50. Chapter 45
When Sil ence Holds The Highest Price
Evin
E vin and Milka stepped out of the sleek black car that had smoothly delivered them to the very edge of the bustling community center.
The vibrant atmosphere of the event was unmistakable, even from the outside.
Strings of warm, golden fairy lights adorned the entrance, their gentle luminance casting a soft, inviting glow over the small clusters of guests who gathered outside, engaged in animated conversations.
Inside, the delicate clinking of glasses, the muffled strains of upbeat music, and the hum of lively discussions melded into a vibrant symphony that filled the air with energy and excitement.
“Wow, they really went all out,” Milka remarked, her voice brimming with genuine appreciation.
Her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her.
“Look at the decorations. So fancy.” The elegant floral arrangements, meticulously crafted and strategically placed, added a touch of sophistication to the scene.
Evin nodded, ac knowledging Milka's enthusiasm, but her gaze wasn’t captivated by the sparkling lights or the opulent decor. She was searching intently for something else—someone else. Her eyes scanned the crowd, seeking a familiar face amid the sea of strangers, her anticipation palpable.
Her shoulders were tense, and her steps faltered for a second.
“Stay calm,” Milka murmured, looping her arm through Evin’s elbow. “I’m right here.”
Evin forced a smile. “Thanks.”
Together, they stepped into the festively decorated hall, where a refined yet relaxed atmosphere immediately embraced them. Shades of red, complemented by soft whites, dominated the space—a perfect Valentine’s Day theme, complete with heart-shaped balloons and flickering tealights on the tables.
To the left, food stands displayed culinary specialties from local restaurants, while to the right, a stage was set up—soon to become the center of attention. Students and parents weaved between the booths, laughing and chatting as a gentle piano melody floated from the speakers.
Evin spotted Bas almost instantly.
He stood near the stage, engaged in conversation with a teacher, but his gaze drifted toward her as if he had been waiting. Their eyes met, and a subtle smile flickered across his lips.
Within seconds, he was by their side.
“There you are,” he said, his gaze shifting between the two girls. “I was starting to think you bailed on me.”
“As if we could,” Milka quipped with a smirk. “I know you’d be lost without this beauty next to me.” She gestured toward Evin.
Evin managed a small smile, but her eyes kept scanning the room.
She could feel Bas watching her.
“You okay?” he asked softly, leaning in slightly. His warmth cut through the festive noise, grounding her—at least a little.
A gentle kiss brushed just below her earlobe.
“Yeah,” Evin replied without looking at him. Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her purse. “I’m fine.”
But she felt Se rgej.
She hadn’t seen him yet, but she knew he was here. Somewhere in the crowd, among the familiar faces and cheerful voices, he was watching.
__________
The large event tent was bathed in warm, golden light, cast by elegantly draped string lights and ornate chandeliers. Crisp white table linens, crystal vases filled with fresh flowers, and a delicate scent drifting through the air gave the space an almost surreal charm.
It felt like a night on an upscale ranch—a perfect fusion of rustic elements and high-class sophistication. Wooden chairs and repurposed whiskey barrels in the corners balanced the elegance of shimmering tableware and luxurious fabrics.
At the front of the tent, a grand stage stood prepared for the charity auction. A heavy wooden gavel rested on the podium, while the featured auction items—handcrafted artwork, exclusive experience packages, and high-end donations—stood proudly on their respective pedestals.
Guests moved effortlessly through the space, some engaged in animated conversations, others flipping through auction catalogs, already deciding on their bids.
The teenagers, however, had their own rhythm.
Evin, Milka, Bas, and their friends gathered around a standing table off to the side—close enough to observe everything, but far enough to feel undisturbed.
“This auction is going to take forever,” Milka muttered, skimming the event program that lay on the table. “How do we make it interesting?”
She leaned casually against the table, raising an eyebrow as she eyed the guys.
“Alright, who’s got a plan?”
“A plan for what?”
Ben smirked, sliding his hand into the pocket of his suit.
“We’re at a charity event. This is a place of virtue.”
“Virtue, my a ss,” Bas muttered dryly. “I saw you near the liquor cabinet earlier.”
Ben pulled a small bottle of vodka from his pocket and held it up triumphantly.
“You do what you can.”
Milka snorted in amusement, while Evin shook her head.
“You guys are impossible,” she said, though a grin tugged at her lips. She grabbed a glass from a passing waiter’s tray and lifted it. “This is gonna be an interesting night.”
“‘Interesting’ doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Bas said, snatching the bottle.
“Who’s first?”
The next few minutes blurred into muffled laughter, stolen sips, and discreet glances over their shoulders to make sure no one was watching.
The guys challenged each other with reckless jokes, while Milka and Evin watched in amusement as Ben grimaced after an overly ambitious sip.
“You suck at this,” Milka teased as Ben quickly reached for a glass of Coke to chase it down.
“The mix caught me off guard,” he coughed, wiping his mouth. “Next time, I’ll be ready.”
Their laughter blended into the soft background music near the stage, the kind of carefree moment that made everything feel almost normal.
Evin felt the warmth of the vodka spread in her stomach, loosening the tight coil of nerves just slightly.
But her gaze kept drifting through the room—subtle, but alert.
“We should be careful,” Bas murmured eventually, staring at the empty cup in his hand. “This is a charity event, not a college party.”
“Oh, come on, Bas,” Ben clapped him on the shoulder. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“I am having fun,” Bas replied dryly, but his expression turned serious as his gaze flickered to Evin.
“But not the kind that gets us in trouble.”
Evin couldn’t help but smirk.
“Bas, you sou nd like an old man trapped in an seventeen-year-old’s body.”
“Someone has to be the responsible one,” he shot back with a knowing glint in his eye. “Especially since even Jonas isn’t trying to stop you guys.”
Jonas called over, “You guys are beyond saving.”
Just as Evin was about to respond, she felt it again.
That suffocating sensation.
Like the air had shifted. Like the warmth of the room had suddenly turned cold.
Her pulse quickened, her fingers instinctively tightening around her glass.
Her gaze scanned the crowd, searching—
And then she saw him.
Standing near one of the catering stations.
His profile was sharp against the golden glow of the lights.
A glass dangled effortlessly between his fingers, his grip too relaxed, too casual—like he belonged here.
His posture was loose, almost lazy.
But to Evin, it was as if an invisible chain had suddenly wrapped around her, pulling her back into the past.
Her throat clenched.
That familiar, aching sting spread through her chest.
For a second, she was that girl again—small, powerless, trapped in an endless cycle of fear and self-doubt.
No.
Not this time.
Evin closed her eyes for a heartbeat, forcing herself to breathe deeply.
Her pulse pounded so loudly, it nearly hurt.
But when she opened her eyes again, it wasn’t just fear she felt.
It was rage.
A raw, unyielding anger that burned hot in her veins, melting away the ice of panic.
“There he is,” she whispered to Milka.
Her voice was t oo calm—too steady.
But Milka heard the tremor underneath.
Milka stiffened, then straightened, squeezing Evin’s arm.
“Don’t forget who you are,” she murmured, voice steady and resolute.
Evin squared her shoulders, lifted her chin, and whispered back:
“I won’t.”
The words echoed in Evin’s mind.
But who was she?
She wasn’t that naive girl anymore, the one who believed she could trust the world.
She was someone who had survived—someone who fought against the memories every single day and refused to let them define her.
She was stronger than she had ever given herself credit for.
Evin nodded, even as her fingers clenched around the glass, so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Her shoulders squared, her chin lifted just slightly.
“I’ve got this under control,” she said, more to herself than to Milka.
But inside, a storm raged.
Sergej had already taken enough from her and Evin had sworn she would never let him make her feel that way again.
She would look at him. She would stand her ground.
You didn’t see me as weak then. And you won’t see me as weak now.
Bas seemed to have noticed the shift in the atmosphere.
His eyes were fixed on her, full of concern and unspoken questions. “What’s wrong?” he asked quietly, his posture already tense, his presence both reassuring and unsettling at the same time.
“Nothing important,” Evin said, forcing herself to smile.
Her voice was surprisingly steady, even though inside, she was trembling with tension. “I just saw my mom and I’m going to say hi real quick.”
Before anyone could stop her—before Bas or Milka could get another second to read through her forced composure—she pushed herself away from the group.
Each step felt heavy, like she was walking against the resistance of her own fear.
He r thoughts were racing. She hadn’t told anyone that she was ready to face Sergej once and for all.
Maybe because she wasn’t even sure if she really was.
But now, with every step bringing her closer to him, she knew there was no other choice.
This chapter had to end—and it had to end on her terms.
Evin weaved through the crowd, the cool glass of water in her hand acting as an anchor she held onto tightly.
Her mind was a chaotic mess of memories, fears, and an unshakable will.
Sergej’s presence felt like a shadow, swallowing all the light around her.
But this time, she was ready to confront him.
For herself.
For the Evin she was.
For the part of her that she needed to protect.
I am not the girl I used to be. He has no power over me anymore.
The words repeated in her mind like a mantra, steadying her as she got closer.
Evin maneuvered through the crowd.
The warm lighting of the tent reflected in the glasses held by the guests.
A waiter with a silver tray skillfully navigated between groups, while a couple at one of the tables was caught in an animated discussion.
Everything felt so normal—like this evening carried no shadows.
Evin took a deep breath.
Sergej was still at the catering stand, his profile sharp, his presence so effortless, as if he were just another guest and not the person who had once shattered her world.
But before she could take another step, a familiar voice appeared beside her.
“Oh, Evin!” Cat’s tone was light, dripping with sickly sweet arrogance.
Evin turned to face her, immediately noticing how Cat’s lips had curled into that perfect smile—a flawless mixture of friendliness and condescension.
“Cat. ”
“Your dress!” Cat’s gaze glided down her figure slowly, like she was a judge at a fashion show. “Isn’t that last year’s collection? Yves Saint Laurent, right? It looks so… cute. Honestly, you make it shine.”
Evin forced herself to smile, raising her glass slightly.
“Thanks, Cat. Your dress is also… eye-catching.” Cat let out a quiet snort—not loud enough to be openly rude, but just enough for Evin to catch the underlying judgment.
“Eye-catching is exactly what I was going for.” She tilted her head slightly, blonde hair falling effortlessly over one shoulder. “You know how it is. You have to stand out, right? Especially at events like this.”
Her gaze briefly scanned the room before landing back on Evin.
“Oh, and… Bas looks fantastic, doesn’t he?”
There was a pause.
Then, the final blow: “You two together… just adorable.”
Evin didn’t blink and met Cat’s gaze head-on, keeping her voice smooth as glass.
“Yeah. He has great taste.”
A self-assured smile played on her lips as she looked over at Bas, watching him with an appreciation so casual that it made Cat’s attempt at unsettling her completely pointless.
Cat was searching for a crack in her composure.
Evin gave her nothing.
“Well,” Cat sighed, flipping her hair over her shoulder, “I’ll leave you to… whatever it was you were doing.”
She winked, then strutted off, her hips swaying with practiced confidence, as if she truly believed she had won.
Evin only watched her for a moment before turning back.
Back to him.
But—Sergej was gone.
Her stomach twisted.
Her eyes darted frantically across the room, scanning, searching —
Nothing.
He had vanished.
___________
The cold air hit her the moment she stepped outside, a sharp contrast to the warmth inside.
She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the crisp night air, but the knot in her chest refused to loosen.
Her gaze wandered across the dimly lit space ahead of her.
Then—
She froze.
A familiar silhouette.
Ben?
He was standing off to the side, beneath a tree that was only faintly illuminated.
A woman stood next to him.
Elegant, wrapped in a light coat, her hair pinned up in a way that made her look effortlessly refined.
She was speaking softly, her hands gesturing expressively as she talked.
Ben nodded occasionally, listening.
Attentive.
Protective.
What… is he doing here?
Evin frowned, her steps faltering slightly as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.
Her eyes were locked on Ben—on the quiet intensity in his expression, on the small, nearly imperceptible ways his posture shifted, like he was truly invested in this moment.
Then—The woman touched his arm.
Ben laughed.
Not his usual laugh.
Not the one she knew.
Something softer. More private.
Evin narrowed h er eyes slightly, trying to get a clearer look, but the shadows kept her from seeing the woman’s face.
What kind of conversation is this?
It didn’t look like an argument. But the closeness between them—the quiet familiarity—made something in her hesitate.
She wasn’t supposed to witness this.
And then—
A sudden impact knocked the breath from her lungs.
The glass in her hand slipped.
It hit the ground with a sharp, shattering crash.
A strong hand grabbed her arm and a familiar scent hit her nose—sickly sweet aftershave, laced with the dull, heavy trace of weed. Her stomach twisted. He was there, even before she saw him.
Sharply she turned around—
And found herself staring straight into Sergej’s face.