Chapter 5 - 5: I Want You Now

"Avery, how dare you to push Leonie down the stairs?" Mrs. Howel points at Avery and her finger trembles with anger. She wishes she could poke straight through her daughter-in-law's skull.

The Peters stand silently in the corner, too ashamed to say anything.

Evan looks at Avery's eyes, she would have frozen on the spot too embarrassed to defend herself. Now she seems to accuse Evan as if he's the one who should be ashamed.

"Who is this feisty woman?" Evan wonders, "And what exactly is she trying to do?"

Avery frowns at Evan. Even though Leonie's left eye is cloaked in the dark halo of a bruise, Avery has become smug and more confident since the other woman arrived. Evan immediately notices this subtle change in Avery. It seems like an open provocation. He realizes that Avery must have sent Leonie the mysterious message inviting her to the house. Interest and curiosity creep into Evan's calculating, sharp gaze.

"Is it true that you pushed Miss Summer down the stairs three days ago, Mrs. Howel?" A journalist asks.

"The word is that you intend to divorce," clamors another, "Is this why?"

"Is there something going on between Mr. Howel and Miss Summer?"

"Avery, did you push her because you're jealous?"

"Does the pregnancy still count?"

"Pregnancy? I think that depends on Evan." Avery answers.

She smiles lightly and stares at Evan provokingly. She wants to see how he'll handle the situation. After all, Mrs. Howel is a changeable title, but his tender feelings for his childhood sweetheart can't change so easily. Can he bear to talk about her imaginary pregnancy in front of the woman he loves?

Pregnancy?

Leonie turns to Evan in astonishment. She wants Evan to look at her, to reassure her with a smile or a nod of his head. But from the moment she entered the room, he hasn't even glanced at her. Instead, he remains fixated on Avery, watching her with an unreadable emotion in his eyes. It's like he's looking at an exciting new toy, considering the possibilities.

"What happened to the disgust in his eyes when he used to look at her?" Leonie wonders, "Are they divorcing or not?

A growing murmur rises in the room as the crowd speculates.

Suddenly impatient with the entire scene, Evan announces "You can start expecting good news from Mrs. Howel and me."

His words cause more hustle and bustle. Everyone knows that the distinguished family works in mysterious ways, but this press conference has been shocking. The journalists nod at each other. They know the announcement is Evan's final word.

"Please leave us now," Robert says, "If there is more news about the couple, we'll let you know."

The bodyguards receive their orders and start clearing the room.

One journalist, who won't give up asks, "Is it news of pregnancy or divorce?"

There is no answer. The bodyguards grab them man's arms and drag him out of the room.

Leonie turns pale at the mention of the pregnancy. She lowers her head and steps aside, looking wronged and betrayed. Avery sees through her every expression and move. One minute she's scheming and vicious and the next she feigns purity and innocence. How good she is at pretending!

"Leonie," The venerable Mrs. Howel beckons to her.

Leonie sneaks a look at Avery as if she's evaluating the competition and walks to join Mrs. Howel.

"Come to my room," Mrs. Howel says.

Leonie understands that Mrs. Howel wants to speak to her privately, and she follows the older woman obediently. As she leaves the room she casts a seductive look at Evan but he doesn't seem to notice. She quickly lowers her head, her heart pounding in her ears.

The journalists have all left. Mrs. Howel has left too. Anthony realizes he and his family can't linger much longer and they hasten out of the room. Only Robert, some maids, Evan, and Avery remain in the large dining room. The atmosphere is still incredibly tense.

"Ask Mrs. Howel to go back to the bedroom."

Evan swallows and stares at Avery who, immune to her current situation, continues drinking. He has to grind his teeth to use the word "ask."

The maids flock to Avery to escort her out of the room. Suddenly, a glass flies through the air and shatters at their feet. Shocked, the maids stop waiting to see what Avery will do next. Avery appraises Evan with blatant dislike. Then she hitches up her dress, takes off her high heels and climbs onto the dining table.

"Mrs. Howel, it's too dangerous.," the maids protest, "Please, come down."

Crash!

Avery throws another glass and then a plate covered in delicate gold-leaf patterns. The plate flies through the air toward Evan.

The servants scream, "Mr. Howel, watch out!"

Evan tilts his head slightly and the plate whooshes past his ear. It crashes into the wall fast and fierce, proving that she was trying to hurt him.

"Pregnant? With you?" she hisses, "You must be joking."

Another plate misses its intended target and Avery feels disappointed. She leans over and grabs a plate near her feet and throws at Evan again.

"Evan, are you afraid to divorce me?" she asks.

She's furious. She thought that her plan was fail-proof. She invited the Peters, his childhood sweetheart, and the press over to ensure her victory. She assumed that the divorce was set in stone, but he used this absurd story about pregnancy to change the situation and spoil her plan.

"You want a divorce that much?" he asks with genuine curiosity.

Avery is ready to throw another plate, but she pauses. She's about to nod, when he says, "Too bad I don't want a divorce so much anymore."

Bang!

A bottle of red wine breaks at Evan's feet, splashing all over his expensive shoes and trousers.

"Why not?" Avery demands.

She stumbles to Evan's end of the table.

"Has one passionate night made you fall in love with me?" she asks mockingly.

Swiftly, Evan grabs her from the table and dr.a.p.es her over his shoulder. He holds her like a predator that's just caught its prey. Avery yells and struggles as hard as she can. She pounds her fists into his back over and over, "Evan, divorce me or else."

Evan raises his eyebrows with interest and amus.e.m.e.nt, "Or else what?"

His taunting tone enrages her. She squirms and he shifts her weight, carrying her in his arms bridal style. She turns her head and viciously bites his collarbone. Blood seeps from the wound and reddens his silk shirt, but Evan doesn't even flinch. He continues carrying her up the stairs and down the hall, finally tossing her onto his king-size bed.

"Asshole!" Avery props herself up on her elbows.

Her low-cut dress reveals a sight that incites his desire. He slowly unbuttons the gold buttons on his shirt. He's not normally a man who indulges in carnal pleasure. In the past, Avery tried every possible method to seduce him, but he remained uninterested. He rarely even pleasured himself. But this new Avery, this bold and insolent woman who insults and attacks him, intrigues him. No woman has ever treated him that way before.

Avery feels the bed sink under his weight and he positions himself on top of her, and she frowns. It's obvious what he wants. She wants to punch him in the face or kick him where it hurts, but she decides to use her wiles instead.

"Did you fall for me?" She murmured, "I thought you said you couldn't get it up for me without medical assistance?"

Is she provoking him? Is this still part of her plan to get the divorce? Evan doesn't care. No one can divorce him. If there's going to a divorce, it has to be his decision, his announcement.

He takes her hand and guides it to his pants, pressing it to the stiffening part within,

"Looks like I can now," he says.

It's hot and hard. Avery's eyes widen with surprise, "Evan, what do you want?"

"What do I want?" His look is intense and demanding, "I want to create heirs with you, Mrs. Howel, how about that?"

It's a question, but it doesn't sound like a question. He's telling her an important decision.

Avery wants to slap him across the face but unfortunately, he is pinning her hands above her head. She's furious, but she feels the desire rising in her stomach. She glares at him, "Do you know what you're like right now?"