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Eva stood silently as Jack’s words lingered in the air, each one cutting through the quiet morning like a blade. “Gradually take your position.” She couldn’t ignore the weight of his statement, despite the fact that her position in the Blackwood family had always been an illusion—an arrangement born of necessity, not love.
The butler’s frustration was palpable, but Eva couldn’t bring herself to care about the power struggle he seemed to think was brewing. The idea of Vivian taking her place in Adrian’s life, or in Granny Blackwood’s heart, didn’t disturb her in the way Jack hoped. What position? she thought bitterly. I was never really here.
As Jack continued speaking, trying to implore her to be more proactive in her relationship with Granny Blackwood, Eva’s gaze softened, and her thoughts drifted. She had always known that the “marriage” was a façade, a business arrangement, and her relationship with Adrian had never truly crossed into the realm of romance. It had always been practical, at least for him. Eva, on the other hand, had struggled with the boundaries of what they were—companions in name only.
Eva met Jack’s eyes, and his frustration was mirrored in the careful set of his mouth. “You’re not understanding me, Madam,” he said, frustration coloring his tone. “The more you stay in the background, the more she’ll seem like the perfect choice. Granny adores her. She’s so careful around her. You need to show her more of your own heart. Otherwise…”
Eva interrupted, her voice cool and calm, though her mind was far from settled. “I understand,” she said quietly. “But I’m not here to compete with Vivian for Granny Blackwood’s affection. I have my place, and so does she.” Her words were final, though she knew that they were far from the full truth. But in that moment, it was the only truth she could accept.
Jack seemed to want to say more, but he held his tongue, clearly not fully convinced by her passive approach. Eva, however, wasn’t moved. Vivian can play the game, she thought. Let her. As long as Granny Blackwood was happy, Eva had no reason to fight. It wasn’t her battle, after all.
As they returned to the house, Eva couldn’t shake the feeling of being caught between two worlds—one where she played the dutiful wife to a man who wasn’t truly hers, and another where the ghost of Vivian loomed large, with her history and the life-saving bond that seemed to have tethered her to Adrian in ways that Eva couldn’t even begin to unravel.
She paused for a moment at the door, turning her head slightly as Vivian walked ahead with Granny Blackwood. There was a softness in Vivian’s movements, a gentle kind of affection that Eva hadn’t seen before. Does she truly care about Granny Blackwood? Or is this part of her plan?
“Eva, are you coming in?” Adrian’s voice broke through her thoughts.
Eva blinked and met his gaze. There was something different in his eyes today—a subtle tension that hadn’t been there before. She couldn’t place it, but it made her heart flutter uneasily.
“Yes,” she said, trying to sound normal, though she could feel the weight of the conversation with Jack still sitting heavily on her chest. “I’m coming.”
As she entered the house, Adrian stayed back for a moment, his eyes flicking to the butler who had followed them in. Jack gave him a slight nod before stepping away, leaving Eva alone with Adrian.
Adrian’s gaze lingered on Eva for a moment before he spoke again. “Are you feeling better?” His voice was softer now, more concerned than before.
“I’m fine, Adrian. Really.” She smiled, trying to ease the tension that had built between them, but deep down, she knew the silence between them had grown heavier, more complicated.
“Good,” he murmured. “I was worried.”
Eva’s heart skipped, but she quickly masked it with another smile. “No need to worry. I just don’t like fish. I’ll be fine.”
Adrian didn’t respond immediately, his eyes searching hers in a way that made her uncomfortable. She could feel the weight of unasked questions hanging in the air between them, but she was determined not to answer them. She wasn’t ready to explain herself—not to him, not to anyone.
Before he could speak again, Vivian entered the room, her voice light and cheerful. “Is everything alright, Adrian? Eva, you look much better.” She turned her gaze to Eva with a kind smile, but Eva couldn’t shake the feeling that Vivian was too perfect in her role. Too polished.
“I’m fine, Vivian. Just a little tired,” Eva said, her voice deliberately neutral. “Thank you for helping with Granny Blackwood.”
Vivian smiled warmly. “It was nothing. We all need to look out for each other.”
Adrian nodded in agreement, but his eyes were still fixed on Eva, filled with unspoken questions. Vivian noticed the tension too, but she didn’t comment on it, instead giving a small, knowing smile before turning toward Granny Blackwood.
“Perhaps I should take Granny to rest for a bit. She’s had quite a walk.” Vivian’s voice broke through the heavy silence, and she gently steered Granny Blackwood toward the stairs.
Eva stayed in place, watching them leave, her heart beating a little faster as the uncertainty and complexity of her relationship with Adrian—along with Vivian’s shadow looming over everything—settled deeper into her chest.
As the day stretched on, Eva knew she would have to face the reality that things were shifting. There were too many questions, too many unspoken words. And she was beginning to wonder if she could continue pretending that everything was fine, or if the cracks in her façade were finally starting to show.
