Chapter 24

The lights flickered on. When Evelyn saw Howard's haggard, injured face, she flinched. "Howard, what do you want?" Howard saw the defensiveness and wariness in Evelyn's eyes, disbelief flashing across his own. "Eve, are you afraid of me?" Evelyn tried to push him away, but Howard held her tightly in his arms, making it impossible for her to move. "Howard, there's nothing between us anymore. What you're doing right now is threatening my safety." Howard's hands froze. He stared at Evelyn in disbelief. "You're saying I'm a threat to you? Eve, you're my wife. We should be close!" Evelyn bit down hard on Howard's hand in disgust, trying to break free from his grip. "Howard, we're already divorced. There's no going back to how things were between us." Searing pain shot through the back of Howard's hand, but he endured it as if it were nothing but a breeze. He held Evelyn tightly, refusing to let go even slightly. "Without my consent, we can't be over. Even if we're divorced, we can r