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Carter pulled himself back to the present, his gaze shifting across the table to Eva. She sat quietly, her simple attire, shoulder-length hair loosely tied behind her ears, and her bare face exuding a natural, fragile beauty that made him feel a deep sense of compassion. Her pale complexion was a stark contrast to the world she was trying to navigate—a world that seemed to push her deeper into discomfort with every step. Carter couldn’t help but feel inferior in the face of Adrian’s influence.
When the Hansen family went bankrupt, Carter had reached out far and wide, but no one was willing to help. His lack of influence made him invisible in their eyes.
A CEO had once told him directly, “Carter, you’re talented, and I see great potential in you. You’re welcome to join my company anytime. I believe you’ll choose wisely.”
Many had offered him opportunities to join their ranks, but none offered any real help for the Hansen family. Instead, they sought to lure him away with promises of a brighter future.
“The Hansen family won’t rise again,” one advisor had told him bluntly. “Even if someone were to help now, they’ll never recover their former glory. Think about your own future. You’re not part of the Hansen family. There’s no need to struggle on their behalf.”
Those words had stung. Carter had been shaken to his core as he drove away, wondering if he should abandon his ties to the family that had once been his anchor. But then he’d seen Eva.
He had picked her up after she was publicly humiliated by the children of wealthy families. They had mocked her, jeered, and made crude offers. One of them had said, “Ms. Hansen, when your family was prestigious, you dismissed my advances. Now that it’s fallen, I wonder if you’ve maintained that pride. I’d like to help, but everything comes with a price. How about spending a night with me?”
His friends had burst into laughter. Carter had been ready to brawl with them. But in that instant, his priorities had shifted. It no longer mattered what his future might hold. There was only one thing he could do: he couldn’t abandon the Hansen family.
Though he couldn’t directly confront those men, his resolve had been unwavering. He had taken Eva away, protecting her in the only way he knew. Later, word spread that those men had been beaten. Their businesses were affected, and their parents were forced to apologize to Eva. It had been Adrian’s doing.
And it was Adrian who had pulled Eva out of adversity, yet now, she was facing another storm.
Carter’s voice cut through the silence. “I’m not here to lecture you, Eva. But there are things you need to think about. You need to plan ahead.”
Just as Eva opened her mouth to respond, her phone vibrated, cutting her off.
It was a message from Adrian: “Jenny said you went out?”
The message, sent via WhatsApp, carried the same casual tone as always, as though he had just noticed her absence. Eva read it, then replied with a simple, “Hmm.”
A few seconds later, Adrian’s reply came through: “When are you coming back?”
Their conversation was innocuous, devoid of any real emotion. He didn’t address the message from the previous day, nor did he mention his absence the night before. And Eva—understanding him all too well—didn’t ask about it. It was as if nothing had changed.
“After work,” she replied.
Adrian didn’t message again.
Eva tucked her phone away, her expression unreadable. “I understand,” she said quietly.
Carter’s eyes lingered on her phone. “Adrian?” he asked, his tone soft but probing.
Eva paused before nodding. The briefest flicker of hesitation crossed her face before she spoke again, her voice steady, “Yes.”
The rest of the meal passed in silence, an unspoken understanding between them. When they finished, Carter escorted Eva back to the office.
As they entered the elevator, Carter followed her inside. Eva looked up at him, a puzzled expression on her face. Their offices weren’t in the same building.
With his hands in his pockets, Carter raised an eyebrow. “I’m going to see Mr. Blackwood for an update.”
After exiting the elevator, Carter glanced at his watch, then frowned. “It’s ten minutes before work. Maybe I shouldn’t bother Mr. Blackwood just yet.”
Eva didn’t say anything, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “Come to my office,” she suggested.
“Alright,” Carter replied, following her.
By the time they arrived at her office, Jenny was already at her desk, working diligently. She immediately stood up and offered to make coffee for them.
“Thank you,” Carter said, taking the coffee as she handed it to him. He glanced at Jenny. “Was Mr. Blackwood here?”
Jenny looked a little surprised but nodded. “Yes, he was.”
Carter raised an eyebrow. “Did he come alone?”
Jenny hesitated, silence filling the room. Eva quietly sipped her coffee, avoiding eye contact. The atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming almost unbearable.
After a long pause, Carter placed his cup down. “I’ll go see Mr. Blackwood now.”
He stood up to leave, but then he turned around and looked at Eva.
“Eva, I need your help with a project. Let’s go together.”
Eva instinctively furrowed her brows, reluctant to confront Adrian again, especially in front of Vivian. But Carter wasn’t giving her that opportunity. He was pushing her to face the reality of the situation.
With a resigned sigh, Eva nodded. “Alright.”
As they approached Adrian’s office, Carter knocked, and a moment later, Adrian’s cold voice came from inside. “Come in.”
Carter smirked as he pushed the door open. Adrian glanced up, his expression stiffening when he saw them.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Carter greeted him smoothly. “I’m here to report on yesterday’s work.”
“Hmm,” Adrian replied, his tone icy.
Eva stood behind Carter, her gaze flickering between the two men. As Carter briefed Adrian on the details of the work, Adrian’s demeanor remained cold, distant, and detached. His focus was entirely on the task at hand, but Eva couldn’t shake the feeling that his eyes kept darting back to her—cold, calculating, and unreadable.
For a brief moment, she wondered if she had imagined it, but the chill in Adrian’s gaze was unmistakable.
