Betrothed To An Alpha? I Don't Think So!
Chapter 40: This Is All For Your Own Safety

Chapter 40: This Is All For Your Own Safety

Even though she was yet to be officially announced as the new CEO of TDG, most people still knew she was Sage Darkwood’s daughter.

"Hello." Evelyn smiled at one of the nurses.

"Oh, hi. Ms. Darkwood."

The nurse’s beam widened, a few of her teeth exposed.

"How can I help you?"

Evelyn asked, "Which ward is my brother in? Preston Darkwood. He was admitted here early yesterday."

"Oh." The nurse nodded. "Please give me a second." She flipped through the papers in her hand and flashed her a smile. "Come with me, please."

Evelyn followed and they took the elevator to the second floor of the building. She stepped out, walking behind the nurse as they approached a white door with the number, ’302’

"Mr. Darkwood is here. You may—"

"What are you doing here?"

Her sister’s voice sent tendrils of irritation down Evelyn’s spine. She straightened up and turned, staring towards Lyra and Brandon as they walked toward her.

She refrained from rolling her eyes at the hatred plastered on their faces.

"I’d think you wouldn’t come here. But what can I say? You’re a very shameless woman!" Lyra said. She was the one who bullied her the most aside from Preston. Brandon was mostly neutral but he stuck with them nonetheless.

"I can’t even come and visit my brother in the hospital, anymore? Not even when he’s hurt?" Evelyn questioned.

Lyra laughed. "Are you actually being serious?" She held this look of disbelief on her face.

Evelyn cocked her brow, asking, "Do I have a smile on my face, or does it look like I’m joking with you?"

"Looks like it. Because—" Lyra stepped into her space, towering at the very same height as her. "—I don’t know what made you think you can just waltz in here after hurting him."

"I didn’t hurt him—"

Crack!

The slap was resounding, breaking against her face. And it was so quick to bruise. The air around them grew still for a second and Evelyn reached up her hand to feel her cheek.

She blinked.

"Did you really think I’d just let you come in and go as you please?" Lyra questioned.

Evelyn slowly lifted back her head. She peered at her.

Lyra grinned from ear to ear. Her gray eyes bored into her, a few strands of her blonde hair in her face. "Just because father gave you TDG, you suddenly think you’re above us and that you can do whatever—"

It was sudden, unexpected, but after the hot slap against her face, the impact was heavy enough that she staggered aside, clutching the wall for support.

A gasp tore from her and she snapped her gaze over to Evelyn to find her breathing heavily, shoulders rising and falling.

She was glaring at her, and Lyra felt the dread crawl all over her body. It was intimidating. Evelyn had never looked at her like that before. After all, wasn’t she the same woman they’d walked all...over?

"How dare you?" Evelyn asked, narrowing her eyes.

"No, how dare you touch her?!" This time, it was Brandon who spat back, storming towards her with his hands lifted to hit for the first time since they’d known each other.

She snapped her gaze over to him, green eyes brighter than they normally would be, challenging him, daring him.

"Try it," she said with gritted teeth, voice low. "I dare you, Brandon."

Brandon paused before her, his arm hanging in the air.

"What? What’s stopping you, huh? Go ahead, do like everyone of them has. See what happens!" she barked, warning. "It wouldn’t be Zayne Mancini doing the damage this time around."

She stepped closer until she could peer right into the gray of his eyes. "I’m going to remind you again and again, I am not the same Evelyn that you—" She punched a polished finger into his chest. "—This bitch and Preston have always bullied. There are too many CCTVs around here."

"WHAT MAN WOULD HIT A WOMAN?!" she yelled.

Brandon shook where he stood.

He took a step back, lowered his hand, jaw clenching. "I do not hit women. And you would never be the first. I merely lost my temper," he said.

Evelyn gave him a sharp, measuring look. She turned towards Lyra. "Let this be the first and last time you’d ever touch me. Or I promise you, those fingers, I will break them one by one. And just so you’re aware, I didn’t let you walk all over me because I couldn’t fight back. But I did, because of our father, and that man is no longer here."

She tramped toward the door, shoving it open.

Lyra attempted to go after her, but Brandon, however, stopped her. "Enough!"

She flashed him an instant glare. "Are you kidding me? Bran, she slapped me!"

"And?" Brandon asked. "What do you want to do? Slap her back? Didn’t you slap her first?"

She was taken aback. "What?"

"Lyra—"

"Wait, no, you actually just took her side."

"I’m her brother as well and you shouldn’t have done what you just did!"

"Her brother...?" Lyra chuckled. "Really?"

"Lyra, don’t!" Brandon warned.

"No, no."

She shook her head.

"Don’t tell me that. Her brother? All of a sudden now, you’re her brother?"

She stepped into his space, saying, "You know, Preston really shouldn’t trust you. I personally don’t because you’re a ticking bomb!"

She scoffed, turning and storming off.

Brandon stared at her fading silhouette, hands balled by his sides. He dragged his palm down his face and stalked off, steps heavy against the floor.

....

Evelyn walked over to the bed as Preston watched her. He looked to be in better shape now, although his nose was bandaged. Zayne had really...broken it.

She smiled. "How do you feel, brother?"

He fixed her with a venomous stare. "What the hell do you think you’re doing here?"

"Paying you a visit." She shrugged, tilting her head to the side. "I know you’ll be discharged by the evening. But I was worried, so I’m here to see you. Is there a problem? Can’t I visit you? Or aren’t you my big brother?"

"Get out of this place! NOW!"

His yelling went on deaf ears, because Evelyn dropped her bag on the sofa in the ward. "Do you need water, Preston?"

"Evelyn, get out of this room!"

"Okay. I’ll pour you some water then. I’m sure you must be very thirsty with all that screaming you’re doing."

She poured him a glass of water. Then walked over and outstretched the glass toward him.

Preston slapped it out of her hand. She watched the cup tumble to the floor, shattering into pieces. "I said you should get the fuck of this room before I make you!"

Evelyn sighed. "Aw, poor cup." Then she smiled toward him. She stared, stared, and stared. And it was obvious Preston was getting uncomfortable.

Drawing a deep breath, she leaned into him, wrapping her fingers around the collar of his hospital uniform. "Do you see what happens when you act out, Preston?"

He snatched her wrist, leveling a seething glare at her. "Don’t you ever—"

"Oh please." She let out a derisive snort, her expression cold.

"Preston, I’m not fighting alone like you think I am. And you see what happened yesterday?" she asked. "It will happen again if you repeat what you did. Zayne Mancini will tear you apart. So, I hope you did get his warning. Make sure you heed it, okay? This is all for your own safety."

She patted his cheek. "You’re going to need to be in good health if you really want TDG. Get well soon, big brother. I’ll see you at the company tomorrow."