Dream or reality?

The spacious lavish room was equipped with expensive baroque furniture, a king-size bed in the middle with a golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and huge French windows with thick silk drapes pinned neatly on the side welcoming the golden stream to illuminate the marbled floor. An array of antique showpieces on the vintage wooden shelves, some cryptic but exquisite paintings hung on the wall but ignoring all these fancy items, a pair of brown eyes were riveted on the small balcony, gazing at it with deep curiosity. Unable to rein it, Evelyn padded there and opened the doors hurriedly before stepping outside.

Dylan smiled, just like he expected.

Evelyn plopped on the swing. Coiling her fingers around the metallic chains, she started swinging while giggling to herself. Her smile was the key to his happiness. Dylan was aware of how much his little wifey adored the swings so he made sure to arrange one for her.

Fate wasn’t merciful to him because the ship has already sailed by the time he figured out his feelings. But his resolve was firm, the determination in his eyes was incontrovertible. Yes, it took him years to realize his feelings but he would go to great lengths to fix everything and get her back.

“Where’s your room?”

Dylan flinched and looked down only to find Evelyn staring at him with a frown. He got so immersed in his thoughts that he failed to notice her approaching him.

“I-It’s just beside yours. I will leave.” He replied to her quickly and took his leave.

“Wait.”

He turned around. Evelyn licked her lips, avoiding his eyes. Dylan was surprised to see her hesitant but soon she took a deep breath and then looked at him.

“Thank you,” she stated with a small smile. That was enough to bloom the wilted flowers in his garden.

“Ah, it’s nothing-”

“So, you did it on purpose, don’t you?”

Her question caught him off guard. Dylan looked at her with dipped brows but was astounded when her smile was replaced with a smirk.

“A hammock swing? Seriously? What are you up to Dylan Black? Or wait,” she halted and raised her palm in front of his face, “I don’t care. Because no matter how hard you try to cover your real intentions it’s useless. You won’t be able to suppress your demons for longer.”

Dylan’s jaw ticked, “What do you mean Eve?”

“The ruckus you created on the plane, it was because of Xander, isn’t it?”

She spoke leaving him stunned.

How come she caught him? Was that so obvious?

Evelyn was amused at his shocked face. She shook her head and crossed her arms over her breast, “Keep fooling but I know that you have a chip on your shoulder when it comes to Xander and me. You think that these petty things you do would change my mind about you.” She huffed.

“Sorry to burst your bubble Mr. Black but that’s not gonna happen. So, just stop trying and troubling yourself for something which you will never get.”

Evelyn said with a scoff and then stepped forward before leveling her eyes at him.

“I love Xander.”

She confessed.

Dylan stilled, his world stopped. The man even forget to breathe as he stared at her with blurry eyes.

Evelyn smirked, pleased at his reaction, and moved back.

“So, if you have the tiniest bit of shame, back off and leave me alone. Our ways are parted and there’s nothing you can do to join them.” She spoke gravely and left with a proud grin.

Even though she assured Xander, Evelyn had a hunch that Dylan was up to something. And right now, the somber look she witnessed in his eyes confirmed her suspicion. The way he reacted in the plane, it was clear that he was still not over her. Or maybe he doesn’t want to. The man was like a leech. She was sure that his sick mind must be crafting devious plans to win her back.

Evelyn didn’t make it obvious but she was also analyzing his behavior the whole time. Every single nerve of his body would burst into flames whenever he spotted the growing love birds together. Dylan was trying to mask that madness but Evelyn knew him better. He would never own up to his crimes and continue his dirty work. His mind was a treasure of all the key traits of a demented psychopath.

Evelyn didn’t bother to turn around and headed to the closet to get her clothes. The confrontation was necessary and she was thankful because now she felt lighter and happier.

Evelyn was hesitant to accept the reality but to escape Dylan, she needed to show him that she had moved on. That there is no vacancy in her heart anymore.

Xander would prove to be the best for her. She had accepted it and was willing to give him a chance. The decision entailed greater risks and she was yet to put a stamp on Xander’s name for being her man but that would never be possible if she doesn’t let him become a part of her life.

Smiling to herself, Evelyn turned around but a scream escaped her lips watching the scene in front of her.

Dylan had his gun aimed at his temple.

Bloodshot eyes brimming with sizzling tears, swollen veins throbbing in sheer anger, dark face deprived of any warmth, and brows raised as if blaming her for his situation, the man resembled a grim reaper.

“What the hell are you doing?” She shouted; her heart rammed inside her mouth.

No answer.

Panicked out of her wits, she leaped forward to snatch the gun from him but her breath hitched when Dylan removed the safety.

“One move and I will shoot myself.”

“No, Dylan, don’t-” Evelyn spoke in a measured tone and extended her arm out of concern but the gangster was deep gone in madness. An ice-chilling tremor snaked down her spine when her eyes landed on his thumb which was toying with the trigger. A single click would paint the white walls in deep red color.

That thought even begot bone-deep fear inside her.

“Dylan, don’t kill yourself.” Evelyn cried hysterically. She didn’t want him to die.

“Okay”

‘Huh?’

Evelyn watched confused as he lowered his gun and smiled at her. That was really creepy and beyond her understanding but at least he stopped. Her shoulders slouched as she exhaled in relief but the ground was snatched beneath her feet when the very moment the same gun was aimed at her.

Evelyn was thunderstruck. Her heart skipped a beat as soon her eyes collided with his blazing ones that were drunk in a morbid obsession.

“If I can’t have you then no will,” Dylan spoke like a maniac.

Evelyn pressed herself against the wall while shaking her head to and fro. Her mouth turned dry of the amount of fear that his words infused inside her.

“Don’t worry, I will join you soon,” He said and let out a menacing chuckle before pulling the trigger.

“NO!!!!”

Evelyn sat on the bed with a jolt, her wide-open eyes scanning her surroundings but only met with an ocean of darkness. Panting heavily, she scrambled to the side and hurriedly switched on the lights.

A shaky breath slipped past her lips.

She was in her room.

On her bed.

Alone and safe.

It was a dream. But that felt so real.

“God,”

Evelyn grabbed her forehead and pushed her dampened locks that were sprawled all over her face. Her mind was still in denial so she retrieved her phone from the nightstand to check the time. It was five in the morning.

“The hell”

Whining out loud, Evelyn threw herself back on the mattress. She lay in silence for some time, gazing at the chandelier that was dangling above her head.

After the shocking encounter with Hernandez, Dylan left with Evelyn but he didn’t accompany her to the hotel. Instead, he told Hunter to take escort her to the hotel safely and left somewhere with an excuse of work.

Evelyn was calm throughout the ride but unbeknownst to her a dark feeling had crept up her insides. She tried to ignore it but whenever she closed her eyes to take a nap; such blood-curdling dreams would wake her up. The girl was having nightmares even in broad daylight.

Dylan didn’t return during the whole time as the meeting was scheduled for tomorrow so Evelyn got the whole day for herself but sadly, it was nowhere relaxing. She was on the edge; her mind was clogged with pessimistic thoughts and what was frustrating was that she couldn’t pinpoint the reason.

Just like now, Evelyn was busy pondering but she jerked the moment realization sink in.

‘Maybe the way Dylan lost his calm and showcased his rage entrenched deep fear inside me. I didn’t realize it that time but I can’t deny the fact that it all started after that incident.’

“There’s no way, I can sleep now.” Mumbling, she lazily threw the sheets away and brought her legs down.

“Maybe I should go for a walk. Yep, that would definitely help.”

With that in mind, Evelyn wore her slippers and headed to the ensuite bathroom. After doing up her routine, she donned a pink top, and blue jeans and matched them with a dark blue Denim jacket. She decided to style her tangled mane in a high ponytail leaving a few rogue strands to kiss her face. Dapping the lip gloss, she smacked her lips, wore her sandals, and grabbed her cell phone.

“It’s 6:30 a.m. I hope the restaurant would have been opened by now. I am so damn hungry.” The girl grumbled as she had barely eaten anything since they landed. The exhausting journey and these unwanted events had taken a toll on her health.

Buttoning up the jacket, she twisted the knob and opened the door.

“OH, MY GOD!!”

Dylan who was waiting outside the door jumped hearing her scream. His eyes skimmed over her paled features and it left him confounded because she was staring at him as if she had seen a ghost.

“Sorry, Eve. I just came to take you for breakfast-”

But before he could complete it, the door was slammed in his face.

For a few moments, Dylan remained rooted on the spot staring at the door with bewildered eyes. But he wasn’t hurt instead worry grew on him as her horror-stricken face didn’t go unnoticed by him.

‘What made her so terrified of him?’

Evelyn on the other hand was leaning on the door, her body shaking with shocks. Her hands were clutching the knob so tightly as if her life was dependent on it.

The room fell into deep silence. Her cries regressed into soft but loud sobs. Clutching her jacket, she continued hiccupping when suddenly she choked on her tears.

Evelyn wasted no time and wrenched out her jacket before tossing it on the floor. The air in the room was smothering her. But she didn’t lose hope and kept trying hard to collect herself but that didn’t last long as a rap on the door galvanized her calmed nerves.

“Eve? Are you there? What happened? Open the door. Let me in.”

Dylan spoke from the other side; his voice was laced with concern but Evelyn paid no heed. She quickly locked the door and backed away from it.

But Dylan was persistent. He continued knocking since her silence was scaring him.

“Eve. Open-”

“Go away, Dylan. Leave me alone.”

His hands halted upon hearing her steady tone that was dipped in hatred. Still, he decided to ignore the burning feeling and focused on comforting her.

“I won’t hurt you, Evelyn.” He made sure to sound as sincere as possible.

“Leave me alone, all right? Just go or I will call the cops.” Evelyn threatened him while trembling like a leaf. The poor thing was traumatized.

Dylan rested his head against the door. Frustration and helplessness grew on him but he decided to leave. It would only worsen the situation. With a heavy heart, he walked away.

Evelyn continued staring at the door. Soon the footsteps faded which meant he left. She then exhaled a loud sigh and slumped to the floor.

She grabbed her head which was pounding like crazy, “What’s wrong with me?”

Evelyn was confused too.

Suddenly she felt itchiness in her throat. Her face contorted in pain as it only turned severe as if something was clawing her skin.

“Water.”

She croaked out and stood up with utter difficulty. Wobbling to the table, she picked up the glass and removed the lid before chugging down the transparent liquid in one go.

A satisfied hum escaped her mouth as the cold water energized and calmed her raging senses down. Once getting a grip, Evelyn sighed and looked down.

She was ashamed.

She kept reneging on her promises. There was surely something wrong with her but even it charred her to accept that, her behavior with Dylan was inexcusable.

‘How can she lose control and let a dream overpower her so hard that it turned her paranoid?’

A heaviness settled inside her heart, maybe that was guilt.

Evelyn was aware that Dylan must have been badly hurt. No matter what but she doesn’t have the right to accuse him just because of a stupid nightmare. He was only trying to help her but she spurned him like a bitch.

‘Don’t pity him. He deserves that.’ The little demon on her shoulder snarled at her.

“No, he doesn’t,” Evelyn chided him and gripped the glass tightly. “That was unnecessary and I need to apologize.”

She needed to.

Placing the glass down, Evelyn hurried to get ready for the meeting. Her appetite was long gone now and the drama she pulled must have garnered a lot of attention. So, it would be best if she just stick to the office today and remained rapt throughout the evening.

Snacking her head, Evelyn then sighed and dragged her feet to the closet when a fierce beam emanated from the chandelier and fell on the glass. The vagrant air that was lilting in the room froze noticing the white particles that were settled at the base of the empty glass which was once filled with water.

The shocking revelation was powerful enough to give one a fatal heart attack.

Guess, it was not just water that the naive girl drank to simmer down.