"How could you be so shameless?"
Keeping a mistress outside while tormenting your lawful wife like this—how dare you even suggest taking her home?
"Shameless?" Evan landed a punch, knocking him down. "She's my wife! It's only right that I take her back! What business is it of yours, an outsider?"
Edward touched his cheek with the tip of his tongue, then got up to block Evan again. "You know she's your wife now. But what did you do to her?"
"Get lost!" He swung another punch.
Edward, despite being no match for him, retaliated with a punch of his own.
The two men engaged in a chaotic scuffle, with Evan once more overpowering Edward.
Lifting his head, he saw a figure descending the stairs.
Releasing Edward, he rubbed his bruised face with his fingertips.
"My Zoe..."
After nearly two months apart, she was painfully thin.
Blood trickling from his nose, Edward frowned as he took a handkerchief from the butler and wiped it away.
His gaze, filled with worry, lingered on Zoe.
Evan approached, weariness and remorse etched on his face. "Come back with me, won't you?"
Could they go back?
She stopped, staring blankly at the man before her, her eyes dim.
He licked his chapped lips, his heart tightening at the emotionless look in her eyes.
"I know I was wrong. Come back with me... I... I'll make it up to you..."
Zoe looked down at her toes, silent.
Evan stepped closer, pulling her into his embrace, his heart finding solace in that moment.
He would do anything, anything at all, if she would forgive him.
Edward averted his eyes from the scene, turning away.
He whispered in her ear, words meant for only her and him to hear, "Come back with me, My Zoe, or... I don't know what I might do..."
Zoe wriggled free and started for the door.
Edward, his lip bruised, blood still trickling from his nose, sidestepped to block her path, his brows furrowed as he locked eyes with her.
"Get out of the way," Evan effortlessly pushed him aside.
Stumbling from the force, he implored, "Don't go with him."
In Zoe's dark eyes, he saw remorse.
She knew Evan's temperament well—vengeful and unforgiving. His earlier words were nothing short of a threat.
She didn't want Edward to get involved in her troubles.
As she returned to the place that used to be her home, Zoe lowered her eyelids.
He arranged for a psychologist from the hospital to visit.
Yet, she refused to let anyone near her.
He was willing to overlook everything if she just came back. It mattered not if she had been with Edward; what was really important is that she belonged to him.
The snow had slowed, but the chill remained.
Evan tried to spend as much time as he could with her, catering to her every whim. When she shook her head, he understood her refusal and didn't force the issue.
Amid a light rain, he held her in his arms, reminiscing about old times.
Back then, they had been so happy.
She closed her eyes, her throat itching, unwilling to listen.
His repetition served no purpose but to remind her of the hurt he'd inflicted later on.
"Hmm? Did you hear me? Darling," Evan asked, looking up at the drizzling sky before lowering his gaze to her.
Her eyes remained shut, but her shoulders trembled slightly.
"What's wrong, darling? Are you uncomfortable?"
He straightened her, his brows knitting.
Suddenly, Zoe opened her eyes, and the bitter sweetness in her throat surged forth, staining his white shirt red, with a few droplets splattering onto his face.
