Chapter 961
Irene’s POV
Later that horrible day, the house was quiet and empty, an eerie calm settling over everything. I’d already texted Delores, telling her to keep Charlie out as long as possible. He didn’t need to see what could unfold today. Things were teetering on the edge, and I wasn’t sure how they would play out. But I knew one thing for sure: I needed to get that George’s room,
gun away from
Lenora and George were going to be back today, and as much as Lenora adored Eva, I couldn’t be certain where her loyalty would lie once everything came out. She had always been like a sister to me, but with Eva manipulating everyone around her, it was hard to tell how things would go. George, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. I had no doubt that he was in on Eva’s schemes, quietly supporting her, covering for her when necessary. And now, the thought of a gun in his possession made my stomach turn.
I stood in the hallway, staring at the door to George and Lenora’s room. It felt wrong, to violate their space like this, but I had no choice. If things escalated–and I had no doubt they would–I couldn’t risk having a weapon lying around. Eva was dangerous enough without access to a gun, talk more of her having access to a gun.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside Their room was pristine, as always, with everything neatly in its place. It was almost too perfect, too organized. My heart raced as I began searching through drawers, closets, and anywhere 1 could think to look. At first, I found nothing but clothes, toiletries, and personal items. But I knew George well enough to know he wouldn’t keep something like a gun in plain sight. He was too careful for that.
He wouldn’t want Lenora to find out that he was a monster,
I moved to the closet, pulling open the door and scanning the shelves, shoes, boxes, bags–anything that stood out. But then, my eyes landed on a small safe tucked in the corner, partially hidden behind some folded sweaters. My pulse quickened That had to be it. I crouched down, running my fingers over the surface. It was locked, of course.
“Damn it,” I whispered under my breath, glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one had come back early. The house was still silent, with no sign of movement. I turned back to the safe, frustrated. I needed to get into it, but I wasn’t sure how. Then I remembered the small lock–picking set Damien had once kept in his study. He’d shown me how to use it as a joke. something we’d done on a lazy Sunday afternoon years ago. 1 never thought I’d actually need those skills.
Rushing to Damien’s study, I found the set buried in a drawer and hurried back to George and Lenora’s room. My hands shook slightly as I worked on the lock, my mind racing with thoughts of what Eva might do if things continued down this path. After what felt like an eternity, I heard a soft click. The sale door creaked open.
Inside, there it was, a small handgun, lying on top of some papers and a few stacks of cash. I stared at it for a moment, my breath catching in my throat. This wasn’t something I was used to–handling a weapon. But I knew I couldn’t leave it here. 1 grabbed the gun, wrapped it in one of George’s sweaters to conceal it, and hurried back to mine and Damien’s room. For now, I would hide it somewhere safe, somewhere no one would think to look.
I lifted the lid of the old chest at the foot of our bed, the one we used to store old blankets and keepsakes. It was deep enough to hide the gun without anyone noticing. I tucked the bundle inside, covered it with a few old bedspreads, and closed the lid. I would figure out what to do with it later, but for now, it was out of George’s reach. Lexhaled in relief, my heart still racing from the adrenaline rush.
Hours passed, and slowly, everyone began trickling back into the house. The tension was thick, but no one seemed to mention it. Lenora came in with her usual bright smile, chatting away about the wedding plans, and George followed shortly after, as calm and composed as ever. It was unsettling how norm everything seemed on the surface, knowing what was lurking just beneath.
And then there was Eva. She returned with a smug expression, that same self–satisfied smirk she always wore when she knew she had the upper hand. 1 could feel her eyes on me, daring me to break. But I refused to give her the satisfaction
At dinner, Lenora, in her usual bubbly fashion, suggested we have a small celebratory party for Eva. “I promised her we’d celebrate her walking again, and I think it’s about time we do!” she said, her voice lilled with excitement. “Something small.
15.02 Thu, Oct 31 @ B
Chapter 96
just family. What do you think?”
No one objected though the idea of celebrating anything related to Eva made my stomach churn. Still, I couldn’t say no. Lenora was too sweet, too excited, and I didn’t want to dampen her spirits.
Plus, I was not going to break the bad news to everyone else. So if I have to put on an act and pretend everything was fine. then I certainly would.
We gathered around the table later that evening, music playing softly in the background. The atmosphere was strange- tense but with an underlying current of forced joy. I couldn’t relax, not with Eva sitting across from me, her eyes gleaming with some hidden secret. Damien was quiet, clearly uneasy as well, though he did his best to smile for Lenora’s sake..
The dinner went on, small talk filling the air, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to happen. Eva was too quiet, too poised like she was waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I glanced at Damien, who caught my eye, and I could see the same unease reflected in his gaze.
And then it happened.
Eva stood up, her glass of wine in hand, tapping it gently with her fork to get everyone’s attention. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to her. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited, knowing whatever she was about to say would be devastating
It made me have similar chills to that night when she revealed she could walk again not longer after she had George pointing a gun to my head and threatening me.
“I just wanted to say,” she began, her voice sickeningly sweet, “thank you all for being here, for celebrating with me. It means so much.” She paused, glancing around the room, her eyes landing on me for just a moment before she continued. “And while we’re all here, there’s something I’ve been meaning to share with you.”
She smiled, her eyes glinting with malice as she looked straight at Damien. “I’m three weeks pregnant!” She excitedly exclaimed, announcing the news I considered a bad one
The words hung in the air like a bomb, and for a moment, no one spoke. The shock was palpable, rippling through the room as everyone stared at her in stunned silence.
What the fuck?!
I felt the ground shift beneath me, the world tilting as her announcement sank in. My hands gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white. This was it–her final move, the ultimate twist of the knife.
The final blow to our faces. To my face, especially.
The room was spinning, my thoughts were a blur. Eva was pregnant with Damien’s child. That’s what she just freaking announced to everyone as if it was something happy to share.
Damien is married, married to me.
Announcing that you are pregnant for a married man, especially the one married to your sister should be an abomination.. But to Eva, it couldn’t be.
This was a joyful thing for her because she knew the domino effect it was going to have.
Everyone looked so shocked. The embarrassment made me feel sick, my stomach twisting in knots. This couldn’t be happening
But it was, and it was only just the beginning.
