𝐒𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝟏: 𝐌𝐫𝐬. 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐫 ✔

CHAPTER 12

Evangeline braced herself, her eyes cold and filled with a simmering anger as she met Zach's gaze squarely.

"What? Lost for words?" she spat out, her tone laced with bitterness.

Zach's attempt to reach out and placate her only fueled her resentment further. She pulled her hands away sharply, refusing to be swayed by his desperate gestures.

"Look, baby. I'm sorry for what I've done, okay? If you want, I'll ask Monica to leave the house," he pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.

"How noble of you, Zach," she began, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Offering to kick Monica out, as if that erases everything you've done. Do you really think one apology can undo all the lies, the betrayal?"

Zach flinched at her words, but Evangeline pressed on, her anger unyielding.

"You've shattered my trust," she continued, her tone cutting like a knife. "You've torn apart everything we had, piece by piece. And now you expect me to just forgive and forget?"

For a moment, there was silence, punctuated only by the sound of their shallow breaths.

Zach's gaze softened, his eyes pleading for forgiveness, but Evangeline remained unmoved.

"I trusted you, Zach," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion. "I loved you more than anything, and you threw it all away. There's no coming back from that."

As Evangeline's words hung heavy in the air, she felt a surge of determination wash over her. With cold hands, she reached for her left ring finger, where her wedding band gleamed in the dim light. The metal felt cold against her skin as she slid it off.

Evangeline looked up to face Zach once more, she held out the ring, her expression hardened with resolve. "Take it," she said, her voice steady despite the anger raging within her. "I don't want it anymore."

Zach's eyes widened in disbelief as he reached out to accept the ring, his fingers closing around it with guilt and regret. For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Zach broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "Evangeline, I..."

But she cut him off with a shake of her head, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Save it, Zach," she said, her voice wavering with emotion. "There's nothing left to say."

With those final words, Evangeline turned away from Zach, wanting to leave him standing there, defeated and alone. But then she stopped and looked back at him.

"One more thing. If you really love me, I'm pretty sure you'll understand that I'd also want to sleep with someone other than you, hubby. I mean... I'm a woman, I have needs too. And maybe, with a little miracle, I might actually be able to give you a kid, you know? From other men?" Evangeline scoffed and left him standing in that room, dumbfounded.

But Zach was not leaving without a fight. He ran after her and grabbed her arm, turning her to face him.

"What do you mean? You're not doing this to me Evangeline!" Zach demanded gritting his teeth.

Evangeline chuckled and shook her head in disbelief. She touched his cheek and out of nowhere kissed his lips.

"I didn't know you look handsome when desperate. But hubby, I'm doing this for you. For us. Remember? Isn't that what you said to me when I found out about you and Monica?"

Zach's grip tightened on Evangeline's arm, his eyes blazing with frustration and desperation. "Don't you dare turn this around on me, Evangeline," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You're the one who's walking away from our marriage."

But Evangeline merely met his gaze with a cool, calculating expression. "Am I, Zach?" she countered, her voice deceptively calm. "Or am I finally taking control of my own life? You may have broken my trust, but you won't break me."

With a sudden burst of defiance, she wrenched her arm free from his grasp and took a step back, putting distance between them. "I deserve better than this," she declared, her voice ringing with conviction. "And I won't settle for anything less."

Zach took a step forward, his eyes pleading. "But Evangeline, we can work through this. We can fix things, I promise," he insisted, his voice tinged with desperation.

Evangeline shook her head, her resolve unwavering. "I've heard enough promises, Zach," she replied, her tone firm. "Actions speak louder than words, and yours have spoken volumes."

With those words, Evangeline's voice cut through the air like a knife, sharp and commanding. She called out for the guards, her tone urgent and resolute, and they swiftly responded, appearing at her side in moments.

"Get him out of here," she ordered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and determination. "And make sure the security is tightened. I never want to lay eyes on him again."

The guards swiftly moved into action, their faces stern as they approached Zach, who stood frozen in disbelief. Without a word, they firmly grasped his arms and began to escort him out of the house, his protests falling on deaf ears.

Evangeline watched in relief as Zach was led away. As the door closed behind him, Evangeline turned to the guards with a determined expression. "Thank you," she said firmly, her voice now steady. "Please ensure that he doesn't come near me again."

The guards nodded in understanding, their faces reflecting a sense of respect for Evangeline's courage. With a final glance at her, they turned and went back to their posts.

Evangeline couldn't help but smile at the newfound sense of freedom coursing through her veins. With Zach gone and the weight of his presence lifted from her shoulders, she felt lighter than she had a few minutes ago. Yet, amidst the relief, a sense of apprehension lingered. The unsigned divorce papers stood as a reminder of the battles yet to come.

"He'll be back," she muttered to herself. "But this time, I'll be ready."

With a steely resolve, Evangeline turned and made her way back to her room.

She grabbed her phone and dialed Jeremy's number, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she waited for him to pick up.

"Hi, baby brother," she teased as soon as he answered, relishing in his immediate annoyance.

"What now?" Jeremy groaned, his irritation evident in his voice.

Evangeline laughed softly. "I changed my mind. Let's throw a party next week. I'll send you the guest list."

The excitement in Jeremy's response was palpable. "Yes! You're taking over?! Freedom! Finally!" he exclaimed eagerly.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure it's the biggest party SNCLR has ever seen!" he added, already buzzing with plans.

"Alright then, I trust you'll make it epic," she replied before ending the call, feeling a surge of anticipation for the celebration to come.

"Why stick to an unfaithful bastard when you can have all the fun," she chuckled to herself.