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Eva had no appetite, but at Emily’s insistence, she reluctantly finished the oat milk and took a few bites of the sandwich. When she couldn’t bring herself to eat any more, Emily, sensing her discomfort, stopped pushing her.
After tidying up, Emily settled back into her seat, her eyes studying Eva. “How are you feeling now? A little better, right?”
Eva nodded without speaking, her thoughts distant.
Emily, trying to gauge her mood, ventured, “Shall we head back for today?”
Eva didn’t answer right away, her gaze unfocused, as though she were lost in her own mind, seeking some clarity she couldn’t quite reach. Emily squeezed her hand, her grip firm. “Let’s go.”
Eva, almost in a daze, allowed herself to be guided by Emily, moving forward with no real direction of her own.
As they passed a corner on their way out, Eva heard raised voices. A young girl was pleading, “But Mom, I like him!”
The woman’s sharp, angry retort came almost immediately, “Shut up! What have I taught you? You’re being deceived, do you understand?!” The girl’s voice quivered, “Mom…”
The woman’s tone became colder, more threatening. “You are not to see him again. A pauper like him is not worthy of you. If word of this gets out, you’ll never find a proper match. Do you understand?” The girl, defeated, hung her head, her bangs hiding her eyes.
Eva glanced at them briefly but quickly turned her attention away, not wanting to involve herself in another person’s private pain.
Emily, seeing the exchange, let out a heavy sigh. “The girl’s too young. She’s being so foolish.”
Eva didn’t respond. Her thoughts were elsewhere, on the conversation that had just taken place and the complexities of her own situation.
Her phone suddenly vibrated, breaking the silence between them. Emily leaned in, eyes narrowing. “Is that Adrian? Is he regretting things?”
Eva hesitated before glancing at the screen. The number was unfamiliar.
“Who is it?” Emily asked, curious.
Eva’s intuition told her who it might be, and despite her hesitation, she answered the call.
“Is this Eva?” A slightly harsh voice came through the line.
Eva frowned, not recognizing the voice. “Who are you?”
“This is a friend of Vivian’s,” the voice replied. “I know something, and I’d like to meet with you. I’ll send the address by text.”
There was a brief pause before the voice added with a chuckle, “You’ll come, won’t you?”
Before Eva could respond, the call abruptly ended.
Emily, already eager for answers, leaned in again as soon as Eva hung up. “Who was that? What did they want?”
Eva looked at her friend, taking a moment before answering, “A friend of Vivian.”
Emily froze, her jaw tightening with anger. “What does her friend want with you?”
“They said they know something and want to meet,” Eva explained, her voice flat.
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Eva’s phone pinged with a new text. Vivian’s friend had sent an address—an upscale café in the city center.
Emily’s brows furrowed. “What could they possibly know? Could it be…”
Emily looked at Eva in shock. “Does Vivian’s friend know about the pregnancy too?”
“It seems so,” Eva replied, her voice laced with resignation.
Emily cursed under her breath, her face flushed with fury. “How does she know? Did Adrian tell her? Damn bastard! He’s decided to abandon the child, so why spread this around? Is he really letting Vivian mock you? How could he be so awful?”
Eva instinctively wanted to defend Adrian, but the words died in her throat. The truth was staring her in the face. Adrian had made his choice, and now Vivian’s friend was involved, pushing her into a confrontation she wasn’t ready for.
Eva remained silent, her gaze lowered.
Seeing her frustration, Emily’s voice softened, but the anger was still evident. “Don’t go, Eva. If they want to see you, let them come to you. Don’t let them dictate the terms just because they sent an address.”
Eva gave a small, reassuring smile, trying to ease her friend’s worry. “I wasn’t planning on going. Don’t be angry.”
“I’m not just angry,” Emily said, her voice tinged with concern. “I’m worried about you. This whole thing is becoming more than just about Adrian and Vivian. That friend of hers is reaching out to you because she’s desperate. She’s afraid you won’t go through with the abortion and might fight her for Adrian. It seems like she’s losing her confidence.”
Eva pocketed her phone, her gaze firm and resolute. “I’m not going to that meeting. This is between Adrian and me. It doesn’t involve anyone else.”
After parting ways with Emily, Eva returned home. She had a long vacation ahead of her, and she planned to spend the next few days figuring out what she truly wanted, away from the pressures of others.
Meanwhile, at the café in the city center, Vivian anxiously fiddled with her coffee cup, her nerves getting the best of her. She set it back down, glancing at her friend across the table. “She’ll come, won’t she?”
Her friend, with a dismissive snort, replied, “Unless she doesn’t want to resolve this matter. She’s probably scared. Just wait here calmly. When she gets close, you go hide. Let’s see what she does.”
Vivian’s gaze was full of uncertainty. “What will you say to her? She probably didn’t want any of this. Be gentle when you speak with her. If she wants compensation, I can—”
Her friend cut her off with a sharp look. “Vivian, don’t be too kind. You think she didn’t want this? If she didn’t want to get pregnant, she wouldn’t have slept with Adrian. She must have seduced him. Don’t underestimate her.”
Vivian sighed, her voice soft. “I know you mean well, but she’s had a rough time. Her family went bankrupt. If she needs money, I’ll give it to her. She’s helped Adrian a lot over the past two years.”
Another friend at the table chimed in, her tone full of contempt, “Vivian, you’re too kind. She knows Adrian is yours and still ended up pregnant. She’s trying to climb the ladder. We warned her last time.”
“Exactly,” the friend added. “When she comes, we need to make it clear that she needs to back off.”
They waited for nearly half an hour, but Eva didn’t show up.
“I can’t believe that bitch didn’t come,” Vivian muttered, frustration rising. “Call her. Ask what she wants.”
Vivian’s fingers curled into a fist, her mind racing with anger and desperation. If Eva didn’t show up, it would mean her control over Adrian’s future was slipping further away.
