"Evelyn rose, will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man in this room and marry me". My boyfriend Leo Capri asked , looking up at me with admiration. I knew from the moment we started dating that I would want nothing more but to spend the rest of my life with him but three months was too soon even for me. So many thoughts ran through my head. I stood motionless, my mind going a mile a minute.
We were young.
What if he hated me later on?
What if he wanted kids immediately?
Do I even want kids?
We'd never discussed deeper issues like this.
That's when i heard the glass shatter, pulling me out of my head in an instant.I looked in the direction where the sound came from and honestly wasn't surprised when I realized it was the 'devil' in a purple dress. Mrs Capri stared at me with venomous eyes as she made her way towards us.
" Honey you can't be serious". She said as if he had just pulled nothing but a childish prank. She pulled Leo up, pulling him to her side.
He looked like a deer in headlights as his gaze flickered between me and his mother.
"Mom-"
"No, absolutely not. You know I blame myself, I really should have said no to this relationship at the start but I didn't want you unhappy just because of a fling that was never supposed to last ". She said as she looked at me coldly
The whispers, I could hear them around me
The room felt like it was spinning.
"Mrs Capri please don't do this, not here" . I said trying to regain control of the situation.
" Don't do what? Spare my family from having to deal with an embarrassment like you"
" You knew how this was going to go from the start but you still had the audacity to want more"
"You're a greedy little thing"
With each word she said, she jabbed a finger at me. I kept backing up trying to keep as much space as possible.
My back hit the cold railing, and before I could react, I was falling.
Splash
The world spun, and for a split second, I thought about letting the water swallow me whole. For a split second, I entertained the thought of not swimming to the surface, taking the easy way out and just ceasing to exist , maybe traumatizing Mrs Capri in the process.
As I swam to the surface I was met with the mocking eyes of our supposed family, friends and 'well-wishers'. Those that had come to celebrate with me were now taking pictures of the most embarrassing night of my life.
I shivered in the cold water . Flashes all around me. I looked at Mrs Capri who just smiled down at me. Mocking me. Leo didn't even look at me. It felt like an eternity before I was eventually brought out from the water.The party just continued on without me, like I was just a minor setback to their fun.
As soon as I was aboard the yacht, I couldn't look at anyone. I walked dejectedly to the other side of the ship and waited till the yacht got to the docks.
In all this time , my boyfriend hadn't even checked up on me once. How do you go from proposing to spend the rest of your life with a woman to ignoring her after her near death experience?
"Evelyn Rose, don't you dare give these people the satisfaction of seeing you cry, you're better than that". I whispered to myself as I wrapped the towel tighter around my body.
After what felt like an eternity, we got to the docks. I waited for everyone to clear out before I mustered up the courage to leave.
Everyone had left, even Leo, who was meant to be my ride back. I looked around and began to laugh at the shit show this night had turned. I fell to my knees, my laughter turned into sobs.
Here I was on a Friday night, on my knees in a lonely dock, wet , laughing and crying at the same time. A complete and utter mess
Slowly I picked myself up and walked to the main road to try and get a taxi.
As I trudged toward the road, my drenched dress clinging to me like a second skin, I heard the hum of an engine. The car slowed, its headlights cutting through the misty night.That's when I saw Rowland Carpenter. CEO of Structura Corp. One of the biggest construction companies in the world and my dad's rival.
I turned on my heels desperate to get away from him. My father would kill me if Rowland saw me in this state. I had embarrassed him enough this night. I'm sure my face would be on every tabloid in the city by morning. Just thinking about it-
The car door opened and I heard footsteps, was he running after me???
I picked up my pace, breaking into a light jog.
"Evelyn".
I didn't dare look back, I didn't want to
"Evelyn, this is pointless you have nowhere to go". He called out.
" I'm not supposed to talk to you". I said while still walking
" Oh and why not".
" My father would kill me"
" Are you always obedient to daddy?".
"Yes ".
" There are no taxis around here at this hour and the nearest hotel is 45 minutes away".
I let this information sink in, I stopped walking. He was right.
" Are you going to continue running or get in the car?".
I continued walking, trying to drown him out.He stopped walking towards me, I looked back
" I'm not going to keep following you, it's dangerous to be out alone by this time".
I just stared
" It's easier to get rid of the body and evidence close to the sea".
Well that was convincing
Wordlessly I turned around and walked towards his car. I didn't miss the faint smirk on his face as I passed him. My whole body screamed at me to run but I didn't have a choice.Surely my father would prioritize my safety over some rivalry.