Chapter 73

Eliana couldn’t help but furrow her brows as Laura walked away with her nose held high - Did she really just ask me to bathe Evan? Didn’t Aidan once say that he would never let me get close to him? Laura must have something up her sleeve… Laura wrinkled her nose and fanned the air around it in disgust when Eliana walked into the backyard - it was as though the latter reeked of garbage and litter. “Stay away from me, you dirty woman,” Laura muttered. As she spoke, she kicked Evan, who was sitting on the carpet spread out beside her - she hissed, “Get up and let that woman bathe you.” When Evan did not budge, Laura scowled as she reached out to pinch the little boy by the ears, “I said, get up and let that woman bathe you. Did you not hear me? Are you deaf?” Evan’s eyes couldn’t help but water at the sheer amount of force that Laura was exerting on him - Eliana’s heart broke for the poor little boy who was being so blatantly mistreated and abused. Alas, she knew that there was nothing really that she could do - after all, knowing Laura’s personality, the latter would probably only be more encouraged to hurt the child the more that she tries to help… “Why aren’t you doing anything to help?” Just then, Laura couldn’t help but bark at Eliana as she so desperately tried to get Evan to move, only for the little boy to stay put and not move a single muscle. Eliana shrugged, “Think about it, didn’t Aidan say that I’m not allowed to get close to the little boy?” “It’s different now - you have to do as I command now that you’re my servant.” Laura hissed. And so, Eliana stepped forward wordlessly to scoop Evan into her arms before walking to the bathroom. Eliana hastily closed the door behind her and turned on the tap so that Laura couldn’t follow them inside - she then turned to and squatted in front of Evan. She cupped his face tenderly and asked him in a gentle voice, “Evan, are you hurt?” Evan, who initially had his head hung, slowly looked up at Eliana to reveal his empty and vacant eyes - this was especially alarming considering that the former was just a little boy. He didn’t have a slightest bit of the childish vitality and vigor that children his age would have. Eliana’s heart ached for the child - she couldn’t help but pull him into her arms and gently caress his back. As much as Eliana wanted to tell Evan that everything was going to be alright, she knew that she would only be lying to the little boy and giving him false hope if she did so - after all, she was well aware of just how vicious Aidan and Laura were… Just then, Evan, who hadn’t said anything at all, carefully raised his arms to hug Eliana back. Eliana couldn’t help but feel her heart ache even more at the little boy’s gesture...she hated that she was so weak and powerless, unable to do anything to help him. When the bathtub was finally filled with water, Eliana helped Evan take off his clothes before carrying him into the bathtub so that she could bathe him. Eliana couldn’t help but notice a dark butterfly-shaped birthmark on Evan’s shoulder blade - it almost looked like an actual butterfly, ready to spread its wings and leap into the air at any moment… Just then, Eliana recalled a saying that she’d seen before - Mothers who love their children deeply yearn for their child and themselves to bear the same brand that God has bestowed upon them so that they would always be connected. Eliana felt as though her heart was breaking for Evan - she wondered just how terribly he must’ve missed his real mother, and just how miserable he has been feeling ever since he’d been adopted by the negligent and abusive Laura and Aidan. Just then, as Eliana was halfway through bathing Evan, Laura pushed the door open and walked in. She folded her arms and spat, “Alright, that’s all that I want you to do for today - you may leave now.” Eliana couldn’t help but cock a brow at Laura - What does she mean? I’m not even done bathing Evan yet...what’s going on in her head? “Didn’t you hear me?” Laura barked impatiently. Just as Eliana was about to carry Evan out of the water, Laura surged forward to stop her, “I said, get out of here,” she scowled haughtily, “Did I not make myself clear? Are you deaf or something?” And so, Eliana had no choice but to back down - she took one last glance at Evan before she walked out of the bathroom. As soon as she left, Laura slammed the door behind her shut - she then picked up the showerhead with one hand and turned on the cold water with the other so that she could spray cold water all over Evan’s body. Evan could do nothing but to huddle with his knees folded to his chest in one corner, utterly powerless and defenseless… Eliana couldn’t help but feel unsettled as she left the guest house. … Eliana was about to go asleep that night when the room to her door suddenly opened - it was Aidan. Eliana retreated such that her back was pressed to the headboard of her bed - there was no way that she could escape the latter’s wrath. Just then, Aidan lurched forward to grab Eliana by the ankle before pulling her such that he could press his lips against hers - the latter couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose at the distinct smell of alcohol which Aidan reeked. Eliana expected Aidan to leave as soon as he’d kissed her - alas, he stayed. He slumped onto one side of her bed and closed his eyes. Before she knew it, Aidan was out cold. Eliana waited for half an hour before deciding to do something - Aidan had not moved a muscle or made a sound. As such, the former assumed that he was out cold and that it was safe to do what she wanted to do. And so, she took a pill that she’d taken from Robert’s room from the bedside drawer and popped it into her mouth. Just as she was about to take some water to flush it down, however, a sharp voice sounded from behind her, “What are you doing?”