Eleven Years All to the Wrong Man novel Chapter 19

It was the middle of the night by the time they left the police station.

Evan walked to the front of the car, opened the passenger door, and played the part of the perfect husband.

But Emma didn't even glance his way. She opened the back door and got in.

Evan's hand, still holding the passenger door open, froze. He paused for a moment, then, after a brief smile and nod to the female officer still watching them from the station's entrance, he got into the driver's seat.

The car started and soon pulled away from the station, heading toward the Mountain View Estates.

At two in the morning, the streets were deserted, except for a few taxis and cars speeding past. The atmosphere inside the car was unnervingly quiet.

Evan looked in the rearview mirror at the back seat. Emma was huddled in a corner, her head resting against the window, her eyes gently closed. She clutched the thick blanket tightly around herself.

It looked as if she were simply asleep, but Evan immediately saw through the facade—her slightly trembling eyelashes.

She wasn't sleeping. She was just avoiding him, unwilling to speak to him.

Emma was avoiding him?

The thought sparked a sudden flicker of anger in Evan.

But then he remembered the sight of her when he'd first arrived at the police station—curled up on a bench in the lobby, looking exhausted and frail. The anger vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by an indescribable guilt.

The car came to a stop in the underground garage of their home on the mountainside.

Emma got out and, without a word to Evan, walked straight into the house.

She went into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

As the scalding hot water poured over her, Emma finally felt the tangible sensation that she was still alive.

The bedroom door opened and then closed.

Evan lowered his head, his lips close to her ear, moving as he spoke, sometimes gently licking the side of her face.

"Don't. You... don't do this..."

Emma forcefully pushed away the hands on her waist and shrank back.

She couldn't stand it. Just hours ago, they had a massive fight, and now Evan was acting as if nothing had happened, trying to flirt with her as if everything was calm. She refused to be fooled and dismissed like this again.

"What's wrong? Still mad?"

Seeing her resistance, Evan didn't let go. Instead, he stepped forward, planting his hands on the wall on either side of her, trapping her completely in the corner.

The water cascaded down, and the cramped bathroom filled with hot, swirling steam.

"Emma, don't be mad. I was wrong. Please forgive me, okay? Do you have any idea how panicked I was when I opened the door and you weren't there? I was so afraid of losing you. I looked all around the neighborhood, then drove down the mountain, but I still couldn't find you. I know I was wrong. I didn't mean to kick you out. I... I..."