Chapter 4 - The Venomous Call
Mark stared at the vibrating phone, the screen illuminating the dark corner of the kitchen with an eerie glow.
He didn't want to answer it, but he knew that ignoring Evelyn would only make her more dangerous and unpredictable.
He slid the button to accept the call, bracing himself for the wave of manipulation he knew was coming.
"Mark," her voice came through the speaker, perfectly calm and smooth, as if nothing had happened last night.
"I assume you've calmed down by now and realized how irrational you were being over a little drama."
Mark took a deep breath, forcing his voice to remain steady despite the absolute fury raging inside him.
"There is nothing to discuss, Evelyn," he said, his tone as cold as ice. "I told you to leave, and I meant it permanently."
A sharp, mocking laugh echoed from the other end of the line, sending a chill down his spine.
"Oh, please, Mark, you can't survive a week without me, let alone raise that difficult child on your own."
"She is not difficult, she is a child who is grieving, and you are a monster for what you did to her."
"I was trying to teach her a lesson," Evelyn snapped, her calm facade finally beginning to crack under his resistance.
"She is spoiled, just like her mother was, always expecting the world to bow down to her tears."
Mark's grip on the phone tightened so hard his knuckles turned white, the mention of his late wife pushing him over the edge.
"Do not speak her name," he hissed, his voice trembling with a terrifying intensity. "Do not ever mention her again."
"Or what, Mark? What are you going to do? You need me, remember? I'm the one who handles the house while you work."
"Not anymore," he replied smoothly. "I'm changing the locks today, and your things will be packed and waiting on the porch."
There was a sudden pause on the line, the weight of his words finally sinking in as she realized he wasn't bluffing.
"You can't do this," she whispered, her voice dropping into a dangerous, threatening register. "I have rights to this house too."
"You have no rights here, Evelyn. We aren't married, and your name isn't on a single document."
"You'll regret this, Mark. I know things about you, about your business, about how unstable you've been since Sarah died."
"Threaten me all you want," he said, his voice resolute. "But if you ever come near my daughter again, I will involve the police."
Before she could respond, he ended the call, his chest heaving as he stared at the blank screen.
He knew she wouldn't stop there; Evelyn was a woman who thrived on control, and he had just taken it all away from her.
He turned around to see Emma sitting at the kitchen table, watching him with large, anxious eyes.
She had heard enough to know that the danger wasn't entirely gone, her small body tense with worry.
"Is she coming back, Daddy?" she asked, her voice trembling as she clutched her teddy bear to her chest.
May you like
Mark walked over and wrapped his arms around her, wishing he could shield her from the harsh realities of the adult world.
"No, Emma," he lied, knowing he would do whatever it took to keep that promise true. "She is never coming back."
