Avelina's body trembled as she stepped back in shock. She could not believe what had just happened. His eyes were so bloodily calm—like it was normal, like none of those things had happened.
She didn't even know what to do. Was she now being hunted by him because she wanted to marry s… she needed to leave right now.
What feared her the most was that this man had died the day after their wedding. They had been in a secret marriage, and on their wedding night he had only visited her for a few minutes before being interrupted by a phone call.
As he left he did not return , a few hours later, a man arrived with divorce papers stating that he no longer wanted the marriage. She had signed them, as his signature was already there. Being a secret marriage, it had not affected her publicly because he was very famous—even though she had been told by her parents to marry him, and she did not love him. That divorce had hurt her deeply.
It made her wonder what was wrong with her that would make her receive a divorce on her own wedding night.
Only for her to find out the next day that her husband was dead—and as the ex-wife she would need to come for his burial. She signed a contract to keep her mouth shut as the news of this man's disappearance blew up the internet.
He was just that popular, even though no one knew his particular job. Him attending an event alone brought people there.
It was finally told that he was no longer looking into the entertainment world and wanted to keep a low profile and live normally—and that had only made people love him more. Even though they knew him as the heartless man—the one people were still scared to look at or go close to—many claimed that made him even more attractive, and he was still their type.
It was only Avelina and her parent who had attended that burial, knew that he was gone.
S… she had even seen him when he laid on the… oh heavens, what was going on? Everything was confusing her. Yes, she had told Xie, she was the only one she had told. Right now, her brain spun.
"Excuse me, I un… understand I had broken it, but my husband would take care of it," she finally spoke, her chin held high as she tried her utmost best to be confident even though her heart was racing uncontrollably.
Avelina did not even know what to do at this point. She had only come here to get a divorce and pack some dessert into her sack, but now it seemed she would be leaving with far more than just a dessert.
Zauriel stared at her green eyes—those green eyes that glinted with determination. His cold gaze flickered to her bare foot and then to the heels on the floor. An emotionless laugh broke through the room.
"Your husband, huh?" he said as Avelina's eyes nervously dropped to her foot. Was there something wrong with it? Why was he laughing? This man had unknowingly unlocked a new insecurity—or was he laughing because she had removed her heel? And what was that tone?
"You seem to forget your place, Avelina,You clearly have not changed one bit." Immediately those words left his lips, Avelina's body shivered. She began to move back. She had confidently spoken to him because she had thought coincidences happen, that people could look exactly alike, or maybe this man was related.
A dead man could not wake up—that was impossible. She managed not to think that way, but now her name smoothly flowing out of his mouth, wrapping around her skin and seeping through her ears like fine wine, told her that even that voice… belonged to him.
Her lips parted as he began to walk toward her. She moved back, trying her best to calm herself, but her legs felt tight, her bones unbearably heavy. Her back finally pressed against the wall as Zauriel's hand moved to her neck. His wrist tilted her chin upward, and his fingers wrapped around her throat. Her heartbeat raced, pounding so loudly she thought it might burst.
"Have you forgotten the vows… hmm, my dear Choco?"
Avelina's knees trembled. That name—the last words he had spoken before leaving—was the very one she had avoided.
She knew why he had called her that name.
Her heart sparked at his words. This was really her dead husband. W..What did he want?
Did he want to take her with him?
Another laugh broke, colder and more sarcastic this time, as his grip tightened slightly on her neck. Avelina's breath hitched as her shaky gaze locked onto those sharp, grey, lifeless eyes.
"You seem to forget the vows. Let me enlighten your little brain—" His lips curled up ever so slightly as his gaze rested on her with dark intent as he finished his words."stay by my side. Even death cannot do us apart," he whispered sinfully, his grey eyes flashing red for a split second, a devilish smirk now grazing his lips.
Her eyes flew wide. Had this been planned all along? Was that why the vows had sounded strange and different that night?
Her heart skipped.
Avelina shook her head. She couldn't do this. This was not normal. What was happening? She was confused. She needed to leave.
His hand slowly slipped from her neck, his thumb brushing over her collarbone. Her breathing grew rapid as her mind spun wildly. Had she died? Was this the afterworld?
"I… I am m-married. You wouldn't want to b-be caught doing such with a married woman, would you?" Avelina forced out, struggling to maintain even a shred of control.
A sinful grin curved his lips.
"You know what makes it better? Being caught with a married woman," he whispered, his hand drifting lower.
Avelina could not believe his words. What was wrong with him?
Her breath caught as his hand rested against her cleavage. Her heart raced, and for some unknown reason she couldn't push him away or even move. It was as though she had been chained to the spot.
"Strip."
Zauriel's deep voice commanded, and Avelina's lips parted, her pupils dilated in shock as she stared at him.
His bored eyes lingered on her, the echo of his words filling the room. She could not believe her ears.
"It's been a long time since I saw Choco."
Avelina's heart stuttered. Her hands trembled slightly.
On their wedding night, before leaving, he had told her the same thing—to strip. The Choco he was referring to was her nipples.