Chapter 197 - Togetherness

Immediately, her eyes swelled up in tears to watch that exquisite beautiful violin tenderly gripped by him in his arms. Squinting her gaze being completely awestruck at his statement, she mumbled out unknowingly, "you...you knew about my birthday today?"

"Of course, how can I forget the important day when this world was blessed with my beautiful mate?" His smile widened as he rustled those words softly towards her. "Even if you never told me your birth date...did you think you can hide anything from me?"

"But how did you know about it?"

"I have my own sources..." Making a sly face, he winked at her tossing a jovial simper carved on his plump lips. She sat still looking at him, unable to rustle a word out of her mouth in awe.

"Eva...I know...life hadn't been kind to you. You had to bury your dream with a heavy heart. I know...it must have been hard for you never to touch that violin which had always reminded you of your dark scars...but please...think of it once... Your father would be so happy to watch her daughter from the above doing what she has always loved!

That's why...I came up with this idea. Though...it's your 27th birthday...but I think it's never late to start what you love! Hereby, start reviving your dreams again making a fresh start with this one I have picked for you among thousands of violins.

Not only your dad...but I will be happy too if you do so...

Even... I want to see my Eva becoming a world-renowned violinist... Is it...really that hard for you to accept my plea?" He was trying his way best to console her broken heart, holding a warm smile on his face drawing his gift towards her. 

Her eyes were all teary, she was too emotional to speak out at that moment. Lowering her gaze down from him, she tried to wipe her eyes while the warm tears started shedding down her quivering jowls.

Watching her suddenly bursting into tears, for a moment, Zeus seemed a bit panicked. Quickly placing the violin before her on the table he held her arm tight, leaning his worrisome grimace closer to her. 

"Eva...did...did my gift made you sadder? I...I am sorry...I didn't mean to make you feel more miserable...I just...I just wanted to see you making a fresh start to pursue your dreams...Please forgive me if I hurt you even more... My heart aches to watch you sobbing like this--"

"I am...happy....that's why I am in tears, you fool." Seeing him getting all confused, a sad, small smile escaped her lips as she averted her gaze up to look into his concerned eyes. "To be honest...you have never hurt me...not even once, Zeus. Sometimes...watching your kindness makes me fall into disbelief that whether you really belong to that same lineage who murdered my parents! You seem more human to me than the rest of the people I have encountered in this cruel world...

But... the more this realization hits me...the more it aches my heart just thinking about...how badly I must have broken your heart that night... You...came to protect me yet...I abandoned you..." Her husky voice shook a little as her cheeks stung with the pain of grieving out aloud. 

"Those are all in the past, Eva...You don't have to feel sorry for me anymore. Even if I had been in your place...perhaps...I would have done the same." Caressing her hand, he placed a soft kiss on her knuckle trying to comfort her bereaved heart, peering into her tear-swelled eyes. "Besides, I just want to see you smiling with your eyes. It pains my heart whenever you shed tears, Eva. I like you so much that...I just want to fill your life with all the happiness you deserved in your life..." 

Hearing his mellow voice, the smile she had carved on her sad face widened a little while she nodded her head fondly. Glancing at the violin, she softly opened the case to take a peek inside of it. 

The brown colored sumptuous violin seemed magnificently beautiful to look at! It has golden strings attached to it and even at the left edge on the surface of the violin, her name was deeply carved in golden-red Italic letters. The simper on her face broadened while she tenderly stroked her fingertips over it, gawking in awe. 

"After...Felix passed away... I had assumed perhaps this year... would be the darkest birthday I ever witnessed in my life... Never did I imagine...you would rather fill my dark and murky day with so many lights, flowers, and surprises to even count...

Maybe...my mom, dad, and my brother had sent you as my angel who would rather look after me forever... Thank you...for existing for me, Zeus...Thank you for...choosing someone like me who has nothing to offer you except my love and life...Thank you..." She gripped his warm hand with her soft palm, smiling meekly as she murmured her heartfelt declaration. 

"Maybe this way...I could atone for my sins for not being able to protect your father despite being the alpha, Eva.

Perhaps, Uncle Steve would really be proud of me when we will face each other for sure someday for fulfilling his unfinished duties...Eva." He wondered silently putting a sad simper on his face and placing a soft peck on her forehead closing his teary eyes. 

........

"Why are you walking me home, Master? You had to park your car at a long distance and you had to walk through this narrow lane..." Clara asked in a genial voice sneaking a glimpse at Czar who was strolling next to her, putting his arms inside his large coat. 

"I have told you already...you can call me by my name and I will call you by yours... Besides, we really had a hefty amount of drink together. A man shouldn't leave a woman alone in that state." He whispered, sounding quite considerate rolling his glance at her. 

"Woah...though you have been always a Cassanova...but you are really true to your virtues! That's impressive..." She smirked tossing a sly remark at him. "But...aren't you a light drinker? I am amazed that you are still stable after gulping down so many chilled beer cans..."

"I...don't feel tipsy no matter how much I drink whenever I am too sad..." While strolling, he took a deep sigh out as a sad smirk escaped the curve of his lips. For a few seconds, she didn't utter anything hearing his downhearted remark, peering at him softly. "Today...I had to let go of the one I unknowingly caught feelings for... Reality is quite harsh but...we don't have a choice rather than to accept it... But thanks to you...for accompanying me on such a gloomy day." 

Apprehending his glum-filled opinion, she huffed out a deep sigh peeking a glance at the night sky filled with countless stars shimmering in. "Today is...Eva's birthday..." She whispered out unknowingly. 

"What!?" Suddenly his motion halted as if her answer was quite unexpected for him to process at that moment. Squinting his eyeballs, he frowned his grimace at her, "today...is her birthday?"

"Yes." She paused her movement standing opposite to him while looking into his dark sad eyes. "After the demise of her brother this year...I was truly worried for her. I had hoped...perhaps...this year her grief would be inconsolable... but...all thanks to brother Zeus... I have put my faith in him... I know, he will really try his best to make her the happiest than ever today." 

"Brother Zeus?" Czar repeated her words raising his brows a little impertinently. "Since when did he become your brother too?"

"Pfftt! You sound like a little envious brother, Czar...Hahaha..." Covering her wide smile with her palm, she tried to control her squeal of a chuckle before his baffled expression. "Don't fret...even if I call him as a brother...but it's true that he indeed loves you the most!" 

"Hey! I am not jealous---"

[PHONE RINGING]

Suddenly, their squabbling got interrupted as her phone rang out quite aloud, flinching them quite hard. Quickly, she took out the phone and to her shock, it was Eva who was face timing her at that moment!

"Eva...Eva is calling me!" Murmuring with a baffled face, she hurriedly picked up the call while Czar was standing opposite to her, seeming quite surprised too.

"Eva? Hey!" Waving her arm at her screen with a warm smile on her grimace, she watched both Eva and Zeus were face timing with her at that very moment. Both of them had a blissful glimmer on their expressions while Eva heartily waved back at her.

"Clara! Are you outside right now?" Her loud jovial voice over the phone reverberated in the silent neighborhood they were standing in. Hearing her pleasant voice, Czar shifted his glance towards the phone from behind. 

"Ye-Yes, I am. But...why did you bother...to call me now...rather than spending your birthday with your...special person?" Clara acted a bit perplexedly as she was getting a bit concerned for Czar.

Suddenly, Eva started chuckling out aloud and flashed her ring finger over the phone to make it visible to her clearly. "Guess what? I am finally engaged!! Zeus has proposed to me, today...Clara!" 

"Wh...What?" Shocked at her sudden proclamation, she immediately lifted her chin up from her screen glancing at Czar who had a painful smile on his face hearing her response, while trying to hold his tears in.  "Shit! I really didn't want him to make even sadder today than he already has been..." She wondered, looking at him wistfully.