The Man behind the Mask

Evelyn finally reached her home after completing her journey that was full of wild and raging emotions. True to his words, Dylan didn’t bother her and maintained his distance. But he tweaked the rules as instead of speaking, he resorted to non-verbal communication. Evelyn had to do all the work herself as she hadn’t brought her staff along while Dylan had his entire army. And he was well aware that she would never use Hunter’s help because he was his man. So, he carried her luggage and didn’t let her do anything. Evelyn tried to object but he ignored her. She noticed the harshness in his actions, the man was already on the edge so she just backed out and let him do what sailed his boat.

But as soon as their way parted, she got cold feet. Evelyn wasn’t clairvoyant but she could feel something terrible in the air. As if something wrong was going to happen.

The metallic gates creaked open and welcomed the black Mustang as it rolled on the smooth pavement.

Evelyn took a deep breath. The door of the car was then opened as she alighted the giant vehicle and nodded at the chauffeur who also quietly took his leave. The car and the chauffeur were again sent by Dylan and that’s why Evelyn wanted them to vacate soon. It would be good if she just reverts to her old self before Maria bombards her with questions.

Once she was sure that the car was out of sight, she turned her heels to meet her family.

Reaching the hall, Evelyn was met with an eerie silence. Not a single soul in sight. Her anxiety soared.

“Mom? Dad?”

She called while her high heels clanked against the shining marbled floor.

“Mom?”

Evelyn again called and turned to the living room when something crashed into her face. A shocking gasp flew through her mouth when looked down. Bundles of photos were strewn all over the ground. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she lifted her gaze only to find a seething Maria standing in front of her.

“Mom? What happened?” Evelyn asked and tried to approach her but stopped when Maria raised her palm in front of her face.

“You’re asking me the reason? See it yourself.” She raged.

Confused, Evelyn shifted her eyes behind her only to see her father sitting on the couch. His eyes held disappointment.

But why?

Still failing to catch the reason, she again dropped her gaze and focused on those mysterious pictures.

The ground was snatched beneath her feet.

They weren’t just photographs but evidence of her and Dylan mending their broken hearts.

Her heart thumped loudly against her chest as she slumped to the floor and picked one picture. Dylan was kissing her in it.

Terror seized her figure. Throwing it away, Evelyn rummaged through the scandalous photos which depicted all the intense and passionate moments she had spent with her ex-husband in Paris. When they dined, the time they hugged each other, and kissed each other with the Eiffel Tower in the background standing with all its grace like a symbol of their endless love. But what jarred her was that there were some sexual snaps too which made her recall the times they both got intoxicated by lust and absconded reality.

Her eyes blurred with tears as she clutched the pictures tightly between her fingers, crushing them.

“Who dares to do this?”

“That’s all you have to say?“, Maria seethed. Evelyn looked at her.

“Mom, this is a breach of privacy.” She snapped and stood to her feet while holding the crushed photograph in her hands, “I promise you I will tell you everything but this is wrong. You do know that, right?” she said and looked at her with askance.

But Maria poured water on her hopes of asking for her support since she only chided her in return, “That doesn’t matter Evie. You broke my trust. Not only mine but your father’s and Xander’s too. You, how could you?” overwhelmed with rage, she gripped her head as she felt the world spinning. Evelyn instantly leaped to hold her out of concern but before she could touch her, Maria stepped back. Evelyn on the other hand stilled, hurt crossed her eyes.

“No need,” Maria spat and shot her a glare, “If that’s what you wanted then it’s fine by me. After all, I have no right to interfere in your life but at least you should have thought about your father.”

Evelyn was shocked at her words. She just ripped her heart into two.

Dropping the picture, she jumped to grab her hands and vigorously shook her head, “No Mom. I love you how can you even think like that?”

“Then why did you hide it from me?” Maria yelled and jerked her hands away harshly, “Why you never told me that Dylan was back? Back in your life and back to his manipulation.”

Evelyn denied desperately, “He isn’t Mom. He isn’t manipulating me.”

“So, you are willingly with him now?” Finally, Mr. Clarke spoke and looked at her with resentment-filled eyes.

Evelyn turned to him. She inhaled a sharp breath before speaking in a measured tone, “Dad, please. Hear me out first.”

“No, I won’t.” He rebuffed, “Because you’re going to tell me how he is the only one for you. I am sorry Evie but I can’t handle your naivety. Despite knowing everything you are again and again letting him use you. You know who he is yet just one fake act of love, and you melt.” He raged and stood up from the couch.

Evelyn dashed to him, tears trickling down her eyes, “I am sorry Dad. You’re weak, please don’t stress too much.”

She knew things would end up in a catastrophe the moment they both will come to know about her and Dylan. That’s why she asked for a break so she could sort things out and if her feelings were real, she would devise a way how to convince her parents. But things never go as we planned.

“It’s better if I die. I don’t have the power to save you nor hold the right to stop you. Death is a better option than watching you destroy yourself.” Mr. Clarke gritted but his eyes were brimming with tears. Evelyn wasn’t angry because she knew that he and Maria were only worried about her. What pained her was that she couldn’t find a way to calm them down.

Grabbing his trembling hand, she made him sit on the couch and kneeled in front of him, “I can understand your concern Dad and trust me I feel terrible. But for once hear me out or wait, first tell me who send you these photographs?” She asked him politely.

“Why? So that you can threaten him and then close our mouths with another lie of yours?”

Venom-laced words ripped the air grabbing her attention. Evelyn froze, her mind couldn’t process things for a few good minutes as she disagreed to accept the reality. But her heartbeat punctuated as soon his footsteps become more prominent with every passing second before he stood just at arm’s length.

“Tell me, Eve, wasn’t that your plan?”

Evelyn turned behind only to see Xander scowling at her. His eyes were blazing with fury.

“Xander, you-”

“Don’t,” her father cut her between making her flinch. Evelyn looked at him only to find him shooting her a warning look.

“Don’t you dare say anything else. If it wasn’t for Xander, we would have never been able to know about your idiotic plans.”

Her heart stopped as she stared at him dumbfounded.

‘He did that.’

Soon her shock subsided and morphed into pure rage. Evelyn flipped her heated gaze to Xander and stood up from the ground. The scorching waves of red rage tumbled down her cheeks in the form of tears of betrayal.

Xander matched her glare, she was surprised to see him guilt-free like he didn’t disrespect her privacy. In fact, his face displayed contentment as if he had achieved something great by backstabbing her.

“Don’t fucking stare at me like that. It was my duty. I kept you in the dark by sending my men along with you secretly but it was for your protection. I told you that I don’t trust that man but you played me too. You fooled not only me but every one of us.” He scoffed and shook his head. Evelyn marched towards him in anger.

“Whatever it is,” she screamed in his face, “you have no right in interfering with my personal matters.”

“Oh, I have.” Xander smirked but then huffed out loud, “I mean it’s pathetic Evie. He made your life a living hell but just one call and you go behind him wagging your tail like a lovesick puppy.”

*Smack*

His face was struck to the side as Evelyn slapped him with full force. By spouting those humiliating words, he just crossed the red line.

Clenching his jaw, Xander whipped his head and glared at her darkly.

“You are the one who backstabbed me Xander so don’t you dare point your fingers at me. Do you even know the meaning of friendship? Friends don’t go around exposing each other only to show themselves as righteous. You were worried about me then you could have waited and talked with me first instead of capturing my pics without my permission and then showing it to the world only because you wanted to prove your point.” She sneered, her face turning red in anger.

Xander took a step in her direction while looking straight into her eyes, “Blaming me won’t absolve you. Have some shame, Eve, he fooled you not once not twice but God knows how many times and yet you are here arguing with us who are only trying to protect you.” He castigated her.

Evelyn scoffed, “There is no ‘us’. Don’t involve yourself and stay the hell away from my family. I consider you a friend but you don’t deserve to be one. I haven’t given you the right to dictate my life, I can handle things on my own so do one thing and GET OUT.”

“EVELYN!!”

Evelyn was cut off by a fierce growl. Startled, she turned behind only to gasp in shock. There stood Mr. Clarke pinning her with the deadliest glare. He looked mad and offended.

“How dare you talk with him like this?”

Her brows kneaded in confusion. His inclination towards Xander was baffling.

“But Dad, didn’t you hear what he said? I understand that I hid things from you and Mom but I have my reasons. And you both aren’t letting me clarify.” Her pitch soared in frustration.

“There’s nothing to clarify. And leave Xander out of it because it was me who involved him in the first place,” he bristled.

Evelyn frowned, “What? What do you mean that you involved him?” She pressurized the last part when Xander walked past her and stood in front of her blocking Mr. Clarke. Her gaze instantly hardened.

“It means that it was he who told me to keep an eye on you, Eve,” Xander stated.

His words were like a slap on her face.

“What?” Evelyn gaped, her lips parted in shock as she gazed at Xander whose lips twitched in a smirk.

“You heard me.” He said and threw her a sly smile.