LOVE'S QUAGMIRE [18+]

Chapter 53: Evelyn

Daphne's POV~

It was already noon, and we were gathered around the dining table, except for Zephyr, who'd been locked away in his office since morning. Everyone had woken up late, so brunch it was.

Jane was scrolling through her phone, barely paying attention to the food on her plate, while Sebastian seemed deep in conversation about something on his phone. Across from me sat Abby and Xavier, laughing and smiling, completely wrapped up in each other. 

They looked so good together, their happiness almost contagious. A soft smile crept onto my face—until another thought popped into my mind.

Once upon a time, Zephyr and I were like that, too. We'd talk, laugh... just like them. 

But now, everything was different. 

The memory of it made my throat tighten painfully, and I quickly drank some water to push the feeling down.

I finished eating and was about to get up to clear my plate when Miss Thornfield appeared out of nowhere, her voice gentle but firm. "I'll take care of this. Did you take your medicines?"

"Medicine?" Abby chimed in, her brows furrowing with concern as she turned her gaze toward me.

 Xavier looked over as well, curiosity and worry evident on his face.

I had been taking some medicines prescribed by the doctor. The wounds from the day Zephyr and his men had burned, beaten, and assaulted me hadn't healed. Every day, they served as a cruel reminder of what I had been through.

Miss Thornfield didn't know about this, but she could sense that Zephyr was behind it. Still, she never pried. I had once asked her to bring me the medicines, and now it had become part of her routine.

"Ye-Yeah, it's not really medicine, just, uh, multivitamins," I stammered, forcing a tight-lipped smile. 

Abby and Xavier seemed to accept that answer, nodding as they moved on to another topic. 

I followed Miss Thornfield to the kitchen, where I grabbed a glass and filled it with water. The pills sat in a neat pile on a plate as I picked them up. 

I could feel her eyes on me, but I didn't ask or explain. I just downed them quickly, feeling the pills scrape down my dry throat.

"Thank you, Miss Thornfield," I said softly, giving her a small, grateful smile.

 She was strict, no doubt, but I knew that beneath that stern exterior, she had a soft heart. Maybe that's why her pity-filled gaze stung so much.

I didn't linger and just walked out quickly.

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Zephyr's POV~

I took off my glasses, leaned back in my chair, and rubbed my temples, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle in. 

It's been nearly ten hours since I've been here, searching for any scrap of evidence that might finally crack this wide open.

After what happened last night, sleep wasn't an option. How could I even think about it? Uncle Brian passed out before I could press him for answers, leaving me with more questions than ever. 

Since then, I've been glued to my laptop, with my fingers constantly typing, scrolling through old articles from around 2010, and dissecting every paper and interview my father gave to the media about my mom.