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Novel Catalog
7
The weight of Granny Blackwood’s words lingered in the air, settling heavily in Eva’s chest. Her grandmother’s gentle voice, filled with reassurance, only seemed to emphasize the painful reality that Eva had been avoiding. Adrian’s loyalty to her, the Blackwood family’s history, and the promises of forever that Granny spoke of all seemed like distant dreams now.
The mention of Vivian Morrison, and the way Granny spoke of her as though she were a shining beacon of hope for the family, made something inside Eva twist. She didn’t want to overthink it—didn’t want to let jealousy or doubt creep in—but it was hard not to when everything around her seemed to whisper of Adrian’s attachment to Vivian. She couldn’t shake the feeling that, no matter how many times she tried to convince herself otherwise, she was never going to be the one who truly mattered to Adrian.
Her mind drifted back to the awkwardness in the car, to Adrian’s cold demeanor, and how he had pulled away when she had flinched earlier. He had barely spoken to her after, and though he had been protective in his own way, the emotional distance between them was undeniable. His words and actions never seemed to match—was he pushing her away, or was he just trying to protect her from something? Eva didn’t know anymore.
“Grandmother…” Eva began, but she paused, not sure how to voice the knot of emotions twisting inside her. How could she explain what she was feeling when even she didn’t fully understand it? She glanced at Granny Blackwood, who was now watching her with gentle eyes, as though sensing her inner turmoil.
“I… I don’t know what to do anymore,” Eva admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Granny Blackwood patted her hand again, her touch warm and comforting. “Eva, my dear, sometimes the path forward isn’t clear. You’ll have to make your own decisions, but don’t carry the burden of uncertainty alone. Trust in yourself, and the rest will follow. But remember, love is not always as it seems from the outside. It takes time to grow, and sometimes, the greatest love is one that doesn’t shout but quietly stands by your side.”
Eva didn’t know how to respond to that. Her heart ached, the weight of her grandmother’s faith in her, in Adrian, pressing down on her. If only she could believe in it as easily as Granny seemed to. But there was too much history, too many unanswered questions, and too many things that didn’t make sense.
Granny Blackwood smiled softly, clearly sensing Eva’s hesitation. “Take your time, my dear. Don’t rush to conclusions. But when you feel ready, speak from your heart. You’ll know when the time is right.”
Eva nodded slowly, unsure of whether she was ready to take those steps, but knowing deep down that she couldn’t avoid them forever. She had to face the reality of her situation, and in doing so, maybe find the strength to move forward—no matter what that might look like.
As she left her grandmother’s room later that night, her mind still whirring with questions, she found herself standing in the hallway for a moment. Adrian’s presence still loomed over her thoughts, and despite everything, she couldn’t shake the need to seek him out, to understand where they stood.
But as she hesitated, she caught a glimpse of him in the study, his back to her as he sat at the desk, absorbed in his phone. There was something distant about the way he sat there—his posture stiff, his focus intense, as if trying to block everything else out. The room felt cold and unwelcoming, much like the way he had been earlier.
Eva stood at the threshold, unsure if she should enter. She didn’t want to disrupt him, especially when everything between them felt so fragile. But she couldn’t ignore the pull to be near him, to see if there was a chance for things to be different.
She sighed, torn between the desire to speak with him and the fear of making things worse. The words Granny had spoken echoed in her mind—love was not always as it seemed. But was Adrian’s love really there? Or was it just the weight of duty that kept him by her side?
Her heart heavy with unanswered questions, Eva slowly turned and walked away, unsure of what the next step would be. She would have to find her own way—whether Adrian was with her or not. But as the night stretched on, one thing was clear: the path ahead was uncertain, and Eva was unsure if she was ready to face it alone.
