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Eva’s words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Adrian’s gaze shifted, narrowing as he processed her statement. She had spoken with such calm conviction, her tone sharp, almost detached, as if she had long ago come to terms with the reality of the situation.
“She couldn’t handle the situation,” Eva repeated slowly, watching Adrian’s reaction. “And that’s why she tried to shift the blame onto me. It’s something I understand now.”
Adrian’s expression hardened, the sharpness in his eyes betraying the unease that was beginning to take hold of him. He opened his mouth to speak but faltered, unsure of how to respond to the quiet defiance in Eva’s voice. The words she had said weren’t exactly what he had expected. He had been ready to argue, to defend Vivian, but Eva’s statement held a weight that he wasn’t sure how to carry.
“Eva,” he began, his voice low, “You’re not being fair here. Vivian—”
“Vivian?” Eva interrupted him, her lips curling slightly in a mock smile. “She’s the one who’s been playing the victim all along, trying to manipulate you into thinking she was the one hurt. But deep down, Adrian, you know exactly what kind of person she is.” Her eyes were cool as she met his gaze. “She doesn’t care about you, not like I do.”
The words stung more than Adrian was willing to admit, and for a moment, he was at a loss. His mind flashed back to the countless moments he’d spent with Vivian, to the way she had clung to him after the incident with Eva. He could hear her voice in his mind, her tears, her pleas for him to stand by her. But then, as if to shake the thought, he forced himself to focus on Eva, the woman standing before him—calm, composed, but hurt.
“I’m not the one you should be mad at,” he said, taking a step toward her. “Vivian is the one who needs to explain herself.”
Eva’s eyes flickered with a mix of frustration and resignation. “You still don’t get it, do you, Adrian?” she asked, her voice quieter now. “You think I’m mad at you, or her, or anyone else. But the truth is, I’m mad at myself.”
Adrian blinked, taken aback by her words. “Mad at yourself?” he repeated, confusion seeping into his tone.
“Yes,” Eva nodded slowly, her gaze drifting to the floor for a brief moment. “Because I let things go on for so long. I thought if I just stayed out of the way, if I kept quiet, everything would settle. But look at where we are now.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, meeting his eyes again. “I’m angry at myself because I let it get to this point, when all along, I should have been standing up for myself. For us.”
Adrian took a breath, his mind racing. He could see the pain in her eyes, the struggle between wanting to protect him and wanting to protect herself. He’d been blind to it for so long, unable to see beyond his own emotions.
“I’m sorry,” Adrian said, his voice softer now. “I never meant to hurt you, Eva.”
Eva didn’t respond immediately. She stared at him, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small sigh, she shook her head. “It’s not about what you meant, Adrian. It’s about what happened. And what keeps happening.”
She turned to walk past him, her steps measured. “I need space. Time to figure things out. You should do the same.”
Adrian stood still, watching her retreat, the weight of her words settling over him. He wanted to say more, to explain himself, to apologize properly, but he knew it wasn’t the right moment. Not now. Not when the chasm between them had grown so wide.
As Eva reached the top of the stairs, she glanced over her shoulder at him, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips. “I’ll be okay,” she said, her voice steady, though there was an unmistakable sadness in it. “I’ll be just fine.”
With that, she disappeared into the hallway, leaving Adrian standing there, alone with his thoughts, the echoes of her words ringing in his ears.
