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Chapter 199: Listen to the Silence

Eve sat in the bathtub. 

Her wig hanging on a hook behind the door, she hugged her knees and propped her chin on them. The water had turned into an opaque white color while the scent of lavender floated in the air. Time and space drifted as quietly and as stagnant as she did.

She had moved lifelessly the moment she stepped into the apartment. A moment of seclusion and silence was what she craved. Her legs led her straight for the bathroom. Grabbing the loofa, she scrubbed her skin cleancoloring it red from the immense force she used.

Her makeup remained intact despite the water that splattered on her face.

She took a deep breath and held it in, letting her muscles relax.

'Ambryan came in with me, right?' Eve wondered. The thought brought her back to her senses. It wouldn't be good to keep him waiting. She stood up and grabbed the towel. Her eyes landed on the wig.

she froze.

Although she acted like a robot earlier, she did know that this was Evangeline's apartmentwhich meant that she needed to put the wig back on. But, apparently, her mind drifted away from reality enough for her to forget to bring a spare of clothes.

Eve slammed her face against the towel. 

The robe she used was in the room. She had left it there when she changed inside the closet before the party. It didn't cover her up as much as she preferred but it was better than a towel. Except to get it, she would have to

"Whywhy, why, why is this bathroom not connected to the bedroom?" she whimpered. Steeling her nerves, she groaned and took the wig from the hook. There was no way to avoid it. 

The sooner she got this over with, the better.

Ambryan walked around the living room. The lack of distinctive items reminded him of his penthouse. There weren't any photos. Nor were they any figurines. She hadn't added her personal touch to the decor.

It sort of disappointed him.

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The stack of magazines on the TV cabinet reminded him of waiting areasprovided just to pass the time and nothing of specific interest. Then again, they could be references for her modelling career. He picked one and flipped through the pages.

It landed on a section filled with models for female undergarments

He slammed the magazine shut and closed his eyes. That had to be the most amount of black lingerie he had seen in his life. Not even the other males in his class managed to convince him to read their 'men's lifestyle and entertainment' magazines.

The door opened to his left. 

Following his instincts, his head turned towards it.

Eve stiffened as soon as she opened the door. The angle had a direct path to a tall figure in the living room. Her hazel eyes locked with his violet ones. Her grip on the towel tightened. At first, she planned to ask for his help. 

Then, at the last minute, she realized the bedroom was a leap away. 

She could just make a dash for it.

Unfortunately, that plan wasn't proceeding. 

Eve averted her gaze and bit her lips from the inside. Now that he had seen her, there were no take backs. She sneaked a peek at him. He hadn't moved an inch at all. Was he planning to stare at her for the rest of the evening?

"Um do you mind if you turn around?" She coughed, still avoiding his face. 

"Of course," Ambryan responded immediately. He threw the magazine on the TV cabinet and faced the windows. The tips of his ears had gone pink. He loosened his collar, feeling a bit hot.

Quickly, Eve checked the bathroom one last time, making sure she didn't forget anything.

Then, she ran for her dignity and slammed the bedroom door shut.

Her back thudded against it. Her chest rose and fell at a fast pace. She shook the matter out of her head and focused on the next step what should she wear? 

Dumping her dirty clothes in the laundry basket, she assessed the closet. Sleepwear provided the best comfort in her opinion. She would have to spend the night here anyway to avoid her secret from getting leaked. 

Ambryan glanced over his shoulder when he heard the door. He breathed a sigh of relief. Her skin truly was flawlessbut her feet had suffered on more than one occasion. They had calluses and remnants of scars. He wondered if they were purely from shoes. 

Or could it be something else?

He left the living room in favor of the kitchen. The setup looked simple enough. He found the supplies for tea. There weren't many to choose from but coffee would have to wait. The priority was to brew a relaxing drink. It should induce better chances of sleep.

The image of Evangeline shivering in the car came to his mind. 

That was something he didn't want to see again.

Back in the bedroom, Eve picked the most decent pajamas she could find. It was a three-piece set of pink silk: a pair of shorts, a button top and a knee-length robe. The fabric caressed her skin like a prized jewel. The feel of it outdid all other options. 

Maybe she could ask if she could keep it after this was all over

Her hand lingered on the doorknob.

Right. How many months were left? Six? When this started, Eve knew what she wanted to do. Her life would revert back to normal like this never happened. It was a temporary phase in her life. And yet she couldn't imagine her future to be different from now.

Could she live in this dream a little longer?

Her fantasy shattered once the negative impacts surfaced in her memories. It manifested one thought. No one could really have everything, could they? Of course, she knew this wouldn't be perfect. But she had only expected petty dramas brought by people like Charlee Edwards. 

"What am I doing" Eve muttered, closing her eyes and opening the door. These thoughts needed to go away. They needed to stop circling around her head like vultures. Otherwise, she wouldn't sleep a wink tonight. 

"I know you love coffee but you'd have to settle for tea tonight."

Ambryan had shrugged his jacket off. The sleeves of his back dress shirt clung to his arms, defining his muscles. He set two mugs on the coffee table before walking in her direction. He reached her within three strides.

His hands cradled the sides of her head. "How do you feel?"

"Better," Eve assured him. "Much better."

She gulped at his close proximity. This wasn't the man who sneered at her in that hallway. No. This was the man who took her shoes off when she was in pain. His gentle eyes seemed as endless and as comforting as a purple galaxy filled with stars.

Ambryan nodded once he found what he was looking for. He squeezed her hand and led her to the couch. "Drink some tea. Take your time to collect yourself. I can't even begin to imagine how you feel right now. But I will be here for you."

Eve sat on the sofa obediently. She reached for the nearest mug and enjoyed its warmth against the palms of her hands. Her eyes slid to her right. Ambryan leaned on the backrest with his legs crossed. He lifted his mug to his lips.

'I could get used to this,' Eve mused to herself. The silence was comforting. 

It made her smile.

Then, something occurred to her. 

Her shoulders became tense. "How long do you plan to stay here?"

Ambryan pulled his head back, lifting an eyebrow at her. "Getting rid of me already?" 

"It's not that" Eve quickly defended. She sipped the tea and used it as a chance to organize her thoughts. It tasted much like how he preferred it. Was this the only brewing method he knew? "Nanzie lives with me here. I don't want her to be trapped outside because of your presence. I wouldn't be comfortable with her waiting too long."

"Is that all?" Ambryan uncrossed his legs and rested his elbows on his thighs. He placed his mug on the coffee table. "We could always move to my penthouse."

Eve choked on mid-sip. "That's not necessary. We're already here."

Ambryan twisted his neck. A small smirk curled on his lips. He observed her further as she avoided his teasing. Her head was turned away and her hair was tied to a low ponytail. It gave him a good view of her slender neck. Patches of reddish pink popped up here and there.

Before he knew it, his fingers reached to touch them. "Did he touch you here?"

Eve jumped in her seat, sloshing the tea in its container. She put the mug down and brushed off his question with an awkward laugh. "I may have scrubbed too hard one can't be too clean, am I right?"

Ambryan scooted closer. Her skin had been scoured raw. The patches turned out to be her entire skin but varied in shade. Indescribable anger flexed in his eyes. What did that man do for her to feel this dirty?

His fingers hovered near her neck. They shook with rage. He struggled to control his violent urges. Little by little, he moved his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. 

Then, he leaned in.

Eve's breath hitched as Ambryan moved from her neck and to her collarbone, leaving another kiss.