Betrothed To An Alpha? I Don't Think So!
Chapter 73: It’s My Fault

Chapter 73: It’s My Fault

There she stood. In the kitchen, making herself a cup of coffee. Yet something was wrong. The way her shoulders slumped, head lowered.

Frowning, he approached, but she turned before he could get closer, pausing at the sight of him.

Her eyes flickered, dark and dim. There was no trace of those bright glints in them. They were completely gone.

"Evelyn—"

She walked past him. But he grasped her arm.

She spun her heel to shoot him a withering glare. "What do you want?"

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Funny, you’re asking," she muttered.

He frowned. "What does that mean?"

Evelyn snatched her arm from him. "Don’t touch me."

He watched her go. But he couldn’t take it. Something was wrong and even his wolf could feel it, enough that it was restless.

Storming after her. He stepped between the door before she could close it.

Evelyn leveled him with a glare. "What are you doing?"

"What is going on with you?" he asked. "You’ve been different since yesterday."

She raised a brow. "Yesterday? That’s how long you’ve noticed? What about the last few weeks? Huh?"

"Meaning?" He stared down at her. "What are you trying to say?"

"Why do you suddenly care that I’m a bit different since yesterday? What about the few weeks you’ve been acting like I didn’t exist, huh?" she questioned.

Zayne dragged his fingers through his hair. "You are complicated—"

"I am complicated?"

"Yes, you are. Difficult even."

"Oh, I’m difficult? Well then, get out. You’re the one—"

"Wasn’t this what you wanted?" he snapped.

She blinked at him. "What?"

"All this, weren’t they what you wanted, Evelyn?" He narrowed his eyes hard on her. "I gave you what you wanted. Why are you angry with me?"

"What I wanted?" Her shoulders rose and fell in heavy breathing and she pointed a polished finger into his chest. "I never asked you to pretend like I didn’t exist. I never asked you to act like I’m not in the same house with you. No, actually, your problem is that I won’t marry you. That’s why you’re mad and that’s why you’re—"

Zayne snatched her wrist, glaring with a pissed off look on his face. "You think I’m forcing you to marry me?"

"No? I mean, you and my family technically got me into a contractual relationship without my knowledge. What else would you call it if not that?"

He searched her face for a long few moments, before letting out a deep breath. Every trace of annoyance he’d just felt vanished from his face, completely replaced by a cold, blank look.

"Let’s cancel it then."

She was a bit taken aback. "What...?"

"You think I’m forcing you, don’t you?" he asked. "Let’s cancel it."

"Zayne—"

"Don’t worry, I’m not that petty to pull out my shares from TDG just because you want nothing to do with me. We’ll be canceling the contract, nothing more. You’ll be free from me and you’ll be losing nothing."

Her chest was beginning to pound. Was this panic? Was she panicking? "Wait, this is...that’s not... Zayne—"

"In five days when this deal we have between us will come to an end, bring the contract paper, and I’ll sign it."

He didn’t wait for her response, turning and walking off.

Evelyn couldn’t move, still as a statue. The coffee cup slipped from her hand, dropping to the floor into a shattered mess. The liquid spread all over the marble floor, but she didn’t move.

She was confused and upset with herself. How had this thing spiraled out of control like this? Why had she poured all her frustration on him? Why was she never able to have control over the things she said when angry?

So what if he had a lover? She had no right to be mad, she knew that. Still...

———

"What?"

Amber blinked at Evelyn who was seated opposite her in the office.

"What do you mean you want me to process the contract?"

"Yeah. Um, I’d like it ready before Wednesday," Evelyn responded. She was moping through the papers on her desk and signing them.

Amber stared hard at her.

Something was wrong and she wasn’t telling her the truth.

"Evelyn."

Evelyn made no response.

"Evelyn!"

She snapped her head up. "What?"

"Why are you asking me to process such a document? What happened?" Amber questioned. "I thought you already accepted that you were betrothed to Zayne Mancini. Why are you trying to cancel it now?"

"Me...?" Evelyn looked at her, half smiling. "Actually...he’s the one that wants it cancelled."

"What...?"

Amber frowned. She didn’t understand what was happening anymore. "But, Zayne Mancini wanted you to marry him. Wasn’t that all he wanted in return as a way to seal the deal he and your father had? You told me that."

"Yes." Evelyn nodded.

"Then what are you saying?"

She stared at her best friend. "It’s my fault."

"Your...fault?"

"Yes," she responded. "It’s my fault that he’s no longer interested. You know how when I’m overwhelmed or angry, I say some things I don’t even mean at all."

Amber nodded. "I do."

"Right. I might have done that."

Evelyn smiled, mocking herself.

"But can I even be mad? Wasn’t this all that I wanted? I mean, I did tell you that I was never going to marry him, no? That was why I came up with that deal we had in the first place. But..."

"But...?" Amber asked. "Let me guess. You’ve changed your mind? You’ve started to enjoy being with him and that is why the thought of breaking apart now is crushing you, isn’t it?"

Evelyn shrugged. "I don’t even know what it is that I feel. I just know that I hate it and the thought alone makes me so sick and nauseated. It makes me want to throw up. And the worst of it all is that I can’t even say a thing to him. I’m unable to be honest, and I keep hiding away for some reason no matter how hard I try to force myself to speak up."

Amber stared at her.

She stood up and walked over to her side until she could sit at the edge of the table. "You want a hug?"