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Emily stood still, staring at Eva in stunned silence for what felt like an eternity before she managed to speak.
“I—I thought she wasn’t coming back,” Emily stammered, still processing the information.
The weight of the moment settled heavily between them. Neither of them spoke for a while, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Before the Hansen family had gone bankrupt, Emily had been part of Eva’s life in high society, a constant companion at events and gatherings. She had witnessed firsthand how Adrian and Vivian had been a perfect match—beautiful, powerful, and poised. Eva had always been supportive, but Emily couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow for her friend.
Finally, Emily bit her lower lip, anger bubbling inside her on Eva’s behalf. “Even if she does come back, so what? She and Adrian aren’t a couple anymore. And you two are married now. You have a child. There’s no way Adrian would ask you to get rid of the baby.”
Eva, who had been silent all this time, finally lifted her head. Her gaze was calm, but the weight of her words cut through the air. “Then you might not know Adrian as well as you think.”
Emily froze. “What do you mean? You think he’d make you get rid of the baby?”
Eva’s voice was steady, though tinged with sorrow. “He would.”
Emily’s jaw dropped, her disbelief evident. “But you haven’t told him yet, right? How can you be sure he’d ask you to do something like that?”
Eva’s lips pressed together in a tight line. “I tested him.”
“Tested him?” Emily’s exasperation bubbled over. “Eva, what’s the point of testing him? Why not just tell him now, let him know about the pregnancy, and see how he reacts?”
Eva remained quiet, her eyes cast downward.
Emily leaned in, desperation creeping into her voice. “Are you hesitating because you’re afraid? Please, trust me on this one. If Adrian knows about the baby, I know he’d never ask you to have an abortion. Do you believe me?”
Eva remained silent for a long moment, her internal struggle visible. Finally, she shook her head. “I don’t see the need.”
With that, she stood up and grabbed her bag, heading toward the front desk without waiting for Emily’s response. Emily, fuming and helpless, had no choice but to follow her.
Outside the café, Emily walked briskly beside Eva, noticing the deep silence that hung between them. Unable to stand it any longer, Emily grabbed her arm.
“Eva!”
Eva stopped, her gaze meeting Emily’s, calm but weary.
“Wake up, Eva,” Emily urged, her voice soft but insistent. “Trust me, just this once. If you didn’t care about him, I wouldn’t push you. But I know you do. You like him, don’t you?”
Eva hesitated, her expression unreadable. She opened her mouth to speak but faltered.
Emily pressed on. “Happiness is something you have to fight for, you know. If you want it, you have to reach for it. Don’t let fear stop you.”
Eva’s breath caught in her throat. She could feel the pull of Emily’s words, yet doubt lingered in her heart.
Seeing the indecision in her friend’s eyes, Emily sighed and placed a gentle hand on Eva’s shoulder. “Let me ask you something. This pregnancy—it’s going to show eventually, right? The bigger it gets, the harder it will be to hide.”
Eva nodded, her thoughts drifting to the growing life inside her.
“Are you scared of being found out?” Emily continued, her voice lowering.
Eva paused, then nodded again, the fear evident in her eyes.
Emily pressed forward. “So, why wait? Adrian will find out sooner or later, right? Why not tell him now? What’s the point of dragging it out? You owe it to yourself—and to him—to be honest. Even if the result is the same, at least you’ll know you tried.”
Eva’s lips trembled, her heart aching with the weight of the decision. “But… if I tell him, maybe we won’t even be able to be friends anymore. If I don’t… maybe we can still hold on to something.”
Emily’s face softened, and she sighed deeply. “Eva, I know you love him. But if you don’t tell him now, even being friends will hurt. Don’t you want to know how he feels? He treats you so well; I don’t believe he has no feelings for you.”
Eva closed her eyes, the truth of Emily’s words hitting her like a wave. But it’s a transaction, she thought bitterly. If it weren’t for Nora’s feelings for me… if it weren’t for her illness… we never would have gotten married.
Emily, sensing her friend’s turmoil, placed a hand on her shoulder again. “You know what you need to do, Eva. The decision is yours, but whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you can live with.”
Before leaving, Emily paused and turned back toward Eva, her voice softer but full of conviction. “Remember, happiness is something you fight for. Don’t wait for it to come to you.”
Eva managed a small, bittersweet smile and reached out, pinching Emily’s cheek. “I know, I’ll think about it.”
“Good. And if you need anything, you know where to find me.”
Eva watched her friend leave before making her way back to the Blackwood estate. The butler greeted her with concern as she entered.
“Mrs. Blackwood, where did you go? You should rest while you’re sick. What if something happened?”
Eva smiled gently, her heart warmed by the butler’s care. “I’m fine.”
The butler gave her a thorough look over, his relief palpable when he saw she was alright. “Good to hear. Please, go upstairs and rest.”
Eva nodded and walked up to her room, closing the door behind her. The silence of the room felt suffocating, yet all she could think about were Emily’s words: Happiness is something you fight for.
Eva reached for her phone, gripping it tightly in her hands. She didn’t have the courage to confront Adrian face-to-face, but the thought of texting him had taken root. She hesitated, heart pounding, fingers trembling as she tried to unlock her phone. When she finally managed, she opened Adrian’s contact and stared at it for what felt like an eternity.
How should I tell him?
After what seemed like hours, she made up her mind. She would be direct. She owed it to herself—and to the child.
Her fingers hovered over the screen as her heart raced. Finally, she typed the message: I’m pregnant.
She closed her eyes, held her breath, and hit send.
The moment the message was sent, her heart felt like it was in her throat. Her hands trembled, her breath shallow, as she stared at the phone, waiting. Adrian, how will you respond? What will you feel when you know about the baby?
