevator door opens, and she walks into the main lobby and out onto the street. He takes a step to follow and then freezes. He watches her go until the elevator doors close, leaving him alone and isolated.

Avery wakes to the sound of the curtains dragging across the curtain rod. Sunlight floods the room and dazzles her eyes. She groans and rolls onto her side, pulling the blankets over her head. Her face feels puffy and swollen from crying, and her eyes still hurt. She vaguely wonders how long it took for her to fall asleep finally.

"Good morning, Avery," Maddy says. "It's time for breakfast."

Avery pulls the covers from her head and sits up. "What time is it?" she asks, blinking sleepily.

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"It's a little after nine," Maddy answers. "And you might want to hurry. Last night, your husband said that he'd send drivers to take you home as soon as you've finished your breakfast."

"Last night?" Avery asks.

Maddy's round face flushes. "Oh no, I've gone and said too much again," she says. "I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut. Just forget I said anything."

"Maddy, just tell me," Avery says.

"I'm sorry, Avery, I really can't," Maddy says. "He made me promise I wouldn't say a word."

"A word about what?" Avery asks.

Maddy glances over her shoulder as if she's checking for eavesdroppers. "I guess there's no harm in telling you now," she says. "Mr. Howel came to the hospital late last night after you were asleep. To be completely honest with you, he looked terrible—his clothes were all stained, and he smelled like wine. He gave us some instructions, and he made me swear I wouldn't say anything to you about his visit. Oh, I really need to keep my mouth shut."

"Why did he swear you to secrecy?" Avery asks.

"I don't know," Maddy says. "He seemed really upset. He sent us away and spent the night in your room. I tried to check on you once, and he was just sitting in the dark next to your bed. Honestly, I almost screamed—he looked like a ghost or something. He didn't leave until morning."

Avery rubs her eyes and looks at the chair next to the bed. When she turns around, Maddy is busy stirring a bowl of oatmeal. She hands Avery the breakfast tray without meeting her eyes.

"Maddy, is there anything else you're keeping from me?" Avery asks.

"No, well, yes, I mean, I don't know," Maddy stammers. "I'm sure you already know."

"Sure, I already know what?" Avery asks.

"Well, Leonie seems really upset," Maddy says. "Normally, I wouldn't think anything of it, but I knew you were going to the restaurant, so it kind of seemed like more than a coincidence."

Avery can feel her patience wearing thin. She takes a sip of steaming green tea to calm herself before turning to Maddy.

Maddy seems to sense Avery's frustration, and she babbles on. "I'm talking about Leonie's twitter feed, of course," Maddy says. "She deleted the selfie from the restaurant and posted this other tweet. Honestly, it's probably nothing—it just seemed a little strange—but really, it could mean anything."

"Can I see the tweet?" Avery asks.

Maddy hands her the phone, and Avery glances down at the screen. At 12:28, Leonie tweeted, "We'll see who gets the last laugh." Two emojis follow the text: a middle finger and a diamond. Avery rolls her eyes and returns the phone to Maddy.

Before she can finish her breakfast, Robert and two bodyguards arrive Avery stares sourly at them. Robert shuffles his feet awkwardly.

"Good morning, Mrs. Howel," Robert says. "As soon as you've finished your breakfast, we're prepared to take you home. Mr. Howel wishes he could be here in person, but he has some urgent business to attend to."

"I'm sure he does," Avery says, cooly.

"He also asked me to tell you that he looks forward to meeting you at the house as soon as he possibly can," Robert says.

"You can tell him that won't be necessary," Avery says.

Robert coughs nervously, "Mrs. Howel, I know it's not my place but—"

"If it's not your place, don't speak," Avery snaps.

She turns her attention to her breakfast. She eats slowly, hoping to delay the moment of her return. Just thinking about living in the same house as Evan makes it difficult to breathe. But the oatmeal is gone too quickly. She sips the green tea until only a few leaves are left floating in the dregs at the bottom of the mug.

Robert helps her out of bed, and the bodyguards gather her luggage. They lead her out of the hospital to a town car waiting below. I never thought I'd be sad to leave the hospital, she thought bitterly. 

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