Chapter 18: Chapter 18

484 words

<html><head></head><body>On Evelina's request, Jasper ensured Hayden and the two thugs involved in her abduction were turned over to the authorities. Kristina accompanied Evelina to the police station to file their reports. By the time they completed their statements, it was after midnight. Exhausted, Evelina fell into a brief sleep,only to be jolted awake by her alarm. She had a divorce appointment with Cary at the courthouse at 8 a.m. Always on time, Evelina, despite her aches from the ordeal,took pain medication and made her way to the appointment. However,Cary had not appeared by 8:30. After failing to reach him twice by phone, she discovered on the third attempt that his phone was turned off. Wasn't the late person supposed to bark like a dog? By 9 a.m., Evelina's patience had worn thin. She texted him in frustration, saying,"Cary, get your ass to the courthouse.Now!" Still, there was no reply. She contacted his assistant to inquire about his whereabouts. With an unhelpful tone likely influenced by Esme, the assistant responded, "Mr. Gibson isn't in yet. He's probably with Miss Barton; she's not feeling well." Esme, having been misled by Margot into thinking Hayden's men had succeeded, pretended to be ill to keep Cary at her place. Her strategy seemed perfect-delay Cary long enough for Evelina to be dealt with, then together they could handle the aftermath. Unaware of the divorce appointment, Esme played up her symptoms when Cary attempted to leave around 8 a.m., pleading, "Cary, I feel awful. Can you stay just a little longer?" Esme's act of helplessness was convincing. Cary,ever gullible,found it impossible to walk away. Thus,he remained by her side throughout the morning. During one of his brief trips to the bathroom,Evelina's calls appeared on the phone screen. Esme, assuming these were calls from authorities about Evelina's demise, gleefully declined each one. She then switched off his phone, ensuring no further disruptions. What was the hurry? Evelina was already gone. They could take their time picking up the body To Esme,Evelina posed no threat in life and certainly none in death. Esme's satisfaction was evident; she envisioned a future where Cary was exclusively hers. Meanwhile, at the courthouse, Evelina vented her frustration into the phone. "If he's not man enough to show up for his own divorce, he'll be hearing from my attorney." With a sharp click, she ended the call, her face set in a cold grimace. Her fingers swiftly navigated her phone contacts,selecting a rarely used number. The response was immediate. "Ah, the illustrious Queen Evelina graces me with a call! What command do you have for your loyal subject today?" That unmistakably vibrant and cheeky tone could only belong to Lena Kendall, Evelina's go-to personal assistant. "I need the top divorce attorney in the nation. Make it happen. I'm through waiting." Three long years had passed-years marked by unfulfilled commitments and emotional neglect.Evelina was ready to close this </body></html>