Chapter 78: Not Belongs to Her

Leonie gives Avery an appraising gaze.

"Evan's grandfather gave him four years. He agreed that if you didn't get pregnant at that time he'd insist on a divorce. He failed to anticipate Evan's self-control—he never thought his grandson would refuse to touch you, much less to look at you. He decided to hold Diana until you got pregnant."

"What if I don't get pregnant?" Avery asks.

Leonie looks at Avery. Avery looks as if she's just been hit by a truck, and Leonie can't help but delight in her suffering. She hopes to bring Avery down once and for all.

"Then he won't release my sister," Leonie says, "But he'll find a new Mrs. Howel for Evan anyway."

Leonie fiddles with her hair.

"Now you know why Evan wants to get your pregnant," she says, "Do you think he really loves you or wants you to have his children? No. He's only doing it to save Diana."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Avery asks, "Weren't you worried that you'd lose your sister forever?"

Avery grits her teeth and Evan's words echoed in her mind: "Maybe we should make one of our own. How about a dozen—we can have a football team. Then eleven girls and one boy."

She almost let herself believe that they'd raise children together—she'd even imagined what they'd look like. Though she thought she was strong, the walls she built around her heart have slowly been collapsing under his attack.

"I really believed that he treated me differently because he was starting to develop feelings for me," Avery thinks, "But he was doing it all for his childhood sweetheart."

"Obviously because Evan wouldn't want you to know," Leonie says, "If you knew it would be harder for him to get your pregnant."

Leonie's words snap Avery out of her reverie. She sneers at the other woman.

"I wonder who stands to gain if I don't get pregnant and your sister doesn't come back?" Avery asks coldly.

"Avery!"

Leonie is shocked that Avery has analyzed the situation so quickly and thoroughly.

"Will you get pregnant then just to spite me?" Leonie asks.

"Of course," Avery taunts, "I made an agreement with Evan that we'd have a dozen children—enough for a football team. He knows that I like girls so he said we'd have eleven girls and one boy."

Leonie suddenly gets up, clenches her fists tightly and glares at Avery, "Have as many children as you want. Then you can spend the rest of your life watching Evan sneak around with my sister."

"Or maybe you can watch him get with me and Diana for the rest of your life," Avery mocks, "I'm his wife and Diana can be his mistress—it seems like a nice balance. But I wonder where that leaves you, hmm?"

"Is that all you've got? Tough talk?" Leonie challenges.

Leonie pulls out her phone and plays a recording of Mrs. Florence Howel.

"Once Avery bears him a child, Evan won't allow her to hang around," the old woman's voice says, "The second she gives birth, he'll have her packing her bags. He can't stand the sight of her, and frankly my dear, neither can I."

"You want to be his wife? I'm afraid Evan wouldn't allow that," Leonie says, putting her phone back in her pocket, "Evan loves Diana, but I think he'd settle for me. If one of us marries him it will save our family—so no I really don't care whether you get pregnant or not."

Leonie stands and slowly walks toward Avery, "You think I don't know why you want to sell the hotel? You need the money to run away. Let me give it to you. Okay?"

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"That's very kind of you," Avery says cautiously, "But I don't trust you."

"Think about it," Leonie says, "You're a smart woman. You'll make the right choice."

Leonie leaves the dressing room, and Avery remains frozen on the spot. To her side, light filters in through a stained glass window. Though the light is warm and colorful, Avery feels a chill. She recalls the stained glass windows at the Zuri Hotel and remembers that Claire said they were Diana's special touch. The windows in her dressing room are too similar for it to be a coincidence.

"I really have been living in Diana's shadow," Avery thinks, "I shouldn't really care—I've gone to great lengths to try to divorce Evan. I even emailed Diana behind Evan's back to try to convince her to return, but now that I know the truth it all feels different. Besides, if I have to get pregnant, that changes things."

Avery pauses and considers her options, "Even if I did get pregnant, the toxin would make the pregnancy incredibly dangerous. Charles told me that the side effects would worsen and my immune system would become dangerously weak. He said I'd have at least a 90% chance of dying. Do I really have to risk my life so Diana can be freed? No, I can't do it—I'm not a saint."

She doesn't want to admit it to herself, but she can't help but feel hopeless and heartbroken knowing that Evan is only using her to get Diana. She forces herself to swallow her bitterness and carefully selects an outfit from the closet.

"I should feel lucky," she thinks, "This news makes it easier to leave with a clear conscience—I certainly don't have to worry about hurting Evan."

She tugs on the dress and hears a knock at the door.

"Mrs. Howel, Dr. Walters said Mr. Howel needs someone to cool him," a maid announces.

"What?" Avery opens the door, "I don't even know what that means. Ask Robert or David to do it. I'm not in the mood."

The servant is about to leave, but Avery calls her back, "Actually, I changed my mind—I'll do it."

When Avery enters the bedroom, Evan is sitting at the bed and looking at a tablet on his knee. He looks up at the sound of the door and stares at her with eyes as deep and unreadable as the sea.

"You look unwell," he says, "Are you getting sick again?"

"Are you actually worried about me or just worried it'll get in the way of a pregnancy?" Avery snaps.

"What if I say it's both?"

Avery knows it's only the latter, but she suppresses her anger and approaches him as if nothing is wrong. The servants have readied a bowl of cold water and placed it on the nightstand with a pile of soft cloth.

"Mrs. Howel, you should focus on the forehead, back, neck, armpits, and thighs," a maid explains, "Mr. Howel will also need a change of clothes or else his fever could worsen."

"I get it," Avery says impatiently, "Leave us alone now."

Avery feels on edge and she can sense that Evan is following her every move with his eyes. She wrings the towel between her fingers and imagines she's wringing Evan's neck. Evan doesn't know why she's upset, but he can tell she's furious.

Avery throws the towel roughly at his face.

"Sorry, my hand slipped," she hisses.

Avery reaches for the towel, but Evan grabs her wrist.

"Who pissed you off? Leonie?" he asks.

Avery sneers. She can't believe that Evan is such a good actor. Of course, a part of her doubts the veracity of what Leonie is saying, and she's suspicious about the recording on her phone, but she knows she has to leave anyway. There is far too much intrigue and violence. The Howel house has proven to be a toxic place and she knows she can't live with Evan. Besides, nothing here belongs to her.

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