An Affair To Remember: Pain

by tarskeewee08

"John who's on the phone?" Evangeline asked again growing alarmed by the look on his face. John looked at her and thought about all the progress he'd made. He finally had her opening up to the idea that love was something to be cherished not feared and now it could all come apart.

What would she do when she spoke to Kevin? Thinking about it more he knew it wasn't something he could control. She was married point blank and that had to be dealt with.

"Put him on the phone" he told Sam.
Evangeline frowned "Him?"

John passed her the phone and she accepted it sitting up straight on the couch. "Hello"
"Evangeline thank god! Where are you!" Kevin yelled in the phone.
"Kevin?" she said shocked looking at John who rose off the couch. She watched as he went to the door and walked out with her heart pounding fast.

"How did you find me?"
"I'm here at this ridiculous castle with your mother. We came to take you home!"
"Now wait a minute!"
"No! You wait a minute. You are a married woman. My wife dammit! Your place belongs with me. Now where are you?"
Evangeline chewed on her bottom lip. "I will be there soon." She said hanging up.

Tossing the phone to the coffee table she sighed. Putting her head in her hands she thought about her husband. She was married and it was time to deal with her marriage. Rising from the couch she went to the door and opened it. John stood further up the stone path toward the street with his hands in his pockets looking into the sky.

"John"
Turning around she saw the sadness in his face and it broke her heart. She walked over to him. "I need you to take me back to the castle."
"Are you sure?" he asked softly
"I have to John" she said turning.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him bringing her into a kiss. He couldn't help it he might be loosing her and this was his final shot. Holding her face in his hands he kissed her passionately. She allowed the kiss as a matter of fact it soothed her, being in his arms felt right. It was right. Kissing him more feverishly now she held onto him desperately and as they clung to each other both felt the growing divide between them. It was apparent this would be the last embrace.

Letting her go she saw the tears on his face and had to look away. He had too much pride and too much love for her to fight and convince her to stay. It was time he let her go and make her own choices. She turned and went back into the cottage to gather her things and he watched her walk away. He learned a lot in these past days and he wouldn't regret a moment of what they shared. No matter what he was right all those years ago when he sat Caitlyn down and told her what he thought to be the truth. She was his soul mate.

Evangeline and John rode in silence back to the castle. Neither able to swallow the lumps in their throats. Part of her didn't believe in a love like theirs. Yet another part of her not only believed but felt it was her last hope. She was dying inside and she knew it, she still found her self helpless to stop it.

Pulling up to the front of the castle Evangeline saw the limo and driver leaning against it. She looked at John who was glaring at the man from inside the car. She reached over and touched his hand. His face softens as he brought her hand to his lips. Sighing she turned from him to open the door and he pulled her back still holding her hand.

She looked at him again.
"I love you sunshine…" he said softly
She smiled "I will always love you my Irish Prince"
Releasing her hand he let her get out of the car. They went to the door and opened it. Walking in John looked up to see Kevin come out the parlor enraged.

"You fucking bastard!" he roared charging at him. Sam grabbed him and prevented him from progressing further. John didn't move just stared at him coldly.

Evangeline went to her husband angry. "Stop this right now!" she hissed
"Evangeline?" Lisa said coming out into the foyer. Turning around she saw her mother looking at John confused, she then turned to her daughter. "You got some explaining to do young lady!"

Evangeline looked into Kevin's face ignoring her mother and the audience she and he had. "I want to talk to you, but if you won't listen or stop with these outburst I won't listen either. Are we clear?"

Kevin frowned at her direct approach. He looked her up and down and then at the man that came into their lives and tried to steal her. His heart was shattered and he wanted to fight kick and scream. Seeing the determined look in his eye he decided to use a different approach if he could. Ultimately he wanted to leave this place and take her with him. Nodding Evangeline looked up at Sam behind him still holding and smiled. Sam let him go. Kevin shook him off and straightened his jacket glaring back at him. Sam winked.

"Ming can you take my mother back into the parlor while me and Kevin use the study"
"I am apart of this too cookie! I won't go anywhere, you had me and your husband worried sick. Who is that man?" Lisa barked pointing at John who was now leaning back on the door.

"Momma please….I need to speak to Kevin alone" Before Lisa could say more Evangeline grabbed Kevin's hand and led him to the study. John watched them go and shook his head.

Ming walked over to Lisa and touched her arm. "Maybe I can fix us all some tea"

Lisa stared at John curious. "How do you know my daughter?"
"We met here when she went to Cambridge Ms. Williamson"
Lisa frowned. "She never mentioned you so it must not been that important of a meeting." She said turning up her nose.

John smiled at her "Well it was important to me. I'm in love with your daughter"
Lisa eyes grew big, placing her hands to her mouth she stared at him in disbelief.

Ming pulled her back into the parlor. "Ms. Williamson, please follow me"
Lisa allowed herself to be pulled but look back over her shoulder at the wealthy Irishman that wanted Cookie. Was he royalty? Her cookie had done pretty well. She would have to tell her that.

"Did you fuck him!" Kevin spat
Evangeline had her back to him hugging herself "No….Kevin"
"That's a fucking lie! You can't even face me!" he growled.
Wiping her tears she turned around and faced her husband. "I don't lie to you, I never have!"

"Oh that's right you just give me selective truths! You knew who that man was at the party. You sat back and let me merge my families business with him so you could meet secretly and screw him behind my back. Did you think it was funny me flying across the world in a different direction. Did you and him have a big laugh at my expense?"

She stared at him and knew that she handled this all poorly "The moment I realized who he was I should have told you. I just wanted to understand my feelings first."

Kevin paced before her and she swiped at her hair cutting her eyes. "Kevin our marriage has had problems before John came to town. I was struggling with trusting you…"

"So your solution is to betray me!" he screamed.
"That's the problem….I had motive and opportunity but I never could. Those vows I shared with you meant something Kevin. I would never break them. But you however did and did it so callously. Who are you to stand here now and play the victim?"

Kevin stopped and looked at her "That's what it all comes back to isn't it. You just never could forgive me for hurting you."

"I forgave you a long time ago Kevin. I just never forgot."
"I love you Evangeline…."
"I love you too Kevin, you're my husband and I won't deny the love I have for you. But I have to tell you I am IN love with John."

Kevin went to her and grabbed both her arms forcefully "NO!" he screamed
Evangeline dropped her head and started crying. "Kevin please…."
"No you are my wife. That trumps all. Remember the night after you found out about the affair. Do you remember what you told me?"

Evangeline nodded "It's my duty to remain by your side" she said crying
"That's right! This is bad and I get that Van, but you have to work it out with me. You made your choice then and I plan to hold you to it. I want my marriage and I want you to work with me to salvage it."

Evangeline shook her head and pulled away. "I need to work some things out Kevin"
"I won't leave you here with him!" he shouted pointing back to the door.
Evangeline looked up at him glaring. "Stop yelling at me about what you will and will not do. Stop threatening me!" she screamed back

Kevin shook with fury. He wanted to shake her into submission. He wanted to grab her and drag her back to Llanview, but seeing her fighting him back he knew that it wouldn't work. "Baby please I love you, Come home with me and deal with us first. Respect our union even if I don't deserve it. This way when you decide on what's best for you it remains your decision."

"Fine Kevin I will go home with you" she said sadly.
Kevin smiled and stepped to her but she quickly took a step back. "I will be staying at the Palace."
"What?"
"I won't be going to Llanfair….I will be staying at the Palace."
"How do you expect to work things out with me if you aren't with me?"
"Kevin I'm not going to work it out with you. I'm going to work it out with me. I need space and distance from you both. I respect the fact that we are married and I won't stay here any longer. But I need to decide if our marriage is something I want Kevin and you won't have any influence in that decision. You forfeited that right when you took my friend to bed."

"Evangeline please" Kevin said eyes tearing.

Evangeline sidestepped him. "I need you and mom to wait in the car while I collect my things and say goodbye to my friends" with that said she turned and walked out. The first person she saw was John. He hadn't moved from the door. Evangeline smiled at him and he smiled. Kevin came out of the study and glared at him.

Walking into the parlor Evangeline asked Lisa to join Kevin in the car they would be leaving soon. Ming and Sam looked at her surprised by her decision to go.

Sam smiled "I will get your bags and put them in the limo" he said
"Thank you Sam"

Lisa hugged Ming and told her it was nice meeting her again and then left to join Kevin. Kevin walked toward the door glaring at John who didn't move. He got in John's face.

"She's coming home with me. We'll send you your fucking egg!" he hissed

John bit his lip and held his tongue. Turning the doorknob he opened it and held it for Kevin and Lisa to walk through. Lisa stopped in front of him. "You said you loved my daughter. Do you want to marry her?" Lisa asked and Kevin froze glaring at her from outside of the door.

"If she will have me." John said smiling slightly
Lisa smiled and looked around the castle. "Is this place yours?"
John nodded noticing how distracted Lisa was by his material value.
Lisa nodded "Very well, we will see..." she said flashing him a mischievous smile and stepping through.

John closed the door and fell back against it. She had chosen her marriage still. He didn't know what to do. He opened his eyes to see Sam bringing down her luggage. Fuck this he had to stop her!

Ming hugged her friend crying "Do you have to go?"
Evangeline held her tightly "I do Ming, you know I do"
"So you have decided to stay with that bloke?"
Evangeline smiled through her tears "No Ming, and that bloke is my husband sweetie, he does have a right to be upset."

"I know Van, but the man is beastly in how he thinks he owns you"
Evangeline nodded "It's his way and part of it is my fault for giving him that power."

"Then why leave with him?" John asked stepping in the room.

Ming and Evangeline turned around seeing him looking broken. She squeezed Ming's hand "Can you give us a minute."

Ming kissed Evangeline on the cheek and hugged her again. "I want you to call me. I want to stay in touch….promise me!" she said clinging to her.
Evangeline rubbed her back "Oh sweetie I promise"

Finally letting her go Ming walked over to John who she saw was coming apart. Reaching up she hugged him and kissed his jaw. Letting him go she cupped his face "You can do this….let her go John and I promise she will see the truth" she whispered to him.

He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. Ming was his saving grace, because the minute Evangeline walked through those doors and out of his life again he would fall over into insanity.

As Ming left he looked back at the woman he wanted more than anything in the world. If 14 years ago he knew then what he knew now she would be his wife and they would already have a family. But his cowardice cost them both the life they deserved. Now he had to face the fact that the fantasy was over.

"John I have to go"
"We could have it all Evangeline….we really could" he said his voice cracking.
She smiled and came into his arms. He held her tightly to his chest trying once again to burn her into his memory. "God I love you so"

She cried softly holding on to him, this was killing her. She wished it was cut and dry but it wasn't. Nothing about them ever was. They remained that way for several minutes, instead of debating why she was leaving they rather spend the time holding onto each other.

Sam finally came back in the room breaking the moment. "They're ready for you"
Evangeline let go of him and kissed him again. John combed his fingers through her hair and devoured her. Crying she pushed him forcefully away and rushed out of the parlor and out the front of the castle to her husband. If she didn't leave in that moment she wouldn't.

John stood in the parlor trying to breathe. Clenching his fist he battled a war raging in him to stop her. Finally not being able to take it he ran after her. Sam tried to stop him but he pushed him away sending his across the floor. Racing to the door he saw the limo pulling away and he ran to it trying to pull on the handle to open the door.

Evangeline saw the pain on his face from the inside of the car as he banged on the window. She dropped her head and started crying. Kevin yelled for the driver to increase speed while Lisa turned and looked out of he back of the window to John standing there screaming. She looked at her daughter shaking with tears and was astounded. How could she have not known about this?

Kevin saw his wife crying and softened toward her. He was still angry with her but the sight of her tears drove him crazy. Pulling her to him she buried her face into his chest as wailed. He rubbed her arm and comforted her somewhat satisfied that he came and destroyed what that man was trying to do. No matter what that asshole would not have his wife and he would take every measure possible to make sure that remained the truth.