Useless Child

Evangeline woke up the next morning, her head throbbing as she groaned and held her forehead. "What happened?" she muttered, her voice hoarse. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she noticed she was no longer in the clothes she had worn the night before, but in soft nightwear. Her gaze landed on the table beside her bed—the gift bag from Dominic, the pair of shoes he had given her, and a stack of files, including the hotel report and plans for the terrace extension.

Panic flooded her. What's going on? she thought, the memories of the previous night slowly surfacing—her drunkenness, the heated moment in the car with Dominic. "She could feel her legs weaken at the memory. Her hands clenched into fists. "When did that happen? she asked herself, incredulous. Did I really drink that much?" Her mind raced. I was nearly naked in front of him." No, no, no... She pressed her palms against her temples. I can't believe I let that happen. What was I thinking? Was it the perfume?"

Her body trembled as guilt and disbelief surged through her. Before she could spiral further, a soft knock came at the door.

"Who's it?" Evangeline called, startled out of her thoughts.

"It's Magdalene... my lady," came the muffled reply.

"Come in," Evangeline said, pushing herself out of bed. She padded barefoot across the cool tiled floor as Magdalene entered, closing the door quietly behind her. The maid bowed respectfully.

"Good morning, my lady. I hope you slept well. Master Dominic said you were... drunk last night," Magdalene said, her tone hesitant.

Evangeline's eyes narrowed at the mention of Dominic. Her fists clenched tighter, her wedding ring glinting in the morning light. "He said that?" she spat, her voice simmering with anger.

Magdalene nodded, clearly sensing the tension. "Yes, my lady. I saw you in his arms... I wanted to ask how the meeting went, but you were in no state to speak."

Evangeline's fists slowly relaxed, though her mind continued to reel. "Oh... I see. There's a lot of work to be done today," she muttered, turning away from the maid, trying to regain some semblance of control.

Magdalene hesitated before speaking again. "Lady Evangeline, do you have an appetite for breakfast? I could also call for Richard, if you—"

"No need," Evangeline cut her off, her voice sharp. "That won't be necessary. I'll be at the Eastward wing, working. Send my breakfast there. Also, install a new phone number and set up an office in the spare room in the Westward wing. There's much to do."

Magdalene nodded, but before she could respond, Evangeline gestured toward the files and the gift bag on the table. "And get rid of those shoes," she said, her tone colder now, dismissing Dominic's gift as if it were poison.

"As you wish, my lady," Magdalene replied, bowing before leaving the room.

Once alone, Evangeline's mind raced again." I knew something was off when he started training me." She walked slowly to her closet, pulling out a small gun and inspecting it. "He's trying to use my emotions against me. But I won't fall for it. He wants power—he wants to take over as Viceroy. I won't let him."

Her grip tightened on the gun as she loaded it with cold precision." I need to claim what's rightfully mine before he does. I need to stand on my own before he destroys everything. And when the time is right, I'll get a divorce." Her eyes glinted with fierce determination.

"That's when I'll betray you, Dominic." She stared at the weapon in her hands, her expression icy as she imagined her revenge. "You won't see it coming."

After Evangeline dressed, she grabbed one of the records Mr. Jenkins had given her—notes on the hotel report and her own observations from the previous day. Walking through the hallway, her heels clicked against the polished floor as she made her way to find Dominic before heading to the Eastward wing. "When I divorce him, she thought, he'll lose his position as head of the Sarogaths Family in Verdaselles. Without that, he won't be able to touch the hotel either."

Her thoughts were sharp and determined. "The Bruswards are skilled and intelligent in business, no doubt, even with their criminal past. They hide behind a facade of elegance and nobility, but underneath, they're manipulative." Evangeline's fists tightened at her sides as she walked. "Dominic thinks I'm unskilled, that I'm nothing more than the wife he can use at meetings and conferences." Her face flushed as memories of the night in the car resurfaced. "I feel so stupid. I don't know what I was thinking, I need to ask him what happened "She thought as she trembled

A few servants passed by, bowing and offering greetings. She nodded curtly in response, not wanting to engage. Her mind raced with thoughts."Things will be different from now on, Brusward. I'll show you that I'm more capable than my grandmother and late mother," she thought, narrowing her eyes with determination.

As she neared the sitting room, Evangeline noticed a group of men walking out, government officials by the look of their formal attire."Dominic is here"She thought as she looked at the men.

The men paused, bowing their heads as she passed, their eyes following her with admiration. One of them whispered, "She must be his arrogant wife," but their words were laced with a kind of respect, or perhaps awe, at her beauty and presence.

Evangeline held her head high, ignoring their murmurs, her focus solely on the room ahead. She entered the sitting room, her posture commanding and confident. The men behind her exchanged glances, whispering further as they departed, clearly impressed by more than just her looks.

Evangeline stepped into the sitting room, her heels clicking against the floor as she made her presence known. Inside, Dominic sat with two men, discussing matters of government in Verdaselles. She paused at the entrance, placing one hand on her waist and clutching the file and notebook to her chest, her eyes briefly catching on Dominic's appearance.

He was dressed in his formal Viceroy uniform—a finely tailored coat adorned with gold detailing, sharp epaulets on his shoulders, and buttons that shimmered in the light. His long hair, tied neatly at the back, added to the striking look. He looked regal, commanding, and—annoyingly—handsome. "This must be the first or third time I've seen him wear this uniform," she thought, her eyes lingering on him for just a moment." But it doesn't matter." I need to ask him what happened in the car last night."

With a soft sigh, she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Dominic..." she called, her voice steady but edged with the weight of unspoken questions.

Dominic's attention shifted from the conversation as he turned to face her. His expression changed slightly, his eyes narrowing as if recalling something. The two men seated beside him glanced at Evangeline, then back at Dominic, whose lips curved into a faint smile. "Ah Look at her Now, She's completely different from last night, he mused. It's almost as if she's forgotten everything she did to me. A different woman today."

For a moment, Dominic's gaze lingered on her, studying her with quiet amusement, before he turned back to the men and resumed their discussion.

Evangeline's patience wore thin. "May I have a word?" she asked, her tone cool but direct.

The two men, recognizing the tension in the air, stood up at once. They exchanged formal handshakes with Dominic, bidding him farewell, and quietly excused themselves, walking past Evangeline with polite nods as they left the room.

Now alone with Dominic, Evangeline took a deep breath. The room felt quieter, more intimate, as she prepared to confront him about last night. Meanwhile, Dominic remained composed, his posture confident in his Viceroy uniform, waiting for her to speak.

Dominic chuckled, taking a step toward her as Evangeline handed him the file. She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. "I've finished this one. We'll discuss more at dinner—or maybe lunch," she muttered, feeling uneasy under his scrutiny. Dominic chuckled again, flipping through the file casually, his eyes never leaving her.

"I know you're dying to ask about what happened last night," he said with a smirk. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have come to find me here in the sitting room. You'd have gone straight to my office to deliver reports.."

Evangeline's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "How does he always know? This guy sees right through me—it's terrifying and annoying! "she thought, her fists tightening at her sides.

Dominic leaned in closer, his breath brushing against her ear as he whispered, "Don't worry—nothing happened last night. As for the perfume, it was an aphrodisiac."

Her eyes widened in shock. "A-aphrodisiac?!" she gasped. "No wonder I couldn't control myself!"She thought out of panic.

Dominic chuckled at her reaction, his gaze lingering on her with amusement. "But you did well… last night, driving me crazy. Richard must've taught you a lot. Or maybe," he paused with a smirk, "you've always had it in you?"

Evangeline's blood boiled. "You!" she snapped, her voice sharp as she tried to contain her anger. When Dominic casually stroked her hair, she angrily swatted his hand away.

"Could you warm my bed tonight?" he teased, winking playfully.

Evangeline scoffed, turning on her heel. "I'll be busy with work, so I won't be visiting your bedroom," she shot back, her tone dripping with defiance. Dominic raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained by her stubbornness.

"Oh? Are you forgetting about the signed contract?" he said, his voice low and teasing. "Then don't blame me for this…" He reached for a pair of ballet shoes from the table and held them up with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Evangeline froze, her heart pounding as her gaze snapped to the shoes in his hand. "How dare you?!" she shouted, her notebook slipping from her grip and hitting the floor. Fury coursed through her veins as she marched toward him. "Did you invade the Eastward again?!"

She lunged to snatch the shoes from him, but Dominic easily dodged, holding them just out of her reach. In her haste, her heel snapped, causing her to stumble to the ground. She gasped, momentarily stunned, before glaring up at him.

Dominic chuckled, clearly amused by her frustration, and turned on his heel, strolling out of the sitting room as if nothing had happened. He headed toward the mini garden at the second entrance, his long strides carrying him effortlessly toward the small gate by the riverbank.

Evangeline, now barefoot, scrambled to her feet, ignoring the broken heel and the sting of humiliation. She charged after him, her breath heavy with both anger and determination. The cool earth beneath her feet only fueled her chase as she ran across the palace grounds, her eyes locked on Dominic's retreating figure, her heart pounding with rage and disbelief.

Dominic stood at the gate, his expression cold as he watched Evangeline. Without a word, he dropped the ballet shoes into the river, watching them disappear into the water.

"You son of a bitch!" she screamed, her voice cracking with anger and desperation. Without hesitation, she shoved him aside and jumped into the river, determined to retrieve her shoes. She clutched them tightly to her chest, her body soaked as she struggled in the water. But as she tried to swim back to shore, the current grew too strong. Panic set in as she realized she was being pulled under, her voice breaking through the cold air as she screamed for help, still clinging to the shoes.

Dominic stood at the bank, watching her struggle. His face remained emotionless, detached. He turned away, showing no intention of saving her, even as her cries echoed in the distance.

From the bedroom cottage, Richard spotted the scene, his heart lurching at the sight of Evangeline thrashing in the water. His eyes widened in disbelief when he saw Dominic standing there, unmoved, doing nothing. "This bastard... first he shoves her in the garden, and now this?" Richard clenched his fists, rage bubbling inside him. Without wasting another second, he sprinted down to the river to save her.

Evangeline gasped for air, her body weakening as the river's pull dragged her down. Her heart pounded, not just from the struggle to stay afloat, but from the bitter sting of Dominic's indifference. "He's really leaving me... This Heartless Bastard..." she thought, the realization as painful as the physical exhaustion gripping her. Just like he hurt me in the garden... Her voice shook with rage and despair.

"You're a shame to your family, Dominic Brusward! And to yourself!" she cried out with all the strength she had left.

Dominic froze mid-step, those words slicing through the air like a knife. The words echoed in his mind, opening old, painful wounds.

Flashback

The Bruswards' House– a dark, cold prison.

Dominic, just 17, stood before the cell where his mother, Marie, was imprisoned. Her once-beautiful face was gaunt, her eyes pale and empty, her hair disheveled and filthy. The woman he once knew had been consumed by bitterness and rage.

He had come to offer her food, stealing a bag from the kitchen, hoping it would bring her some comfort. But she spat on him as he stood there, her expression twisted with hatred. He silently wiped the spit from his face, trying to remain composed.

"Useless child!" she hissed, her voice full of venom as she kicked the food away. Grabbing him roughly by the collar through the bars, she pulled him close. Her bony hands gripped his jacket, her eyes piercing through him. "You're a shame to this family, Dominic Brusward! I regret ever having you as my son. You are the cause of my misery! If it weren't for you, your father wouldn't have imprisoned me like this. You ruined me!"

Her words cut deep, leaving invisible scars on Dominic's soul. His mother's voice, full of bitterness and regret, haunted him long after he left the prison that day.

Back to the present

Evangeline's strength was fading fast. Her limbs felt heavy, the river's current overpowering her. "Is this how it ends?" she wondered as water splashed over her face, her vision growing blurry." If so... maybe I should join mother, father, and Zard... it's better than this world of torment..."

She let go of the ballet shoes, her grip weakening as her body surrendered to the water. Her eyes fluttered shut as she slipped beneath the surface, her hair floating around her like a shroud as she sank deeper into the cold, dark water. The river swallowed her, and the silence was deafening.

Her mind drifted, filled with the faces of her parents and brother, waiting for her in the world beyond. "I'm coming..." she thought, as the world around her faded into darkness.