Eve quickly pushed Alaric, breaking the hug. She looked at him with utter disbelief.
"What did you just say?" she asked him with widened eyes.
Alaric pursed his lips, looking away. He didn’t want to repeat those words. What if she would admit yes? How would he react? Would he get mad?
"Alaric... where did you get that crazy idea?" Eve used the sa words he uttered against him.
Alaric raised his head, staring at her to et her gaze. "I always thought you have feelings for Gavin–"
He wasn’t able to finish his words as Eve quickly cupped his face. "You were so wrong! I hate Gavin to the core! Who told you such lies?"
Alaric blinked several tis, eyeing her with disbelief.
"It was who told myself..." he admitted, his voice barely audible. "Sera saw you eting him in an Inn at midnight. And... I also witnessed the two of you during our wedding night..."
Alaric couldn’t elaborate on his words anymore. Rembering that night was still painful for him.
anwhile, Eve gasped covering her mouth in shock. "You’ve seen us on our wedding night... and still you didn’t do anything to save ?"
Alaric frowned in confusion upon hearing that. "Save you? Why?"
Eve pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes on Alaric. Raising her hand, she slapped Alaric once more.
He was dumbfounded for a mont as her palm landed on his cheek. He couldn’t understand why Eve suddenly slapped him.
Eve broke down in tears, shocking Alaric even more. All her pent-up frustrations surged within her chest until she finally exploded.
Alaric panicked when she started to cry. He didn’t know what to do. "Princess... why are you crying? What did I do wrong? Did I say sothing that upset you?"
Eve glared at Alaric and her fists began pounding on his chest. "I was waiting for you to co that night to save from Gavin. I was so helpless. I was still mute at that ti. I couldn’t scream for help. I was powerless against him. Gavin... tried to rape that night. If not for my Princess Aliyah, he would have succeeded in claiming that night."
Alaric froze on his spot as the revelation struck him like a lightning bolt. Princess Eve just continued hitting his chest.
"Where were you when I badly needed you? You saw us... but why didn’t you stop him?"
At that certain mont, Alaric realized his mistake. Without hesitation, he grabbed Eve, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Forgive , Princess... Forgive ... I was so wrong... I thought you betrayed that night." Alaric slamd his eyes shut as he gritted his teeth, his grip on Eve’s body tightened.
"I was on my way to our bridal chamber when I was ambushed by n. I fought them. And they told ... you sent them to beat because you didn’t want ... and you would never acknowledge as your husband. Because of my insecurity, I was too foolish to believe them."
Eve stopped struggling against his embrace. Gavin also ntioned that he sent n to hurt Alaric that night.
"I didn’t send them. It was Gavin who hired those n to hurt. He said you would never co and he started to force himself on . He was stronger than . I tried to fight him but I got beaten up by him... until I had no energy left to struggle against him."
Alaric clenched his jaw when he heard that. He could only imagine how Eve suffered from Gavin that night. He wanted to kill him.
"Forgive , Eve... I failed you. I failed to protect you. I even doubted you... I deserve your hatred."
"Were you the one who inford my sister?" Eve asked him expectantly.
Alaric bobbed his head in response.
Eve’s lips curled up into a faint smile. "Then you still saved that night. Don’t bla yourself."
Alaric shook his head. "I was so wrong... all this ti. Please, don’t comfort . I don’t deserve it, Princess. You should punish instead."
"And please, don’t cry anymore. It pained to see you in tears. I feel so useless," Alaric added, cursing himself.
Eve nodded, biting her lower lip. Alaric lifted her her chin, his fingers wiping her tears away. The two of them looked at each other for a long mont.
Alaric and Eve realized that many misunderstandings had arisen between them due to a lack of trust and communication.
"If we want this marriage to work out, then we have to put more effort into building trust..." Eve said, acknowledging their weaknesses and shortcomings as a married couple.
"And communication," Alaric added, his thumb gently caressing her cheek.
Eve smiled cheerfully, feeling as though the heavy burden that had troubled her heart earlier had finally been lifted. Alaric’s expression also softened upon seeing her charming smile.
"On our wedding night, I was planning to reveal my true face to you. But Gavin ruined everything. It was Queen Amara who forbade from showing my real face to the people of Averion. I didn’t an to hide it from you."
Alaric frowned, still puzzled as to why Queen Amara was mistreating Eve. Before he could ask, Eve spoke again, explaining the reason why she t Gavin in an Inn.
"I haven’t told you yet the reason why I t Gavin that night. Rember about my flogging punishnt? I made a deal with Gavin. He promised to clear my na in exchange, he wanted to sleep with him."
Alaric’s face darkened upon hearing that. "Did you sleep with him that night?"
Eve shook her head frantically. "No. I didn’t sleep with him. I planned to take revenge on him by drugging him and making it look like he slept with a servant. Then I let Princess Aliyah catch him in the act."
"I thought my sister would punish him and divorce him once she saw it. But until now, I don’t know what happened to Gavin after that night. Princess Aliyah also didn’t raise the issue with King Solomon and Queen Amara."
Alaric glanced at her in amusent. "Did you do all that... alone?"
Eve was at a loss for words for a mont, contemplating whether to ntion Gideon or not.
"No," she replied reluctantly. Then she lowered her gaze. "Soone helped ."
"Who helped you?" Alaric probed, his eyes filled with curiosity and intrigue.
Eve bit her lower lip before saying, "Gideon..."
Alaric– *Deafening Silence*
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