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Adrian’s grip on Eva’s wrist tightened slightly, and for a moment, it felt like the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Eva’s voice, calm and collected, was like a soothing balm that only seemed to make the storm inside him rage harder.
He didn’t want to acknowledge Vivian’s presence, didn’t want to admit that hearing her voice now made him feel conflicted in ways he couldn’t yet decipher. But the sound of her approaching, soft and uncertain, only reminded him that he couldn’t stay locked in this moment with Eva forever. Not while Vivian was outside, waiting, unaware of the turmoil in here.
Eva’s gaze never wavered, her eyes sharp and unwavering as she held his stare. She knew exactly what she was doing—provoking him, pushing him to acknowledge the mess they were both entangled in. And it was working.
“Adrian,” Eva said again, her voice smooth, but with an edge to it that made it clear she wasn’t backing down. “If you don’t let go of me soon, Vivian will start to worry.”
His jaw tightened. He didn’t want to hear her mention Vivian’s name right now. Didn’t want to hear her twist the knife further. But he had no choice.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he released her wrist. The moment his fingers let go, Eva stepped back, her calmness unchanged. Adrian’s eyes flicked between her and the door, where Vivian was still waiting, uncertain.
“Go ahead, then,” Eva said with a light shrug, her voice dripping with a mix of bitterness and indifference. “You’ve got your perfect little picture with Vivian, after all.”
Her words hung heavy in the air, almost as if she were daring him to correct her, to explain himself. But Adrian didn’t move. Instead, he stood there, staring at Eva as if weighing her every word, the weight of his silence pressing on her more than any accusation she could have thrown his way.
The tension in the room was palpable, a silent standoff between them that neither seemed willing to back down from.
Outside, Vivian hesitated at the door, her voice trembling slightly. “Adrian… are you there?”
Adrian let out a breath, the weight of the situation catching up with him. He was torn. Torn between the woman who had been there for him, the one who had given him everything—Eva—and the woman outside, the one who was waiting for his reassurance, his comfort.
His gaze drifted back to Eva, her figure standing tall in the room, her composure intact despite the storm they were caught in. She had never been the type to beg or plead, and for some reason, that was what made him want to explain everything. But at the same time, he didn’t want to get caught in this tangled mess with her.
“Adrian,” Vivian’s voice came again, a little louder this time, breaking the silence. “Are you coming?”
Adrian took a step back, running a hand through his hair, his eyes flicking over to Eva one last time. She was still standing there, staring at him like she had all the answers and was waiting for him to figure out the rest.
“I’ll be right there,” he muttered, his voice low, the words carrying more weight than he intended.
Without another glance at Eva, he turned toward the door, his hand reaching for the handle. But before he could open it, Eva spoke once more, her voice cutting through the tension like a sharp blade.
“You’re running away again, Adrian,” she said quietly, her gaze unwavering. “But you know, running won’t fix anything.”
Adrian froze, his fingers brushing against the door handle. Her words stung more than he expected, and for the briefest of moments, he almost turned back. Almost said something to her. But he didn’t.
Instead, he opened the door and stepped out, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him like the final punctuation on an unfinished sentence.
Vivian stood just outside, her face a mixture of concern and hesitation. She opened her mouth to speak, but Adrian stopped her before she could say anything.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Let’s just go to your room for now. We’ll talk later.”
Vivian nodded silently, looking past him for just a moment as if she were trying to catch a glimpse of Eva through the now-closed door. But Adrian didn’t look back.
Behind that door, Eva was alone now—her words hanging in the air, unanswered, her presence filling the space Adrian had just left.
