Chapter 15

Evelyn kept her gaze lowered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I assumed you'd prefer spending the day with Victoria."

The words carried an undercurrent of hurt that Liam didn't miss. It made something in his chest tighten uncomfortably.

He hated that reaction. "That wasn't my intention," he replied curtly.

Evelyn exhaled slowly, releasing the tension in her shoulders.

If he wanted to abandon her here, so be it. She'd make him sign the divorce papers as soon as they returned to Blackwood Manor anyway. This torment needed to end.

After freshening up and changing into casual wear, Evelyn grabbed her purse and followed Liam to the base cafeteria.

The morning crowd buzzed with activity. Every passing soldier saluted them respectfully.

"Good morning, General Blackwood. Mrs. Blackwood."

Liam acknowledged none of them - there were simply too many.

Evelyn, however, offered warm smiles and cheerful "Good mornings" to each greeting. Her kindness during the recent chemical spill incident had made her beloved among the troops.

She selected a quiet corner table while Liam fetched their meals. He returned with two trays, sliding one toward Evelyn without ceremony.

As he ate, Liam noticed Evelyn's peculiar eating habits - meticulously peeling crusts from toast, separating egg whites from yolks, picking croutons from her salad.

His fork clinked against the plate. "You share Victoria's exact same irritating quirks."

Evelyn swallowed a bite of salad. "Pardon?"

"Victoria," Liam smirked. "Do all women have these ridiculous food aversions?"

The mention of Victoria extinguished Evelyn's already-diminished appetite.

She set down her fork. "I'm finished."

"Don't waste food," Liam commanded without looking up.

Evelyn's chest constricted. Jaw clenched, she speared the discarded toast crusts and forced them down, followed by every detested crouton.

To Liam, her petulant chewing was oddly endearing.

Their silent car ride to Aldenria stretched six excruciating hours, broken only by brief rest stop pauses.

Upon arrival, Liam finally spoke. "Blackwood Manor or Shovale first?"

Shovale - the exclusive retirement community where Margaret Thorn resided. Liam's grandmother remembered only him since her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Evelyn had cared for her as a nurse before their arranged marriage.

Margaret had stopped paying Evelyn and barred her from Shovale, effectively trapping her at Blackwood Manor - where Liam himself rarely stayed.

"Drop me at East No. 3," Evelyn said after consideration.

Liam's brow furrowed. "Your family home?"

"Yes." Her tone gave nothing away.

Liam didn't press. Her whereabouts concerned him little with pressing matters awaiting at base.

Thirty minutes later, Evelyn directed them to stop at a hardware store.

She emerged carrying a burlap sack and aluminum baseball bat purchased with her nearly maxed-out credit card.

Liam's questioning glance went unanswered as the car rolled toward the slums.