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Chef Kane smiled warmly but looked a bit sheepish as he explained, “Well, ma’am, we’ve noticed that you’ve been feeling unwell recently, so we’ve been adjusting the menu. We’ve made sure to include lighter, easier-to-digest meals to help with any discomfort. It’s just our way of trying to help, ma’am. I hope you don’t mind.”
Eva’s eyes widened slightly, her heart racing as she realized how observant the staff had become, especially Chef Kane. She hadn’t expected anyone to notice the subtle changes in her body and habits, but now it seemed that they were piecing things together.
“Chef Kane,” she began, her voice soft and cautious, “you’ve been very thoughtful, but I… I didn’t specifically ask for any changes.”
Chef Kane waved it off. “We can see how you’ve been feeling, ma’am. It’s no trouble at all.”
Eva bit her lip, trying to remain calm, but she couldn’t stop the sudden rush of anxiety that crept over her. She had been trying to keep her pregnancy under wraps, to avoid any suspicion. But here, it seemed, the little changes in her behavior hadn’t gone unnoticed. Could they already suspect?
She smiled tightly at Chef Kane. “Thank you, Chef Kane. I appreciate it.” She didn’t want to alarm him or make him think she was upset, but she needed to tread carefully.
The chef, sensing that Eva was perhaps a bit uncomfortable with the attention, nodded understandingly and quickly changed the subject. “Shall I bring you anything else, ma’am? More tea or perhaps some fruit?”
“No, thank you,” Eva replied, giving him a small, grateful smile. “This is perfect.”
As the chef excused himself and left the room, Eva felt her mind racing. She had to be careful—too many people were starting to notice things she didn’t want them to. It would only take one slip-up for the whole truth to be revealed, and once it was out, she’d lose control over the situation.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her out of her thoughts. She glanced down and saw a message from Adrian.
“Where did you take Grandma?”
She let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed like Adrian hadn’t picked up on her tension during their argument. At least not yet.
Eva quickly typed out a reply: “Where are you now? Just checking in.”
She hesitated for a moment before hitting send. There was no need to worry Adrian unnecessarily, especially when he seemed so focused on his grandmother. Eva didn’t want him to think she was overreacting.
As she waited for Adrian’s response, her thoughts lingered on everything that had happened recently. The unexpected changes in her body, the growing tensions with Adrian, and now the staff starting to notice her behaviors—it all seemed like too much to handle at once. She needed a plan, something to keep her secret safe while navigating the complicated web of her relationship with Adrian and the Blackwood family.
Her phone buzzed again, pulling her back to the present.
Adrian’s reply was brief: “We’re out running errands. I’ll be back soon.”
Eva felt a little lighter, but her unease lingered. Adrian’s cryptic message made her wonder about the nature of the errands they were running. Was he just trying to distract her with the vague reply, or was there something more to his absence? And what if he found out about the baby?
She pushed the thought aside for now, focusing on the meal before her. It was delicious, and her stomach finally felt content. Still, the nagging sense of uncertainty gnawed at her.
Eva’s hand gently rested on her stomach, and she whispered softly, “We’ll get through this, little one. Just you and me.”
For now, that was all she could focus on. The rest—the arguments, the secrets, the relationships—would have to wait.
