Chapter 413

Evelyn's fingers trembled as she reached for the car door handle, desperate to escape.

But Ethan had anticipated this. With a quiet click, the locks engaged, trapping her inside.

Back at Hawthorne Estate, she barricaded herself in the guest bedroom, the heavy oak door slamming shut behind her.

Morning came, but Evelyn refused to emerge.

Ethan left a tray of freshly made breakfast outside her door—scrambled eggs, buttered toast, her favorite blend of coffee. Silence was his only reply.

By noon, unease gnawed at him.

He retrieved the spare key, fingers tightening around the cold metal.

The sight that greeted him shattered his composure.

Evelyn sat curled on the hardwood floor, knees drawn to her chest. Her bare feet were pale against the dark wood, toes curling slightly from the chill.

Her gaze was hollow, fixed on nothing.

"Evelyn." His voice cracked as he crossed the room in three strides.

He reached for her, but she flinched violently.

"Don't touch me!" Her hands flew up, nails scraping his forearms as she shoved against him.

Ethan caught her wrists, heart hammering. "You'll freeze like this. At least put on socks—"

A wild kick connected with his shin. She fought like a cornered animal, breaths coming in ragged bursts.

It was useless. His grip was steel.

But the tears streaking her face? Those undid him completely.

Ethan Caldwell gently placed Evelyn Carter on the bed, then brought over the meal he'd prepared, intending to feed her.

With a swift motion, Evelyn knocked the plate from his hands. It shattered against the hardwood floor, food scattering in every direction.

Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at him. "Ethan, you disgust me."

The words cut deeper than he expected. Just yesterday, Evelyn had been warm toward him—almost affectionate. But after he'd dragged her away from the mall against her will, that warmth had vanished, replaced by icy indifference.

Desperate, he seized her wrist and pressed her palm against his chest. "Evelyn, I messed up. But once you calm down, we can go back to how things were yesterday, can't we?"

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "You actually believed that act?"

His grip tightened. "What?"

"I was pretending," she spat. "I don’t want a fresh start with you. I just wanted you to lower your guard."

His breath hitched. "That's not true."

Evelyn almost pitied him—the way his expression twisted between disbelief and devastation.

Then, without warning, he crushed his lips against hers.

She froze in shock.

Ethan's fingers dug into Evelyn's arms as he shoved her onto the mattress.

The air between them crackled with dangerous energy.

She twisted beneath him, but he pinned her wrists above her head with terrifying ease. His other hand moved to the first button of her blouse.

Evelyn's breath hitched.

In all their years together, Ethan had been controlling, yes—but never like this. Never this raw, this unrestrained.

If he had wanted to take her by force, he could have done it that night by the lake when Vanessa pushed him in.

But this version of Ethan was unfamiliar. Unpredictable.

If he decided not to stop, she wouldn’t stand a chance.

Evelyn went still. She shut her eyes and whispered, "Ethan, you're hurting me."

The words sliced through his rage. His grip slackened slightly at the fragile tremor in her voice.