I am the Queen

"We still have to keep your information private," Alvaro said at Evangeline when they were alone inside his office.

"I really don't care about the Cole's fortune. Even without it, I can still manage."

"Just indulge grandfather. It will lessen his guilt and helps his mind at ease."

Evangeline rolled her eyes. "Just get it over with. Where are the papers I needed to sign?"

Álvaro gazed at Evangeline with his lips quirking up a little. "Oh, did I forgot to mention that at least three days is needed to ready all the papers?"

". . ."

"Your face is telling me that you'd rather forsake a century's worth of fortune that could last your entire generations from multiple lifetimes than wait for just a single hour in here." Alvaro crossed his arms and stifled a laugh.

"Yes. That's exactly how I feel." She needed to get home. What if Eric was already in their apartment? They haven't talked and made up yet.

"My dear cousin." Alvaro approached Evangeline and circled his arm on her shoulder. "You just got here, and you already wanted to leave? Spent more time with your family and enjoy what BlackPine has to offer. Okay?"

Evangeline's lips pressed in one line. She then faced Alvaro and pointed a finger. "One day," she said in a final tone.

Alvaro just grinned despite the lack of happiness on his face. "My dear cousin. What's the rush? You know that family takes priority above anything else, right?"

Evangeline frowned. Alvaro's words seemed like he was saying it more to himself. She opened her mouth to retort when her phone rang.

"Hello?" Evangeline answered and escaped from Álvaro's hold. She went into one of the rooms and locked the door.

"Miss Heart, we've found the man."

Evangeline's eyes dimmed. "Where?"

"Dead."

  ----

Meanwhile, back in Burberry.

Eric had run out of clothes to wear, so he decided to come home. He timed that Evangeline was not home and sneak inside his apartment. It was cowardly, but he still refused to face her. He didn't accept any phone calls nor texts from her. He was staying in Sparkle's staff house for the past weeks, unmotivated to do anything.

Checking inside their room, Eric found it empty, so he decided to come inside. Hurry in his movements, he stuffed his clothes inside his bag and was ready to leave. Afraid that Evangeline would pop out of nowhere.

He was at the door when his line of sight caught a laptop on the foyer. It was open and charged. He must have been preoccupied with checking the inside of the house that he overlooked it. How could he not notice it when it was right in front of his face the moment he opened the door? Weird.

Curious as to why her laptop was in the foyer, he decided to look.

Eric, 

Marcos Cole is in the hospital, so I have to go to BlackPine. I'll be back as soon as I can, and I hope that we can finally talk. 

See you soon,

Eve

Ps. Open my mail. I'll let you decide. Know that I'm okay with either way.

Eric's brows crumpled, but he still decided to open the mail icon next to the word.

Dear Miss Evangeline Heart,

We are writing to you in response to your query about postponing your application to our school. We regret that this opportunity only comes once in a lifetime since Madam Estelle will retire after a year. The madam was greatly impressed by your portfolio and hoped that you could learn under her tutelage. But we do understand if you couldn't attend this year due to personal circumstances.

If you ever changed your mind, just reply to this email. We will keep your slot open until the end of the month.

Sincerely,

Design art Studio, Paris

. . .

. . .

Seconds stretched into minutes, but Eric remained standing there, eyes unable to tear away from the screen. One message, and it would be over. Evangeline would stay with him. Problem solve.

He was unable to leave Burberry because his trial was still undergoing in this country. If he did, all the work he put in for almost all his life would disappear. He'd be crossed out from his family's list. Banished from his home country and never allowed to see nor talk to his brothers and sisters.

He was willing before, but why was it so hard now? Was it because his trial would end in just two years? Only two years. If he could just make Evangeline stay with him for two years, then they could move wherever she wished. Do whatever she wanted.

And she even said that it was okay for him to decide. So what was holding him?

Eric's fingers typed in the keyboard. His eyelashes seemed heavy as the emotions swirling inside him hid behind his blank face. Then he pressed send and went out of the apartment.

The email was loading before it was successfully sent with simple words.

'I'll go with my application.'

----

Contrary to everyone's expectation, Evangeline didn't stay in BlackPine even for just a day. When she got out of that room, Alvaro knew that he could no longer convince her to stay. The anger in her eyes was apparent that even her body was shaking a little. She even asked for their latest edition of spy earrings. In what for, Alvaro had no idea.

His plan of making Evangeline stay for even just a day failed. And as much as he wanted for her to tell him what's wrong, he couldn't with her lips pressed in a tight line. He wanted to accompany her, but with the loads of things he needed to do, it was near impossible even to get an hour's rest. He had no choice but to send the papers to her once they were ready.

Álvaro massaged his temple. He had to deal with the successorship and many problems in the company and deal with his brothers, who were trying to escape responsibility just to follow Evangeline back to Burberry.

Alvaro sighed. As much as he wanted them to remain innocent, he also wanted them to mature and take responsibility for the family. So his burden would lessen, and he could start his own family with Roz. That is . . . if she would still accept him.

Another heavy sigh escaped from his lips.