Chapter 3: Eveline

Florence stared at the opposite wall, shocked. Slowly she slid down the wall, she couldn't believe that she was just almost tricked into having an affair with a married man. She couldn't believe what a fool she had been, so many times she had hoped for love, so many times she had reached out to a person only to get rejected by the truth. She has had enough, today was the day that she swore to never bend to anyone and never let anyone inside her heart. Stealing her determination, she ran home.

No one was there when she arrived and all that greeted her was an empty house. Florence was dejected for a second but realized that this was better for her plan. She ran up the stairs into her room and locked the door behind her. She took a breath as a hint of hesitation showed in her eyes. Remembering what happened to her earlier, she ran into her closet and grabbed a suitcase. She threw all her clothes into it as well as all her necessities. Florence then took a key from under her mattress and used it to unlock the safe she hid in her drawers. It was her life's savings, after working as a newspaper delivery boy disguised as a boy for the last six years and getting an allowance every month, she ended up with a total of £3,983. Shoving the money into her pocket, Florence grabbed her suitcase and ran out.

...

Shelley Household

In a dark room, nothing could be seen except the silhouettes of two men. One kneeling on both knees with his head down and the other looking over the kneeling man menacingly.

"How many times do I have to warn you to stop causing trouble before you finally get my message in your head? Useless son, can't even finish his own wedding. I should've never taken you or your mother into my house when she came to my doorstep claiming to have been pregnant with my child."

"..." Henry stayed quiet, yet a smirk made its way into his expression.

"You cursed child! What's so amusing?" the Baron brought down his whip cutting the flesh of Henry's back. "Now listen to me child. You will go back to your chamber and impregnate your wife, and hopefully, it will be a son. If it is, then once I receive the child you can be free to do whatever you want. I will disown you as well as give you a fortune, enough for you to live your life in peace." With that the Baron left, leaving Henry to follow his orders.

Once Henry heard the door slam shut, he whisked his shirt back on without a care for his wound and left the room with a slam of the door, just as his father did.

…

Meanwhile, in Henry's chambers, a woman was sitting on the bed seemingly to be waiting for someone. Every now and then, she would stare at her finger, specifically the one that had a ring adorned to it. A click signifying that the door was opening brought her attention to the person coming in. Seeing that it was her newly made husband, all her anxiety flew away and all that was left was a kind smile for her husband. She finally had Henry chained to her, the boy that stole her heart when she was a small child.

Henry, on the other hand, paid no attention to Eveline. He did not spare her one glance once he entered the room and made his way to the bathroom. Once Eveline saw the blood leaking through Henry's back, she felt terrified. How could the son of a baron get so brutally injured like this?

"Wait!" She chased Henry to the bathroom and caught his hand, which was immediately flung away from Henry. Hurt flashed through her eyes, but only for a second before she regained her composure.

"Look at yourself, how did this happen? You're going to faint from the blood loss so won't you allow me to treat you?"

"..." Eveline was only responded with silence.

"Won't you let me treat you? Please!"

Still saying nothing, Henry walked towards the bed and sat down. Eveline ran into the bathroom to grab a first aid kit. When she came back into the bedroom, she was greeted by the sight of her husband still staring at the wall. She set down the first aid kit and approached Henry. She knelt down in front of Henry and slowly reached her arm up to the first button on her shirt. Eveline slowly unbuttoned Henry's shirt and pulled the sleeves off his arms. Pulling the shirt away from Henry, she shifted her position. Sher climbed onto the bed and kneeled behind Henry. Carefully she treated the whip wound on his back, wiping away the blood and cleaning the wound. Taking the bandages, she carefully wrapped his wound. Her hands were hovering around his chest, but Eveline resisted her desires. Dejectedly, she lowered her arms, however, she wasn't able to retract her arms back far before Henry gently grabbed them. He pulled them around his chest, giving Eveline silent permission to hug him. Eveline's face lit up wanting to squeal and hold Henry tighter, but she fought down her squeal and gently hugged him as she didn't want to hurt his wound. Henry turned around pulling apart Eveline's arms.

"W-what's wrong?" Eveline stuttered, scared that she did something that displeased him.

Henry didn't respond back instead he stared into Eveline's eyes as if he was searching for something. Flustered Eveline looked down, a bright pink blush rushing across her face and to the tips of her ears. Henry was disappointed.

"She doesn't have that look in her eyes like that girl from earlier." He thought. Shaking the thoughts from his head he bent his back leaning his head towards her ear.

"Look up, Eve." He whispered into her ear blowing into it afterward.