Unexpected Eva (Triple Trouble #3)(72)

Making a mental inventory, I keep looking around. Not only are both the boys' beds gone, as well as their nightstands and their drawers, but someone has dumped the toys onto the floor and removed the toy box.

Entering my bedroom, everything except for my clothes has disappeared. Even my bedside lamps, cushions, and the bedding. All my clothes have been removed from my integrated wardrobes and left in a strategic giant heap in the middle of the floor.

I eye the mound.

Carefully positioned on top of the pile is my vibrator, along with my wedding and engagement ring.

There’s an envelope.

What the hell?

I tentatively pick it up. With a shaky hand, I rip it open.

“I guess you won’t be needing these anymore. Whore.”





It’s Ewan’s handwriting.

I fall to the floor.

How could he do this to me? And his boys.

They’ve no beds to sleep in tonight.

I knew he was too nice to me with Ruby when he apologized the other night.

Drops of salty water fall onto the note I can’t stop staring at, blurring the words behind my eyes. Diluting Ewan’s nasty words, the ink grows, veining tendrils across the page.

Raw emotion burns in my chest, and I breathe in shallow, quick breaths.

Upset is replaced with scattered thoughts and contempt for Ewan.

My fury mounts; my blood rushes through my chest, making my heart race, and a full-on cloak of rage wraps itself around me.

I’ve reached my boiling point.

Pulling my phone out of my jacket pocket, I clench my teeth as I hit the FaceTime button on my screen and wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, not caring if I’ve smudged my dark eyeliner and mascara all to hell.

Looking around, I can’t believe what I am seeing, or not seeing. The bastard took everything.

A low hum alerts me to his pickup.

“Sunshine?”

“He took everything,” I blurt out and stare at Knox through the phone.

“Have you been crying? What happened? He? As in Ewan?” He fires questions at me in a panic.

“Look.” I turn the camera viewpoint around and stand up. I then show him around, up and then downstairs. I showcase the carnage Ewan left behind. My home is a mess.

Although it doesn’t feel like home anymore.

Knox stays deathly quiet as I present my empty home.

Heading into the kitchen, which appears to be untouched apart from a space where the dining table and chairs used to be, I spot Hamish and Archie through the kitchen window, outside playing in the garden with Crystal, Hamish’s white rabbit. They seem unfazed by the lack of furniture in the house.

Kids. They go into fight-or-flight mode. Adaptable.

It’s just as well ’cause if they weren’t here right now, I would have lost it. For them, I need to remain calm.

I flip the camera focus back to me.

“He took all my furniture,” I whisper. I can’t believe it.

“You have to call the police, Eva. How do you know it was him?”

“He left me a note. He called me a whore. It’s his handwriting.”

“Motherfucker. He knew you were out last night.”

I take a deep breath in.

“I can’t call the police, Knox. There’s no break-in. He stole my spare key. As if to rub it in my face, he had the audacity to push it back through the letterbox after he’d finished taking what he wanted.”

“Do you know when he took your key? That’s theft, Eva.”

I close my eyes, trying to recall the threads of memories from the last week.

“He was here Friday morning. I was upstairs in the bathroom when he arrived to take the kids to school and day care.”

It must have been then. The key box is inside one of the kitchen cupboards. I never thought to relocate it. But I never expected Ewan to do anything like this.

“Did he ask you if you were going out this weekend?”

“Yes. I told him where the kids would be on Saturday night. I keep him informed about their whereabouts. He’s their father, Knox.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to justify yourself. I’m only asking. I’m trying to help. Paint a picture of events. I’m on your side, Eva.”

“I know.” I let out a frustrated breath. “I can’t believe he did this. My boys have no beds, Knox. He took their beds!” I cover my hand over my mouth and cry. I can’t believe I’m letting Knox see me like this.

My home is a mess. My life is a mess. My ex-husband is on the warpath to hurt me as much as humanly possible. It’s all drama Knox could do without.

Why would Knox want to continue to see me after this? I’m a calamity.

“Hey, hey. Eva, baby. C’mon. You’re alright. Look at me, Sunshine,” he coos, calming me down.

I sniff.

“You still have a house. That roof over your head keeps you safe and warm. You’re all unharmed. Where are your boys?”

“Outside playing.”

“Take photos of every room, including the letter. If you don’t want the police involved, that’s fair enough. I think you’re wrong, but if you change your mind, you have the evidence. Although I think you should share this information with Veronica. In divorce, every piece of information and evidence will assist your case. Plus, he broke his harassment agreement with the police. You should call them. But I will not push you. In the meantime, I want you to tidy up as best you can. Put all your clothes back into your wardrobe, Eva. Will you do that?”