Malevolence

Chapter 20:

Please read the Writer's note before continuing to read this chapter.

Ransom:

"Ow!" Evelyn winces as I gently rub the damp cloth along her jaw.

I place the damp cloth down and pick up the arnica gel. "I told you it would sting. Your wound is still fresh." I say as I lightly message the arnica gel along Evelyn's jaw.

"Ow!" Evelyn winces again. "That hurts!" she whines.

That whining...I cannot stand it!

"That means your wound is healing." I say as I place the arnica gel on the bathroom vanity.

Evelyn places her hand over her jaw and she flinches, but then she twitches her lips to a smile.

"How does your jaw feel now?" I ask curiously.

Evelyn turns her body slightly to look at her own reflection in the mirror. I too look at Evelyn's bruised jaw.

I'm glad the swelling on her jaw has been reduced. All that's left is a bruise. A bruise that will make Evelyn think she is uglier than before, but not to me.

Bruise or not, Evelyn is still beautiful.

Evelyn turns back around to look at me. She slowly shrugs her shoulders. "My jaw still hurts. It was throbbing when you put that stuff on me," she points to the arnica gel . "but now it feels...better."

"That ointment will help reduce the pain and will help your jaw heal." I say, smiling faintly, but my smile fades when my mind goes back to when Evelyn's fucking father punched her. I know his intention was to punch me – or Will – but Evelyn got caught in the middle, and she was the one who ended up being punched. Now she is stuck with a bruised jaw over her gorgeous skin, and plus her damn father didn't even apologize to her. He didn't apologize to his own daughter for punching her! He physically hurt Evelyn. My Evelyn! My beautiful dove!

The bruise will eventually fade away, but the memory of Evelyn's father punching her...will sadly remain in my mind.

It'll remind me to return the favor to Evelyn's father.

"Please stop staring at my bruise like it's some ugly mark that will attack you. I already know the bruise makes me look even more hideous as it is." Evelyn mumbles.

I blink and pull my brows together. I knew it! I just knew it!

I knew Evelyn would think her bruise makes her look uglier than before.

But what the fuck is Evelyn talking about? How can she think her bruise makes her look...uglier?

How can she think of such a thought when she is so beautiful?

"Why would you say that?" I ask as my fingers lightly brush along her jawline.

Evelyn turns her head away from my hand. "The way you were looking at me...it was like you were looking at a...a monster." she points to her face.

WHAT?

"You cannot be serious!" I say in utter disbelief. "You think that a bruise on your jaw is going to suddenly make you look ugly? To me?" I ask rhetorically.

"Uglier. I am already ugly." Evelyn tries and fails to correct me.

"Oh come on now! Not this again!" I huff, walking toward the bathroom window, which isn't even open.

"But it's the truth." Evelyn says quietly.

I turn around and place my hands on my sides, sighing. "When are you going to get it through your head that you are not ugly and that you are beautiful?" I ask, sounding annoyed.