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Eva felt a wave of annoyance rise in her chest as she listened to Brent’s words. He was well-meaning, but his actions were a reminder of how things had become increasingly tangled in the Blackwood family. She didn’t need any more distractions, especially ones that could stir up unnecessary drama.
“Brent,” she said, her tone firm, “I’m not asking anyone to take sides. And I certainly don’t need anyone playing hero. You don’t know the full picture, and neither does Vivian. So, in the future, just keep your focus on your job.”
Brent, ever the optimist, seemed to misunderstand the seriousness of her tone. “But Ms. Hansen—”
“Listen,” she interrupted, her voice cold, “I don’t want to get caught in any more games. If you really want to help, do your job. Don’t stir things up with Vivian or anyone else. You’re walking a fine line with Adrian. Do you really think he’d appreciate you causing trouble with his… acquaintances?” Her words were sharp, meant to cut through the confusion and make him realize the complexity of the situation.
Brent looked taken aback for a moment, his usual chipper demeanor faltering. He was smart enough to understand when he was out of his depth. “I just thought… maybe I could help make things easier for you.”
Eva sighed and softened her tone, though her resolve remained strong. “I get it. You want to help. But sometimes, the best way to help me is to stay out of things. I need to handle this on my own, and your actions, even with good intentions, could cause more harm than good.”
There was a brief silence, and then Brent nodded, looking somewhat chastened. “I understand, Ms. Hansen. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Eva’s gaze softened just a little as she regarded him. “Good. Now, go back to your work. I’ll take care of things here.”
As Brent left the office, Eva leaned back in her chair, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on her. Vivian’s constant attempts to insert herself into her life, Brent’s well-meaning interference, Adrian’s emotional unpredictability—it was all starting to feel like too much.
But there was one thing that Eva knew for sure: she had to stay focused. She wasn’t just dealing with her marriage falling apart or her work piling up. There was also the looming worry about her grandmother’s surgery. In just a few days, everything would come to a head. She needed to be ready, to make the right decisions, and to handle things in a way that preserved her dignity and her sense of self.
With a deep breath, she returned to her desk and refocused on her work. There was nothing else to do now but keep moving forward, one step at a time.
