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After Adrian left, Eva sat in silence for a moment, lost in thought, before turning back to her work.
Her phone chimed, pulling her from her reverie. It was a call from Carter Morrison.
“What is it?” Eva answered the call, trying to sound composed.
“Eva, has the deputy secretary from the Hall Group called you?” Carter’s voice was concerned, but with an undertone of familiarity.
Eva nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “Yes, they did. What’s up?”
“Pass the work that needs handling to me. I’ll take care of it for you.”
Eva hesitated, puzzled by his offer. “I heard from Jenny that you’re sick. Why didn’t you tell me?” Carter’s voice softened with genuine care. “If you’re not feeling well, you should rest. Activate your ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”
Eva let out a small sigh. Carter had always been reliable, back when the Hansen family was at its peak. He had been a competent right-hand man, but when the Hansen Group collapsed, Eva had assumed he would quickly land another prestigious position. Instead, he had chosen to follow her to the Blackwood Group, where he had grown into more than just a colleague—he had become a caring presence in her life. Over time, his attention had shifted in subtle ways that Eva noticed but never acknowledged. Unfortunately, her heart had already been claimed by someone else.
“I’m fine, Carter. It’s just a cold. Really,” Eva replied, her tone soft yet firm.
On the other end of the line, Carter paused, his voice tinged with sadness. “Eva… are we really so distant now?”
Eva’s heart skipped a beat at the question. She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond.
Carter pressed on gently, “Setting aside what Mr. Hansen did for me in the past—since we both work at the Blackwood Group now, isn’t it normal for colleagues to help each other?”
Eva sighed, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but needing to maintain boundaries. “Carter…”
“Or is my help no longer needed? Do you dislike me now?” His voice cracked ever so slightly, revealing a vulnerability he rarely showed.
“No, Carter,” Eva said quickly, anxious to reassure him. “You’ve been nothing but kind to me. I could never dislike you.”
His laughter came through the phone, low and warm, though there was still a hint of regret. “Since you don’t dislike me, then pass the work over. It’s no trouble at all.”
Eva hesitated for a moment before reluctantly agreeing. “Alright, I’ll trouble you with it. But I’ll owe you a dinner.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Carter said with a slight chuckle before the call ended.
Eva forwarded the emails and typed out the remaining details of the work. As she hit “send,” she felt a slight relief knowing someone she could trust was handling things. She had intended to return to the office today, but now, it seemed wiser to stay home a little longer.
Her mind, however, remained preoccupied with a much more pressing issue.
She glanced down at her stomach, gently caressing the flat surface, her heart heavy with the weight of what was growing inside her. Unbeknownst to Adrian, a new life had already begun to take shape there, and Eva was at a loss for what to do about it.
Should she terminate the pregnancy—or…?
The thought was overwhelming, and her mind spun in circles.
In a moment of need, she reached for her phone and called her best friend.
“What? Pregnant?” Emily’s reaction was so loud that it caused heads to turn in the café. Eva sighed, mortified by the attention.
“Can you not be so loud?” Eva hissed, glancing around the café. “Everyone’s staring.”
Emily quickly wiped her mouth with a napkin and lowered her voice. “Sorry, I was just so shocked.”
Eva rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. “It’s fine. Just… keep it down.”
Emily leaned forward, her eyes wide with disbelief. “But seriously, Eva, how did you get pregnant? Didn’t you and he take precautions?”
“We did,” Eva replied, calm but distant. “It was an accident.”
“Then what now?” Emily pressed, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Are you going to keep it?”
Eva paused, her mind a swirl of conflicting emotions. After a long silence, she shook her head slowly. “No, I don’t think I can.”
Emily’s eyes widened, clearly taken aback. “What? You’re not keeping it? Why? You’ve been married to him for so long. He treats you well, takes you to events… If you hadn’t told me your marriage was fake, I would’ve thought it was real.”
Eva gave a faint, humorless smile. “Really?”
Emily’s voice was tinged with concern as she pressed again. “Does Adrian know?”
“I haven’t told him,” Eva replied, her voice quieter now.
“You… you haven’t told him?” Emily’s shock was palpable. “When are you planning to tell him?”
Eva bit her lip, unwilling to say what was on her mind.
Emily, her voice almost desperate, asked, “What are you waiting for? This is huge, Eva. You can’t keep this from him. This isn’t just your child; it’s both of yours.”
Eva’s chest tightened. What’s the point? Her heart sank as she stared into her friend’s pleading eyes. “Vivian is back.”
Emily was silent for a moment, processing the weight of her words. But then Eva spoke again, her voice low and resigned.
“Do you think there’s any point in telling him?”
