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Vivian stood there, momentarily stunned by Eva’s words. She hadn’t truly considered the implications of her actions. She had hinted at her feelings for Adrian, but whether he didn’t understand her intentions or was simply pretending not to, he never responded affirmatively. Vivian couldn’t be too direct—after all, if Adrian saw her as a woman desperate for attention, she might as well be branded as shameless.
So, she swallowed her pride, forcing herself to take the high road—though it was bitter.
Eva, however, was having none of it. Noticing Vivian’s hesitation and pale demeanor, she raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with a cool detachment. “Or is it that you can’t call him out, so you’ve come to find trouble with me?”
At Eva’s directness, Vivian’s eyes flared with displeasure. She lifted her gaze sharply, glaring at Eva.
Eva returned the glare with a raised eyebrow, unflinching. “Am I wrong? You obviously hate me, but still bring me food. What’s your game here? Trying to impress Adrian? Let me give you some advice—if someone doesn’t like you for who you are, no matter how much you bend, it won’t change anything. You’re better off saving your efforts and changing before it’s too late.”
Eva’s words hit their mark. Vivian’s hands curled into fists, the urge to lash out almost overwhelming. Her chest tightened as a wave of frustration washed over her.
But Eva wasn’t done yet. She gave Vivian a sweet, almost mocking smile. “I have work to do. If you’re finished, you can leave now.”
Vivian’s face tightened, realizing she’d been dismissed. She had come here trying to be gracious, pretending she didn’t mind the tension, but now, all she wanted was to walk out without further humiliation. Her smile faltered, her true feelings nearly spilling over, but she forced it back. “Eva, you don’t need to be so hostile,” she said, her tone deceptively calm. “I came here with good intentions. We’re both adults, and I want to clear the air between us. I thought of you as a sister, actually. Age-wise, you know…”
Before she could finish, Eva cut her off, her voice frosty. “Miss Morrison, my family only has one daughter.”
Vivian’s words died in her throat, leaving her speechless. She collected her things, muttering under her breath, “Well, it seems today’s meal wasn’t to your liking. I’ll leave.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her.
As soon as the door closed, Jenny burst into the room, her expression one of outrage. “Sister Eva, what’s she doing here? Did she bully you?”
Eva’s eyes flickered toward Jenny, a slight surprise in her voice. “You don’t like her?”
Jenny nodded vehemently, her anger still bubbling. “Of course not! If it weren’t for her, no one would be talking about you in the cafeteria. I can’t stand her!”
Eva studied her for a long moment, her face unreadable. Finally, she spoke, her tone cold and matter-of-fact. “Do you plan to work at the Blackwood family business forever?”
Jenny blinked, taken aback by the question. “Yes, of course! I like it here. As long as the Blackwood family doesn’t fire me, I’ll stay.”
Eva’s expression hardened, her voice sharp. “Then stop bringing your personal feelings to work.”
Jenny froze, her heart sinking. “What…? What do you mean?”
Eva’s gaze cut through her like a blade. “Do you know what kind of relationship Vivian and Adrian will have in the future? Do you plan to offend her, knowing that? If you want to stay here peacefully, then learn how to control your emotions and stop letting your likes and dislikes show on your face.”
Jenny’s eyes welled with tears as she struggled to understand. She bit her lower lip, fighting the lump in her throat. “Sister Eva, I didn’t mean to— I just… I just don’t like hearing people say bad things about you.”
Eva’s expression softened ever so slightly, but her words didn’t lose their edge. “You are just a small staff member at the Blackwood family. And what is your relationship to me? Do you really need to fight my battles?”
Jenny’s breath hitched, her vision blurred by the tears she could no longer hold back. She stood frozen, unable to comprehend why Eva was so harsh. The office was silent except for the soft sound of Jenny’s sniffles.
After what felt like an eternity, a throat cleared outside the door.
“Ahem.”
Eva looked up, her posture rigid. She hadn’t heard Carter enter, but now, standing in the doorway, he looked at her with a mixture of concern and resignation.
Eva exhaled slowly, her expression unreadable. “Go out and work,” she said to Jenny in a tone that brooked no argument.
Jenny nodded quickly, wiping her eyes, and when she passed Carter, he caught sight of her tear-streaked face. His heart softened, but he didn’t say anything as she hurried past him.
Once Jenny had left, Eva turned her attention back to Carter. “What is it, Carter?”
He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. His expression was a mix of frustration and concern as he set the file he’d been carrying on her desk. “Eva, why are you being so hard on her? A piece of good intention is going to be misinterpreted if you keep going like this.”
Eva’s expression remained neutral, though she didn’t meet his gaze. “It doesn’t matter. She can misinterpret me all she wants. I’m leaving soon anyway.”
Carter paused for a moment, his brow furrowing as he studied her. “You really are leaving, huh? Do you have an exact date?”
Eva pursed her lips and, without hesitation, replied, “The exact time hasn’t been decided yet, but soon.”
Carter raised an eyebrow, though he didn’t press further. He could tell she was already mentally preparing to leave the company. The word “soon” made it clear enough that her departure was imminent.
Carter leaned back slightly, his thoughts obviously elsewhere. Eva, sensing his distraction, couldn’t help but ask, “What are you thinking about, Carter?”
Carter snapped out of his reverie, meeting her gaze. But he said nothing, just watching her silently for a moment.
Eva raised an eyebrow. “You’re not thinking about leaving, are you?”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Carter’s mouth, though it was more enigmatic than reassuring. “Don’t worry. I’m not thinking about that.”
Eva’s heart skipped a beat. She wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not, but she didn’t push the issue. Some questions were better left unasked, and she didn’t want to delve into Carter’s mind too deeply.
Instead, she focused on the task at hand, pushing aside the growing unease she felt.
Carter, however, was watching her closely. “Don’t worry about it, Eva,” he said softly. “But what about Adrian? You’ve been through a lot with him, and now you’re just going to leave? Doesn’t that feel a little too easy? You’re just going to let him walk away?”
Eva looked away, her expression hardening as she processed his words. Carter was right—she had always been the one to let go. But with Adrian, it felt different. She knew deep down that he would never truly care for her the way she wanted. And so, she had resolved to let him go first.
It wasn’t about giving up—it was about accepting that her feelings for him weren’t enough to change his heart.
Her voice, though soft, held a steel-like resolve. “Carter, it’s not about him anymore. I can’t force someone to like me. He’s never going to see me the way I want him to. And I won’t waste any more time waiting for him.”
