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Eva stepped out from the dressing room, her expression calm but her mind racing. She caught Adrian’s gaze—sharp, intense, as if he was searching for something in her eyes that he couldn’t find. His question hung in the air, his tone both curious and guarded.
“What were you both talking about there?” he repeated, his voice colder than usual.
Eva took a breath, her demeanor unwavering, and she approached him slowly, her eyes never leaving his. “Nothing too serious,” she said with a faint smile, brushing off the tension in her words. “Just some clothes, nothing more.”
Adrian’s frown deepened, and his gaze flicked to the door Vivian had just exited. “You’re lying,” he muttered under his breath, though his tone was low enough that only she could hear it. He seemed to be holding back, clearly frustrated, but also uncertain of how to press further.
Eva paused, studying him carefully. “I’m not lying,” she said softly, meeting his eyes with an honesty that was hard to fake. “But if you think I owe you an explanation, then maybe you’re right. There’s more to it, but I’m not in the mood to talk about it now.”
Adrian narrowed his eyes, seemingly unsatisfied with her answer. “Why are you avoiding it? What exactly is it with you two?” His voice betrayed a mix of curiosity and a faint undercurrent of possessiveness that Eva couldn’t quite ignore.
Eva tilted her head slightly, amused by his intensity. “It’s not about what you think,” she said, her voice soft yet firm. “Vivian and I… we don’t have the best of relationships, but that doesn’t mean we need to tear each other apart.”
Adrian remained silent, but his body language tightened. He clearly wasn’t convinced, but he was reluctant to push her too far, especially when it seemed like she wasn’t willing to open up.
“I don’t know what you want from me, Adrian,” Eva added, her voice quiet but laced with something deeper—frustration, perhaps, or exhaustion. “I’m not here to play games or create more drama.”
Adrian’s lips parted, as if he wanted to say something, but then he stopped himself. For a moment, the air between them grew heavy with unspoken thoughts, both of them standing in the dimly lit hallway, the tension palpable.
Finally, Adrian exhaled slowly and stepped back, his gaze softening just a fraction. “Fine. But don’t expect me to just forget about it.”
Eva raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. “I don’t expect anything from you, Adrian. You do what you want, just like I do what I want.”
There was a brief silence before Adrian finally nodded, his expression unreadable, his mind clearly somewhere else. He wasn’t fully satisfied with her response, but he wasn’t going to force her to say anything more.
“You’ve got your reasons,” he said after a long pause. “Just make sure you don’t make things worse.”
Eva’s smile faded, and for a split second, her gaze flickered with something—something deeper than just annoyance or defiance. It was a brief moment, but it didn’t escape Adrian’s attention.
“I’m not the one making things worse,” she said softly, almost to herself. “You’ve got your own mess to clean up.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened, and he took a step back, clearly wanting to say something more but choosing not to. He turned and walked toward the stairs without another word, leaving Eva standing in the hallway, her thoughts swirling in the stillness that followed.
As he disappeared from view, Eva took a deep breath and leaned against the wall, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface. She wasn’t sure what to feel—relieved, frustrated, or maybe even a little sad. The confusion in her heart was starting to grow, and she knew that whatever happened next, there would be no turning back.
For now, though, she couldn’t dwell on it. There was too much at stake. Too much that needed to be figured out, and too many people involved for her to get distracted.
But as she stood there, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was about to change. Something between her, Adrian, and even Vivian.
And she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.
