The Letters He Stole A Billionaire's Stolen Love

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After the high school reunion.

Evelyn said it out of nowhere. Connor Delgado, let's get a divorce.

I wasn't surprised. Even if he's rotten to the core, you still love him?

She let out a quiet laugh. You forget, I'm rotten too.

Two rotten people. A perfect match.

I found myself smiling. Fine.

Good, even. The spot she'd be vacating already had someone waiting in line.

Evelyn didn't seem to expect me to agree so easily.

But the flicker lasted only a second before she pressed it down and looked at me, composed.

I'll have the divorce papers sent over tomorrow. Whatever's yours, you'll get every cent.

I nodded. Okay.

Evelyn!

A voice came from behind us.

Winston Gilbert staggered over, reeking of alcohol, and threw his arms around her. Long time no see. All these years, did you miss me?

Evelyn didn't push him away. She even reached up and held him, her expression softer than anything I'd seen in three years of marriage.

Evelyn, why aren't you saying anything?

Winston turned his bleary eyes on me and jabbed a finger in my direction.

Evelyn! Don't tell me you actually fell for this pushover? A guy like him probably only knows one position in bed. You and me, we used to do all kinds of things, and you loved every second of it, you slut. You're really gonna settle for a dead fish? You think you can handle that?

His voice got louder with every word, and then he lunged at me.

Evelyn grabbed his hand and pulled him back, then turned to me. Sorry. He's drunk.

I was still her husband, right now, at this momentand her first instinct was to apologize to me on behalf of another man.

I gave a self-deprecating laugh. It's fine. I don't mind. If there's nothing else, I'm heading back.

Evelyn hummed in acknowledgment. I'm not coming home tonight. I'll find you tomorrow.

My step faltered, just once. I said nothing.

Back at the apartment, I stood in the place we'd shared for three years.

From the hopeful day we signed the marriage certificate, to the first time we slept together and she blurted out Winston's name, to the night she was sick with fever and mistook me for him. Until all that was left was numbness.

Ten years. Whatever this thing was between me and Evelyn Henson, it was finally over.

I let out a quiet laugh and walked into the bedroom to pack.

I didn't own much. One suitcase held everything.

I finished packing and lay down. I thought I'd lie awake all night, but the moment I closed my eyes I was out.

And for the first time in years, I dreamed about the day I first saw Evelyn.

Every school has that one person everyone knows.

At Northshore High, Evelyn Henson was it.

Wealthy family, beautiful face, top grades. Her only flaw, if you could call it that, was how fast she went through boyfriends.

I used to despise girls like her. I even thought they cheapened the word love.

Then one day a friend dragged me to watch her perform the opening dance at the sports meet.

The crowd was huge, and I got pushed all the way to the front.

The noise was deafening. I was uncomfortable and about to leave.

Then a jacket landed on my head, soft and warm, carrying the scent of jasmine.

I yanked it off in a panic and looked up into a bright, radiant smile. Hey, hold my jacket for me? I'm about to go on.

My heart nearly broke through my ribs.

From that day on, I had someone to pine for.

When junior year came and we had to pick tracks, I chose humanities, a subject I had zero interest in, just to be in her class.

I watched her cycle through boyfriend after boyfriend and it killed me, but I had no right to say a word.

So I did the only thing I could, the same thing every other lovesick fool did: I kept writing anonymous love letters, one after another.

The night before the SATs, I decided I didn't want to live with the regret. I signed my name on a love letter for the first time and went to find her, to tell her in person.

I walked into the classroom and found her kissing her new boyfriend.

The boy's face was bright red. Evelyn didn't even flinch. She looked at me and laughedHey, what class are you from? My boyfriend's shy. Close the door for us, would you?

That was the moment I understood. We were about to graduate, and she didn't even know we were in the same class. Let alone my name.

The next morning, I waited for Evelyn all morning. She never showed up to sign the papers.

I called her dozens of times. Not once did she pick up.

Finally I couldn't take it anymore and drove to her company.

They told me she hadn't come in to work.

Rare, for her.

A workaholic who didn't show up to the office.

It wasn't hard to guess who she'd skipped it for.

Then my phone rang.

A friend.

The second I picked up, Steve Simmons was already screamingConnor! That woman is cheating on you! I'm at the hospital right now and I just saw her walk some pretty boy into the urology wing!

I'm going to kill them both! How dare she do this to you!

That bitch! That piece of trash! I'll make sure they both regret being born!

Click

He hung up before I could get a single word in.

No time to think. I flagged down a car and rushed to the hospital.

I heard Steve's voice booming down the hallway before I even reached the urology department.

Evelyn Henson! You're a married woman and you're cheating! You have the nerve to bring your side piece right into a hospital in broad daylight!

And you, you shameless bastard! You're a grown man and you knowingly went after someone's wife!

Neither of you is walking out of here today! I'll end you both!

Evelyn! How could you be this heartless! Connor loved you for ten years, and he ruined his hand for you when he

Steve! I ran in and cut him off, grabbing him and pulling him back.

Evelyn stood there with a dark expression, one arm steadying Winston. I pressed my lips togetherSorry. My friend lost his temper.

Evelyn's voice was iceKeep him on a leash. If he runs his mouth like that again, I won't let it slide.

She turned and walked out with Winston at her side.

Steve's eyes went wideConnor! Why the hell are you apologizing to her? She's the one who's wrong!

My mouth tightenedSteve. That was Winston Gilbert.

Steve froze.

I told him everything. From the reunion last night to the end of it.

When I finished, he drew a long breathSo let me get this straight. Winston breaks up with some woman overseas, flies back, shows up at a reunion, and just like that, Evelyn wants to divorce you?

I nodded.

On what grounds? Steve slammed the table and shot to his feet, his eyes bloodshotWinston treated her like garbage. Strung her along, kicked her to the curb, then drove a car into her and nearly killed her. You pulled her out and your hand got crushed so badly it was destroyedyou can never hold a scalpel again. After that, you were the one who stayed with her through recovery, who stood by her side. And now she says divorce and you just roll over?

Maybe you can swallow that, but I can't! I'm going to tell her right now. Even if you two are getting divorced, she's going to pay back every last thing she owes you.

I grabbed his armSteve. There's no point anymore. I want the divorce now, too. I'm done loving her.

He stared at me hard, like he didn't believe a word of it.

Fair enough. Every other time I'd said I was done, I'd gone right back.

But this time, I was really tired.

I'd even started to think that Evelyn Henson wasn't all that special after all.

After saying goodbye to Steve, I asked a nurse for Winston's room number.

I'd barely reached the doorway when I heard laughter from inside.

Evelyn, I treated you like a joke back then. My ex and I drove a car into you. And you still love me? You're even divorcing that pushover husband of yours for me!

I froze. Looked up. Saw what was happening inside.

Evelyn's expression stayed gentle the whole time. She spooned porridge to his lips without a word.

Winston seemed to get bored. He leaned in and kissed her.

She didn't pull away. She tried to deepen it.

But the next second he dodged back, mouth curling with contemptGod, Evelyn. You're pathetic.

She grabbed his shoulders and pressed her mouth to his.

Wet sounds filled the hospital room.

When she finally let go, her voice was breathlessYeah. I'm pathetic. Pathetic enough to fall for you. Pathetic enough to love you year after year after year.

Year after year?

Since when does someone that shameless know how to love?

I pulled my lips into something that might pass for a smile and turned to leave.

That's when Winston spotted me.

He hooked an arm around EvelynWhat about that pushover husband of yours? Don't you love him? The guy's been carrying a torch for you for ten years, after all.

Evelyn's voice came out low and roughYou said it yourself. A pushover. He's just a rebound for someone as rotten as me. You and I, thoughwe're made for each other.

Winston laughed out loud and tipped his chin toward the doorWell, look at that. Your rebound's standing right outside.

Evelyn stiffened and turned to face me.

My nails dug into my palm. I forced a smileJust came to ask when you'd be available to sign the divorce papers.

If you have any conditions, just say the word.

Evelyn handed the documents to me.

I flipped to the last page, signed my name, and smiled as I held them out to herIt's fine. It's not like you could cheat me out of anything.

Evelyn stared at the smile on the man across from her and felt an inexplicable sting.

But wasn't this exactly what she wanted?

Divorce. Then tie herself to that piece of garbage Winston for good.

She shook her head and looked down, ready to sign her name, when her phone rang.

She murmured an apology and stood to take the call.

Whatever was said on the other end changed her face completely, and she started for the door.

I grabbed the documents and blocked her path. One signature. It'll take a few seconds.

Evelyn's head snapped up, dark eyes locking onto mine.

I kept smiling. Kept the papers where they were.

She took the pen and scrawled her name in one sharp, impatient stroke.

I've already contacted the records office. It'll be at least seven days before the divorce certificate comes through.

Seven days.

I counted silently against the date of the wedding with the other woman.

Enough.

Back home, I mailed everything to Manhattan.

By the time I finished, it was already night.

I was about to turn in when the police called.

Hello, is this Ms. Henson's husband? Your wife has been reported for false imprisonment and assault. We need you to come to the station.

I didn't want to go, but the divorce wasn't final yet.

Fine. One last time.

When I got to the station, Evelyn's face was dark. Sitting next to her, grinning like this was all a game, was Winston.

An officer approached me the moment I walked inDo you know this gentleman? He claims Ms. Henson held him against his will, that he tried to escape and she dragged him back, and that she attempted to assault him in the car.

Before I could speak, Evelyn cut inHe's my fianc. There was no imprisonment and no assault. We're in a legitimate relationship.

As she spoke, she pulled out a yellowed piece of paper, carefully preserved despite its age.

Written on it, unmistakably, was a pledge Winston had given her the year they first got together.

She'd kept it perfectly preserved, pressed against her chest this whole time.

The officer's eyes went wideBut isn't Mr. Delgado your husband?

I gave an awkward laughWe're already divorced. Just haven't picked up the certificates yet.

In the end, it turned out the whole thing was a false alarm.

By the time we left the station, it was the middle of the night.

Evelyn went to get her car.

That left just me and Winston.

He looked at me, then laughed out loudConnor, how have you not changed at all after all these years? Still the same lovesick fool chasing after Evelyn.

I didn't say anything.

Winston kept goingWant to know why Evelyn fell for me?

He leaned in closeBecause the one she was supposed to fall for was you.

I went rigid.

Winston continuedBack then she got tons of love letters, but yours were the only ones she kept. I didn't even know you were the one writing them, not until one day I came back early from morning exercises and caught you slipping an envelope into her lockersame purple stationery she'd been saving.

Later, after you tossed that confession letter in the trash, I fished it out. The day the SATs ended, I scratched out your name, wrote mine over it, and went to confess to her. She said yes. Even told me how much she'd loved those letters, how they'd made her laugh. Just like that, we were together. And that tramp? She fell right in linefor me.

Every part of me locked up.

Winston's grin only stretched wider

I went through every letter you wrote her, you know. They really were something. You remembered everythingwhat she liked to eat, what she liked to drink, what she did every single day. Like a diary. Oh, and one more thing.

In college, when you heard we'd broken up, you finally worked up the nerve to go after her. Too bad. She turned right around and forwarded your messages to me, asked me to reply for her. Those two years of flirty texts? That was me. I was stringing you along on purpose. Watching you dance on my stringsGod, that was fun.

After that, she and I kept breaking up and getting back together. I even got caught checking into hotels with other women. She never said a word.

Connor. When it comes down to it, I should really thank you. You're the one who made that cheap little thing come running back to me.

I went coldall the way through. I couldn't get out a single word.

Then something shifted behind Winston's eyes.

He grabbed my hand and slammed it across his own face.

Crack!

Before I could even react, a harder slap landed on my cheek.

Evelyn's voice, ice-coldConnor, do you have a death wish?

She hadn't asked a single question. Didn't hesitate for a second. Just took his side.

I stared past Winston's smirk, my hand pressed to my burning cheek, and took one last long look at EvelynEvelyn, you were right. You really are a terrible person.

I turned and walked away. Packed as fast as I could. Flew back to Manhattan that same day.

Three days later, a wedding invitation appeared on my feed.

Evelyn and Winston's.

Their wedding was the same day as mine.