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Adrian’s actions in that moment were a mix of care and frustration, but underneath it all, his concern for Eva was undeniable. As he cupped her chin and gently tried to get her attention, he was clearly trying to manage her distress without causing further panic. Eva’s reaction, her tightly clenched lips and the faint red blood on her mouth, startled him. This was no ordinary moment; it was a sign of deeper, unresolved emotions.
The thoughts about her mother and the lingering grief that Eva had carried for so long began to surface in Adrian’s mind. He recalled the times when she’d confided in Granny Blackwood, the way she had sought comfort and love from a maternal figure after the loss of her own mother. Adrian had seen this vulnerability before, but it never fully registered in the way it did now. The panic that seemed to grip Eva was more than just about the grandmother’s surgery; it was about all the unresolved feelings tied to her family, the absence of her mother, and the deep emotional void that only Granny Blackwood had been able to fill.
Adrian’s brow furrowed as he tried to gently coax her to relax. “Eva, wake up,” he whispered softly, his fingertips brushing against her pale cheek. “Grandma is fine. She’s strong.”
For a moment, there was silence, and then Eva slowly blinked her eyes open, her lips trembling as she finally released the tension. Her breath came in shallow gasps, but the worst of the panic seemed to have passed.
“I’m sorry…” Eva muttered quietly, still fighting the lingering unease. “I should have been there… I shouldn’t have left her alone. I was so selfish.”
Adrian’s grip softened, his thumb moving gently along her skin. “You’re not selfish,” he reassured her. “You’re just human. And you’re doing your best.” He let the words linger, hoping they would comfort her, though there was an underlying ache in his own chest as he watched her struggle.
The car continued its journey to the nursing home, the hum of the engine and the streetlights outside the only sounds in the car. Eva had slowly relaxed, though her nerves were still on edge. Adrian’s mind wandered briefly to their complicated situation—their marriage, the divorce looming over them, and now this unexpected emotional moment between them. Everything was shifting, but Adrian couldn’t help but wonder if, despite everything, there was still something he could do to help her heal.
They arrived at the nursing home quickly, the doors opening with urgency as they rushed inside. Adrian’s eyes scanned the facility, looking for any sign of trouble. When they reached Granny Blackwood’s room, the nurse met them with a reassuring smile.
“She’s fine,” the nurse said gently. “The surgery went well. She’s resting now.”
Relief washed over Eva’s face, but she still felt the weight of the emotions she had been holding onto. Adrian stood silently beside her, letting her have her moment with the elderly woman who had been a mother figure to her. As Eva sat at Granny Blackwood’s bedside, holding her hand and whispering softly, Adrian couldn’t help but stand back and observe.
He knew this wasn’t just about the surgery. It was about everything—Eva’s past, the loss of her mother, the way she had leaned on Granny Blackwood, and the quiet pain that still lingered in her heart. He had seen her as a woman who was strong, determined, and resilient, but now he realized how much she had quietly carried, and how much of it she still held within.
Eva’s voice, though soft and unsteady, reached him as she spoke to her grandmother. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I should’ve stayed with you last night.” Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall.
Adrian stood still, watching her, unsure of what to do next. He had always tried to be distant, to keep a certain barrier between them. But in that moment, he realized that his distance only made her feel more alone. And maybe, just maybe, the walls he had built around his own heart had kept her from truly understanding how much he cared.
The night stretched on, the quiet of the nursing home wrapping around them as Adrian silently promised to be there—for Eva, for Granny Blackwood, for whatever came next. The future was uncertain, but in that moment, there was only the present. And perhaps, for the first time in a long while, Adrian allowed himself to hope.
