The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(34)
“Yes, I cursed your brother, but why? He killed my brothers and had his wife kill my father. I suppose that makes me evil to an extent, but I could have ended his life that night in the study.”
“Why didn’t you?”
He shrugged. “I’m not as impulsive as Wesley. I know how to show restraint… and how to make my revenge much more creative.”
Evie swallowed. She didn’t mention that she didn’t know that Wes killed his brothers. To her understanding, they died in a car accident.
She wasn’t surprised. In fact, this new knowledge broke her defiance down a bit.
Things really weren’t what they seemed.
She was judging him off of his retaliation for what her family had done. How could she justify their actions?
“I want you to understand something, Evie. I am not all about curses and using my power for evil. Quite the contrary. The mayor is honoring me because not only did I donate enough money to build a second elementary school, but I funded the cancer research center at the hospital.”
Evie’s face softened. “You did?”
“Yes,” he said. He looked past her, his smile fading. “You know my mother died of cancer. I don’t blame your father for her death like my father did. I know that her chances were faint… but I want to do what I can to help others survive her fate.”
Evie swallowed, her resolve faltering further. Her shoulders lost their hardness, her face relaxing from her frown.
So what? He has a soft side. Still, it’s no excuse for what he did to Wesley.
Evie wanted to hate him, but he was making it hard. She kept her face unreadable.
“I still don’t know what you want from me.”
They walked over to a small table next to the floor to ceiling windows.
“Sit.”
Evie sat in the brass chair that he held out for her. She folded her hands in her lap and watched as two servers walked over with trays of food and a bottle of red wine.
Her stomach grumbled as she looked at the tray of roasted potatoes, vegetables, and steak.
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said, as the servers put white cloths over their laps.
“Answer my question.”
He raised a brow and smirked.
“Fine.” He sipped his wine.
She watched him, folding her legs.
“It’s simple, Evie. I don’t want to keep this feud going any more than you do.” He leaned across the table, reaching for her hand.
Evie didn’t know what to do. She felt awkward holding her hand to him, but she needed to know his motives. The last thing she wanted was to upset him.
“I like you,” he said, stroking her knuckles.
The sincerity in his eyes startled her. She hadn’t expected that. She found herself unable to look away from his beautiful green eyes. Seeing him up that close revealed hazel around the center. The longer she looked, the more she could actually see the magic inside of him.
She saw more in Avalon than she’d even seen in her father.
“What I want from you is simple.”
Evie held her breath when he kissed the back of her hand.
“I just want you to give me a chance at winning your heart.”
Evie searched his eyes. If he hadn’t cursed her brother, kidnapped her sister-in-law, and came at a time when she was single… she might have fallen for his charm.
Not this time, though. She nodded her acquiescence, but inside her rage simmered. He may not be the villain she’d dreamt up in her head, but he still stood between her and true happiness with the man she loved.
“Okay,” she said, her voice soft, barely audible. The pain in Parker’s eyes came back to haunt her.
She had to shake it from her mind. The food in front of her was an easy distraction, considering her stomach ached with hunger.
Evie picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of roasted yellow squash on her plate. She took a bite and glanced to her left.
Her face paled as she saw Olivia walk by the white archway. She shot to her feet.
“Olivia!”
Avalon caught her hand, forcefully.
She shot him a glare. The look in his eyes made her second guess saying anything.
“Sit down.”
She sat down, her eyes going back to Olivia.
Olivia looked back at her, her hair was disheveled, her face covered in purple bruises.
Bile filled her throat at the sight of her beautiful sister-in-law.
She couldn’t bite her tongue. She spoke through clenched teeth. “What did you do to her?”
“The girl has seen her and confirmed that she is alive. Now, get her out of here and safely back to Scarlett Hall,” Avalon said to the two men that accompanied Olivia. “Make sure you deliver my final letter to the Scarlett’s.”
Olivia’s eyes met Evie’s. Evie gasped. Olivia was like a ghost of her former self. All of her luster seemed to be sucked away. What was left of her was a frail woman, with limp hair that clung to her scalp and face as if she’d been sweating. Her clothes had blood stains, and there were bruises on her wrists and ankles.
Fury filled Evie. At first her voice didn’t come. It cracked, making her swallow before trying to speak again.
“What did you do?” She shouted that time and slammed her fist on the table.
“Calm yourself,” Avalon said.