Ch. 11..20

Chapter 11

After Adrian left, Eva sat in a reverie for a moment before resuming her tasks.

Her phone chimed, drawing her gaze. It was a call from Carter Morrison.

"What is it?" Eva answered the call.

"Eva, has the deputy secretary of the Hall Group called you?"

Eva nodded, "Yes, they did. What's up?"

"Pass the work that needs handling to me. I'll handle it for you."

Hearing this, Eva paused, somewhat puzzled.

"I heard from Jenny that you're sick. Why didn't you tell me?" Carter 's voice sounded extremely gentle. "If you're ill, you should rest well. Activate the 'Do Not Disturb' mode on your phone. Do you truly believe your body is invincible?" Before the Hansens hit rock bottom, Carter was a competent right-hand man at the Hansen Group and within the family.

Carter had a promising future, but the Hansen family's bankruptcy blindsided him.

When the Hansens went under, Eva figured his skills would land him another top job. But instead, he followed her to the Blackwood Group.

Later, Carter treated her very well, like a big brother, taking care of her thoughtfully, and the way he looked at her changed gradually.

Eva was very clear about his feelings. Unfortunately, her heart already belonged to someone else.

In this world, how rare was true mutual affection?

Thinking of this, Eva came back to her senses and declined Carter's kindness in a calm voice.

"No need, Carter. It's just a cold, I'm fine now."

On the other end of the phone, Carter was silent for a moment before sighing, "Eva, are we really so distant now?"

Hearing this, Eva paused.

Carter continued, "Set aside the past favor Mr. Hansen had bestowed upon me. Since we both work at the Blackwood Group now, isn't it normal for colleagues to help each other?" Eva said, "Carter..."

"Or do you think my help unnecessary? Or do you dislike me now?"

"That's not true." Eva denied anxiously, "You've been so kind to me, how could I possibly dislike you?"

For so many years, Eva had always regarded him as her brother. How could she possibly dislike him?

At the other end of the line, Carter chuckled softly, his laughter low and pleasant.

"Since you don't dislike me, then pass the work over."

Eva lightly bit her red lips and finally agreed.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Carter. I'll treat you to dinner another day."

"I'll hold you to that."

After ending the call, Eva forwarded the email to Carter's email account. Fearing any oversight, she also typed out a detailed segment of work content and sent it to Carter afterward. It took a while before he replied.

"Alright, I got it. Don't worry about it, go rest."

Having someone reliable to hand over her work to while she was sick allowed Eva to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

She had originally planned to return to the office today. But now, it seemed she should continue resting at home for another day.

Moreover, she had a pressing issue to address.

Eva lowered her gaze to her stomach and couldn't help but gently caress her abdomen.

Unbeknownst to her, a new life had already begun to grow there.

And now, she didn't know what to do with this child.

Should she terminate the pregnancy or...?

Eva's mind was a chaotic mess.

She took out her phone and called her best friend.

"What? Pregnant?"

In a café, the girl seated across from Eva couldn't help but spit out the half-mouthful of coffee she had just drunk. Her vehement reaction drew the attention of many patrons here. Eva was speechless.

She glanced around and, seeing no familiar faces, sighed in relief. She handed a napkin to her best friend, Emily Jones, and whispered, "Can you not be so loud? Everyone's looking over here." Emily took the napkin and wiped her mouth, then nodded in agreement.

"Sorry, I know. I was just too shocked."

Eva cast a resigned glance at Emily.

Emily, however, stopped drinking her coffee and leaned on the table, staring at Eva with wide eyes. She lowered her voice and asked, "How did you suddenly get pregnant? Didn't you and he take precautions?"

"We did," Eva sipped her coffee and said calmly, "It was an accident."

"So what now? Are you going to keep it?"

This question made Eva pause, and after a long while, she shook her head.

Emily's face registered surprise, "No, you're not keeping it? Why? You've been married to him for so long. He treats you quite well, always taking you to events. If you hadn't told me your marriage was fake, I would have thought it was real." Eva's smile was faint. "Really?"

Emily asked again, "Does Adrian know?"

"I haven't told him."

"You..." Emily was speechless, "So when are you planning to tell him?"

Eva pressed her lips together and remained silent.

"What do you mean? This is such an important matter. Such a significant matter, you surely don't intend to keep it from him, do you? This child isn't just yours; it belongs to both of you."

"What's wrong with you? How can you remain so calm in a situation like this? Pregnancy is truly significant..."

"Vivian is back."

One sentence left Emily stunned.

And the emotions in Eva's eyes grew even more subdued.

"So do you think there's any point in telling him?"

 

 

Chapter 12

Emily was stunned for quite a while before she reacted.

"I, I thought she wasn't coming back."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Before the Hansen family went bankrupt, as Eva's close friend, Emily had mingled in high society with her for a long time. Naturally, she also knew about Vivian saving Adrian.

The two of them, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, were originally a good match. But as Eva's close friend, Emily still felt sorry for her friend.

Emily bit her lower lip, feeling indignant on Eva's behalf.

"In fact, even if she comes back now, so what? She and Adrian aren't a couple, and besides, you two are married now, and you have a child. I don't believe Adrian would make you get rid of the baby!" Eva, who had been silent all along, raised her head. "Then you might not know Adrian very well."

Hearing this, Emily widened her eyes in disbelief. "What do you mean? He would make you get rid of the baby?"

Eva replied, "He would."

Emily added, "But you haven't told him yet, have you? How can you be sure he would?"

Eva pressed her lips together. "I tested him."

"Te, tested?" Emily was instantly exasperated. "What's the point of testing? Why don't you just tell him now that you're pregnant and see how he reacts!"

Eva remained silent.

Seeing her silence, Emily continued, "Are you hesitating out of fear? I swear on my honor, if Adrian knows about your pregnancy, he would never make you have an abortion. Do you believe me?" Eva was silent for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't see the need."

After saying that, she picked up her bag and stood up. "Let's go, I'll go pay the bill."

Before Emily could react, Eva had already gone to the front desk.

Emily, fuming, had no choice but to grab her bag and follow her out.

After leaving the café, Emily walked beside Eva. Noticing her continued silence, she couldn't help but grab her.

"Eva!"

Eva stopped in her tracks and looked at her steadily.

"Wake up, trust me just this once, okay? If you didn't like him, I would never persuade you to do this! But you do like him, don't you? Happiness is in your own hands!"

"I..." Eva hesitated at her words.

Seeing her indecision, Emily asked, "Alright, let me ask you a few questions, and you answer me."

"What questions?"

"Your pregnancy will be discovered by someone sooner or later, right? The bigger the baby gets, the harder it will be to hide!"

Eva nodded.

"Are you afraid of being discovered by others?"

Eva thought for a moment and nodded again.

"Since Adrian will find out sooner or later, why don't you tell him now? What's the point of delaying?"

"Tell him, he should know about the baby's existence! Even if the outcome is the same, at least you tried, right?"

"But..." Eva's pale lips trembled slightly, her eyelashes fluttering, "If I don't tell him, maybe we can still be friends in the future. But if I do..."

Hearing this, Emily fell silent. After a long while, she sighed softly, "Eva, I know you like him, but if you can't be together, even being friends will be a torment for you! And don't you want to know how he feels about you? He treats you so well; I don't believe he has no feelings for you."

Yes, sometimes he was really kind to her. But... it was just a transaction.

If it weren't for Nora liking her, and Nora just happening to be ill, they would never have gotten married.

"Anyway, I've said all I needed to say. Think it over carefully, the decision is yours." Emily patted her on the shoulder.

Before leaving, Emily couldn't help but run over to her before she got into the car and said, "Eva, happiness is something you have to fight for yourself, understand?"

Eva reached out and pinched Emily's cheek. "I know, I'll think about it."

"Alright, then go back. Remember to call me if you need anything."

"Okay."

As soon as Eva returned to the Blackwood family, the butler greeted her with concern.

"Mrs. Blackwood, where did you go? How could you run around when you're not feeling well? What if something happened?"

The butler's concern warmed Eva's heart. "I'm fine."

"That's good." The butler looked her over from head to toe, and only after confirming she was alright did he breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mrs. Blackwood, please go upstairs and rest."

"Okay."

Eva walked upstairs and returned to her room.

After the door closed, the surroundings fell into silence. Left alone in the room, all she could think about was what her friend Emily had said.

Happiness was something you have to fight for yourself. Should she... try one more time?

Eva gripped her phone tightly.

She actually wanted to follow Emily's advice and give it a try. This thought took root in her mind and wouldn't go away.

But she didn't have the courage to tell Adrian face-to-face. Maybe she could send him a message.

As soon as this idea came to her, Eva's heart started pounding wildly, as if stirred by some stimulus.

Her hand holding the phone began to tremble and shake.

When she tried to unlock it with her fingerprint, it failed several times, and she finally had to enter the password.

Eva opened Adrian's contact.

Once she did, she felt lost again. How should she tell him?

She stared at the phone for a long time, finally deciding to be direct.

She wanted to give herself one more chance, and also give Adrian one more chance! If Adrian asked her to get rid of the baby, she would never bother him again. If Adrian wanted to start over with her... Eva's heart beat faster and faster as she composed the message: [I'm pregnant.].

Then, she closed her eyes and hit send.

Eva stared at the phone screen, her fingertips trembling violently, her heartbeat out of rhythm. 'Adrian, how will you respond? How will you feel when you know about the baby?' she thought.

 

Chapter 13

When Eva sent the message successfully, a sudden calm enveloped her heart.

Now, all she had to do was to wait for a reply.

However, Adrian didn't respond immediately.

Eva guessed he might be in a meeting or his phone might be on silent. Once he finished his work, he would see it.

She decided to take a nap.

Eva swiftly changed into her pajamas, drew the curtains, and climbed into bed.

Meanwhile, in one of the offices at the Blackwood Group, Vivian, once calm on the sofa, now trembled visibly, staring at the text message that simply read, "I'm pregnant." Initially, she mistook it for a work-related message for Adrian or spam. She didn't expect it to be from Eva.

Subconsciously, Vivian glanced at Adrian, who was busy with his work across the room.

She couldn't believe that Adrian and Eva had slept together!

Sensing her gaze, Adrian looked over, puzzled.

Vivian was startled and quickly forced a smile before lowering her head.

Adrian then averted his gaze.

The office, high above the city, was silent, impervious to the street noise below.

Without rechecking if the message was indeed from Eva, Vivian deleted it.

A sense of relief washed over Vivian, though her fists were clenched, the nails digging deep into her palms.

'What's Eva up to? Is she trying to snatch Adrian away from me?' she pondered.

With this in mind, Vivian bit her lip.

Just now, she asked Adrian for his phone under a different pretext. Adrian frowned slightly but quickly handed it over. If he had seen this message...

A few minutes later, Vivian returned the phone to Adrian and said softly, "Thank you, Adrian."

Adrian took the phone and nodded. "Hmm."

Vivian couldn't help but ask, "You hate it when people touch your phone. Why would you lend it to me?"

Adrian glanced at her, "You're different."

Vivian felt a surge of contentment.

Maybe she was just overthinking things. Even if Eva was really pregnant, who knew if the child was Adrian's? How could Adrian possibly touch her? Suddenly, Adrian stated solemnly, "Vivian, you saved my life. Whatever you want, just ask, and I'll fulfill it."

The smile on Vivian's lips faded slightly, but she nodded. "Thank you, Adrian."

As she lowered her eyes, a glint of resentment flashed across her face, and a sense of frustration grew in her heart.

He'd been nice to her just because she saved his life! Did he have no other feelings for her?

Reminiscing the incident years ago made Vivian uneasy.

The river was rushing that day. Vivian, paralyzed by fear, watched Adrian get swept away.

As she turned for help, a slender figure rushed over and leaped into the river without hesitation.

Many years had passed, but it remained vivid in Vivian's mind.

The girl was so brave, igniting a long-lasting resentment in her.

"What's on your mind?" Adrian asked, noticing that she seemed lost in thought.

Vivian forced a smile and shook her head. "It's nothing."

She shouldn't dwell on the past.

Since Adrian believed that she saved his life, she would just go with it.

Vivian lingered a bit longer in Adrian's office, but he was preoccupied.

She said reluctantly, "Adrian, I'll come back another time."

Adrian, still engrossed in work, nodded. "Alright."

As Vivian prepared to leave, Adrian called out, "Wait."

"Huh?" Vivian turned around, puzzled.

Adrian looked at her intently. "Who sent the message?"

Hearing his question, Vivian froze.

She had deleted the message without much thought. She never expected that he would ask about it now.

"It was spam. I deleted it for you," she explained.

Adrian fell silent.

Vivian couldn't help but panic.

"Are you angry? I'm sorry. I should have let you decide. I apologize. Please don't be mad at me."

Her apologies eased Adrian's frown.

What was he doing?

Was it necessary for him to be angry with Vivian for so small a reason?

But Adrian was always someone with principles, so he said in a deep voice, "I'm not mad at you, but don't do that again."

Vivian nodded and lowered her head. "I understand. I'm sorry."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

After a moment of silence, Adrian spoke up, "I'll have the driver take you home."

"Okay."

Soon, the driver arrived.

Vivian entered the elevator, her hands clenched into fists.

Adrian didn't seem to mind her using his phone, but he got angry when she deleted his message.

It seemed she was not very special to him.

Vivian pursed her lips tightly.

Merely relying on her act of saving his life wouldn't suffice. She needed to strategize further.

At least she had deleted the message.

She believed that Eva would likely not pursue Adrian in person.

But anyway, she needed to take action.

 

Chapter 14

Eva waited until sunset, but Adrian's response never came.

If it weren't for the full signal, she would have thought her phone was out of service. When she was busy with work, she wished for such silence, longing for a bit more rest. But now...

It wasn't until evening that her phone buzzed.

Startled, Eva quickly picked up her phone, but her eyes went dim in an instant.

The message was from Emily, "Have you made up your mind? Did you come clean to him?"

Eva stared at her phone for a long time, then suddenly chuckled softly.

She had known the outcome all along. So why couldn't she let go?

Why did she have to expose her wounds for him to see and be met with disdain?

How could she face him now?

Eva slowly collapsed onto the bed, her eyes closed.

Where was he now?

What was he doing?

How did he react when he found out she was pregnant?

Would he tell Vivian, and how would Vivian see her?

In an instant, Eva felt as if all her energy had been drained.

During dinner, Eva had no appetite.

At 9 p.m., she put on a coat and went downstairs.

George stood up upon seeing her.

"Madam, isn't it almost your bedtime?"

Eva glanced at the entrance. "Has Adrian not returned?"

A hint of surprise flickered in George's eyes, then he quickly replied, "Mr. Blackwood's assistant called and said he'd got urgent business to attend to so he wouldn't be coming back." Eva's heart sank.

Seeing her pale face, George expressed his concern, "Madam, are you okay?"

Eva snapped back to reality and forced a smile.

"I'm fine."

She turned to head back upstairs. Just then, her phone rang.

Adrian's name on the screen caught her eye.

Didn't he say he wouldn't be coming back? Why was he calling at this hour?

What did he want to say?

Taking a deep breath to prepare herself, Eva answered the call.

"Eva?" said a familiar, sweet voice on the other end of the line. "Adrian asked me to tell you he's got urgent business to attend to and won't be coming home. Make sure to get some rest, okay?" In that instant, Eva felt a lump in her throat. Her heart sank, and her limbs went numb.

Adrian asked Vivian to call her on his behalf?

What did he mean?

"Eva? Are you listening?"

Eva snapped back to reality and replied with a choked voice, "I see," and then abruptly hung up the phone.

Vivian breathed a sigh of relief and saved Eva's number on her own phone before returning the phone to Adrian.

"Adrian, here you go."

"Hmm."

Adrian lifted his head from a pile of files and took his phone, "Is she asleep?"

"Not yet."

Upon hearing this, Adrian furrowed his brows slightly, scoffed, and muttered to himself, "Doesn't she know she's still sick and needs to get more rest? How stubborn."

Beside him, Vivian paled at once. She bit her lip, her hands trembling at her sides.

Perhaps Adrian didn't realize how gentle he appeared when he said those words.

"You saved her number?" asked Adrian out of the blue.

Vivian blinked and replied, "Yeah, can I hang out with her?"

"Sure, better than her being all absorbed in work."

Vivian gave an awkward smile. As she turned away, a glint of resentment flashed across her pretty face.

...

The next day, Eva woke to find her eyes a bit swollen.

To avoid drawing attention, she applied some ice to reduce the swelling.

Glancing at her phone, she saw several messages.

Carter, "Don't worry. Everything is going smoothly. Just rest, and if you're not feeling well, make sure to go to the hospital."

"You awake? How are you feeling? If needed, I'll accompany you to the hospital."

The first message was sent after she fell asleep last night, and the other this morning.

There were also messages from Emily.

"Honey, you haven't replied to me in so long. Is something wrong? I'm sorry. I gave you bad advice."

Multiple messages followed, all expressing concern.

Eva suspected that Emily didn't sleep well.

She replied, "I'm fine. Don't worry."

Then she thanked Carter for covering her work and offered to treat him to a meal.

Emily didn't reply, but Carter quickly responded.

"How are you feeling?"

Before Eva could reply, Carter called.

Hesitating only momentarily, she answered, "Carter."

Carter's voice was gentle as always, "Feeling better?"

"Much better," Eva replied.

"Your voice is nasal. Still uncomfortable?"

Eva didn't know what to say.

Carter had always been sensitive about Eva's health.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "Didn't Adrian take you to the hospital?"

Caught off guard, Eva quickly changed the subject.

"It's nothing serious. I took my medicine, and I'm fine now."

Carter sighed, "Eva, you're still as stubborn. If your father knew, he would feel sorry for you."

Eva pursed her lips. "It's okay. I'll take care of myself."

The conversation soon ended, and Emily called as soon as Eva hung up.

"Eva! You alright? You didn't reply to me, and I hardly slept till dawn."

Upon hearing that, Eva felt a little sorry. She shouldn't have replied to Emily so early.

"I was so worried about you. Thank goodness you're okay." Emily sighed in relief, then asked tentatively, "Did you tell him? How did he respond?" Eva felt a pang in her heart.

She glanced at the other side of the bed.

Adrian didn't come back last night. He must be avoiding her.

Eva averted her gaze and spoke calmly, "Emily, I've decided to have an abortion."

 

Chapter 15

Emily was taken aback. "Why?"

"Why else?" Eva replied.

Emily gritted her teeth. "You've been with him for two years. Does he really not care about you at all? It's his child. How can he be so cruel?" Eva fell silent.

All her illusions about Adrian had died out.

Emily continued, "And you grew up together. Doesn't that count for anything? Eva, did you make things clear to him? Maybe..."

"Emily," Eva calmly interrupted her, "let's not talk about it anymore."

It would only make her feel more humiliated.

She didn't want Adrian to think she was seeking sympathy and attention on purpose.

Eva hung up on Emily, then got up to prepare herself to go to work full of energy.

She drove herself to the company, where her first task was to check her work. After confirming everything was fine, she took out her phone and made a medical appointment online. If she decided on an abortion, she needed to act fast.

However, this week was completely booked, and she could only make an appointment for next week.

As Eva was about to confirm the appointment, she hesitated.

An inner voice questioned her, "Are you really going to kill your baby?"

Another voice replied, "I don't want to, but what can I do? Why should I raise a child without a father?"

"Don't rush to make a decision. You just got pregnant, and it will be a long time before you give birth." "Avoiding the problem doesn't solve it. I'll have to face it sooner or later."

"But this child isn't just Adrian's. It's also yours!"

"So what? I don't want my child to grow up in a single-parent home."

The two voices battled inside Eva.

One urged her to keep the child, while the other urged her to have an abortion, causing her a tremendous headache.

"Eva, take a look at this project proposal."

Jenny walked over.

Eva quickly placed her phone face down on her desk.

Jenny was surprised, but as an assistant, she couldn't pry into Eva's privacy, so she suppressed her curiosity and handed over the proposal.

After taking it, Eva noticed that Jenny was still standing there, so she asked, "Something else?"

Jenny glanced at her and asked hesitantly, "Are you well recovered? You fainted the other day, and it really scared me."

Upon hearing this, Eva became a little curious.

"You brought him here?"

Jenny nodded, "Yes, I couldn't wake you, so I went to find Mr. Blackwood."

No wonder she woke up in Adrian's car.

"Eva, you don't know how worried Mr. Blackwood was when I told him you might be unconscious," Jenny added.

Eva couldn't quite grasp Jenny's intention. Was Jenny trying to please her?

So, she carefully replied, "Really? How worried was he?"

Jenny gave a sheepish smile.

"Well, I've been with the Blackwood Group for many years, and I've never seen Mr. Blackwood so flustered before. Several executives were reporting to him, but he left them, rushed over, and carried you into his car." Jenny even winked at Eva, "Mr. Blackwood definitely cares about you."

"Is that so?" Eva, spur of the moment, asked, "Didn't you see any other woman with him yesterday?"

This single comment doused Jenny's fantasy of an office romance.

She stood there awkwardly.

She had almost forgotten about the woman in Adrian's office.

And recently, there were rumors circulating in the company because of that woman.

Seeing her standing there motionless, Eva rubbed her throbbing temple and softly said, "Go back to work."

"Oh, alright."

After Jenny left, Eva picked up her phone and confirmed the appointment.

"Nothing worth holding onto," she thought.

At noon, Carter messaged her, inviting her for lunch.

Mind in chaos, Eva wanted to refuse, but considering that he had handled her work yesterday, she agreed.

Eva went to wait for Carter at the front entrance.

He said he would pick her up.

While waiting, Eva reviewed her afternoon schedule on her phone and suddenly heard some people discussing animatedly.

"Isn't that Mr. Blackwood's car? Why is he coming at this hour?"

Eva instinctively looked up and saw the black Porsche.

Eva felt a stir in her thoughts, knowing only Adrian would drive that car.

The Porsche moved fast, but with the windows down, Eva saw Vivian in the passenger seat.

Vivian was wearing a light blue blouse, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She glanced out of the window at Eva standing among the employees.

Vivian paused, then smiled at her.

Adrian, in the driver's seat, was focused ahead and didn't notice this exchange.

It wasn't until the car entered the underground garage that the employees began to talk.

"Who's that girl? She's sitting in Mr. Blackwood's passenger seat! I heard they stayed late working together last night."

"Vivian Morrison, Mr. Blackwood's sweetheart. She got back into the country the other day."

"But isn't Blackwood married to Ms. Hansen?"

"You're so naive. Since when do marriage vows matter in wealthy families? There are rumors Mr. Blackwood and Ms. Hansen have a sham marriage. Otherwise, she would have taken his name."

 

Chapter 16

"You got a point."

"Of course. Where do you see a rich wife working as a secretary?"

"But I don't understand. Why did they go through a sham marriage?"

"I heard Ms. Hansen and Mr. Blackwood grew up together. He proposed to her after her family went bankrupt probably to help her so that no one would bully her." "Mr. Blackwood is a truly good person."

"I also heard Mr. Blackwood has been waiting for Vivian. They're really sweet."

Eva stood there listening calmly as if they were not talking about her.

Soon, Carter's car stopped before them. The window rolled down, revealing Carter's handsome face. "Get in."

Eva got into Carter's car.

After a long moment of silence, those people snapped back to reality.

"That was... Ms. Hansen?"

"Yeah..."

"Did she hear us?"

"Easy. It's just what we heard. And she didn't refute us. She must be nervous!"

"Maybe she didn't know how. After all, we all saw Vivian in Mr. Blackwood's passenger seat."

The crowd continued their discussions as the car faded into the distance.

Eva rolled up the window expressionlessly and looked at the retreating trees and buildings outside, feeling heavy at heart. The heated discussions of those people still echoed in her ears.

And she couldn't stop thinking about the black Porsche.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted," Carter asked.

Eva came back to her senses and managed a weak smile, "It's nothing. Probably just some lingering effects of being sick." Carter sighed, "When will you stop hiding things from me?"

Eva stiffened. "What do you mean?"

Could Carter know about her pregnancy? But who told him?

Apart from the doctors, the only person who knew about her pregnancy was Emily.

This thought was immediately dismissed by Eva.

Because of her, Emily and Carter had a good relationship. Both she and Emily regarded Carter as an elder brother.

But Emily would never tell Carter about her secret.

So, what was he referring to?

After a moment, Carter said, "Vivian is back. Why didn't you tell me?"

Eva lowered her eyes.

Her pregnancy had made her paranoid like a startled deer.

She breathed a sigh of relief and calmly replied, "What does it have to do with you?"

Carter helplessly glanced at Eva.

He was afraid that she was deliberately speaking in an unpleasant manner.

"It doesn't concern me, but what about you?"

Eva remained silent.

Carter continued, "I didn't think it was a good idea when you agreed to marry him. He said those hurtful things, but you still..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but his tone made his feelings quite clear.

He felt sorry for Eva.

Eva felt relieved that he didn't know about her pregnancy. Otherwise, he would have exploded.

Perhaps because of her silence, Carter didn't say anything more. He took her to a restaurant and said after ordering, "Wait here for me. I'll be back in ten minutes." "Alright," Eva nodded, too weak to probe into his actions.

Ten minutes later, Carter returned with a bag in hand. "Here, take this."

"What is it?"

Carter said, "It's medicine. You should always have some basic medicines on hand. Take them when you're feeling unwell."

Eva looked at the bag blankly. "But I'm fine now."

"Then keep it for next time."

"Alright."

Eva accepted the bag which contained various common medications.

"Thanks, Carter."

"You never have to say that to me." Carter tapped her forehead. "Just tell me if anything happens."

"I will."

The lunch continued in silence until Carter couldn't resist asking, "Have you already met Vivian?"

Eva paused, then nodded. "Yeah."

"What does she want? Rekindle things with Adrian?"

It sounded harsh to Eva.

"No. They didn't have much of a past together."

Adrian and Vivian had never been together before.

Eva was also confused.

Since Adrian said he would always keep a place for Vivian by his side and Vivian liked him, they should have been a couple already.

But it was pointless to dwell on it.

Carter raised an eyebrow. "You're still defending him."

Eva pursed her lips and muttered, "I'm just telling the truth."

"He brought Vivian to his office and let others gossip about you, and you still care about him?"

Carter's frown deepened.

He heard something in the break room this morning.

"Did you hear? Mr. Blackwood's girlfriend has returned."

"Isn't he already married?"

"His marriage must be a sham. If it was real, how could he bear to let his wife work as a secretary? I heard this woman saved Mr. Blackwood's life. Her family background is impressive too. She just came back from studying abroad. They're a perfect match."

"But what about Ms. Hansen?"

"That's a funny question. What can she do? She can only go back to her ordinary life!"

The group of people burst into laughter in the break room.

Outside the door, Carter tightened his grip on his cup, his eyes narrowed.

Was Eva's sudden illness related to this?

 

Chapter 17

Carter pulled his thoughts back to the present.

He glanced at Eva across the table.

She was dressed simply, her shoulder-length hair casually tied behind her ears and her face bare without makeup, offering a kind of pale beauty that invoked a sense of compassion. Carter knew that he was no match for Adrian.

When the Hansen family went bankrupt, he sought help far and wide, but to no avail due to his lack of influence.

A CEO even told him directly, "Carter, you're talented, and I see great potential in you. You're welcome to join my company. I believe you'll choose wisely."

Many people, rather than offering help, sought to entice him away.

"The Hansen family won't rise again. Even if someone were to help now, they'll never recover their former glory."

"Think about your future. You're not part of the Hansen family. There's no need for you to struggle on their behalf."

Carter felt chilled to the core, and on his way back, he seriously considered his options.

He called Eva and offered to pick her up.

But when he arrived, he saw several children of wealthy families verbally insulting her.

"Ms. Hansen, when your family was prestigious, you dismissed my advances. Now that it's fallen, I wonder if you've maintained that pride. I'd like to help, but everything comes with a price. How about spending a night with me?" His friends burst into laughter.

Carter was a breath away from brawling with them.

All thoughts of his future vanished in that instant, leaving only one resolve.

He couldn't abandon the Hansen family.

He couldn't confront those men because he wasn't in a position to do so, so he could only take Eva away.

Not long after, word got out that those men were beaten up. Their family businesses were affected, and their parents forced them to apologize to Eva.

It was Adrian's doing.

And it was also Adrian who pulled Eva out of adversity.

But the recent events plunged her into another predicament.

Carter spoke softly, "I'm not here to lecture you. I just think there are things you need to consider and plan ahead."

Just as Eva was about to speak, her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Adrian, "Jenny said you went out?"

The message was sent via WhatsApp with the same casual tone as usual as if he had just noticed her absence and was inquiring casually. Eva simply replied, "Hmm".

Adrian, probably watching his phone, replied quickly, "When are you coming back?"

Their conversation was innocuous. He didn't mention her message from yesterday or his absence overnight.

And she, too understanding, didn't ask as if nothing had happened.

Eva replied, "After work."

Adrian didn't message again.

Eva pocketed her phone and said to Carter, "I understand."

Carter's gaze lingered on her phone. "Adrian?"

Eva paused, then nodded.

The two finished their meal in silence, and Carter escorted Eva back.

When Eva entered the elevator, Carter followed, and she looked at him questioningly.

Their offices were not in the same place.

Hand in pocket, Carter raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to see Mr. Blackwood for an update."

After exiting the elevator, Carter glanced at his watch, then frowned, "It's ten minutes before work. Maybe I shouldn't bother Mr. Blackwood just yet." Eva offered, "Come to my office."

"Alright."

By the time they arrived, Jenny had already started work and immediately got up to make coffee for them.

"Thank you." Carter took the coffee and asked Jenny, "Was Mr. Blackwood here?"

Jenny seemed a bit surprised but nodded. "Yes."

Carter raised an eyebrow. "Did he come alone?"

Jenny fell silent.

Eva sipped her coffee without saying anything.

The atmosphere became eerie.

After ten minutes, Carter put down his cup. "I'll go see Mr. Blackwood."

He got up and headed towards the door but suddenly turned back to look at Eva.

"Eva, I need your assistance with the project. Let's go together."

Eva instinctively furrowed her brows.

Carter repeated, "Eva?"

Eva snapped back to reality and nodded. "Coming."

She didn't feel like showing up in front of Adrian and Vivian, but Carter wasn't giving her that opportunity.

She knew he was trying to force her to face the reality.

As they approached Adrian's office, Carter knocked on the door.

"Come in." Adrian's cold voice came from inside.

Carter smirked and pushed the door open.

As the door swung open, Adrian looked their way, and a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.

"Mr. Blackwood." Carter walked forward. "I'm here to report on yesterday's work."

"Hmm." Adrian nodded with a cold expression.

Eva stood behind Carter, watching them discuss work.

Adrian at work was completely different from his private self.

While working, he was rational and aloof.

His hands were clasped together on his knees as he listened to Carter.

But from time to time, his gaze shifted from Carter to her.

Eva didn't know if it was her imagination, but Adrian's gaze felt chilly.

 

Chapter 18

Under Adrian's cold gaze, Eva felt a bit uneasy.

Didn't he come with Vivian at lunchtime? Why wasn't Vivian in the office now?

Lost in thought, Eva didn't catch what Carter asked her, but she quickly snapped back to reality and responded. Soon the report ended, and Carter offered to leave.

Adrian gave a cold nod.

As Carter turned around, Adrian fixed his eyes on Eva.

Earlier, when she stood behind Carter, she was partially hidden from his view. But now, there was no way to avoid it.

Just as Carter reached the door, he suddenly turned back and looked at Eva.

"Eva, shall I pick you up again tomorrow at noon?"

Eva was taken aback.

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"Mr. Blackwood, do you mind if I have a word with Eva?" Carter asked.

Eva furrowed her brows, wondering what he was up to.

Before she could react, Adrian coldly replied, "Better not, considering it's working hours."

Carter seemed surprised by his response, but he added, "Then I'll come for her after work." With that, he left.

The office fell into a hushed silence.

Adrian's intense gaze landed on Eva's face with a tinge of displeasure.

"So, you went out with him during lunch?"

Eva nodded. There was no point in denying it. After all, nothing happened between her and Carter.

Adrian's brows knitted. "What did you do together?"

"We had lunch and discussed yesterday's work."

Adrian's frown deepened, but the mention of work eased his tension.

They both worked for the Blackwood Group. It was normal for them to discuss work.

Still, Adrian harbored some displeasure within him. He pressed his lips together and said, "People might think I've been mistreating you." Subconsciously, Eva responded, "And you think you haven't mistreated me?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, both of them froze.

Eva felt annoyed with herself.

Perhaps it was their childhood together that made her so unrestrained in her speech around Adrian.

Adrian had seen her at her ugliest, most disheveled, and most childish.

During her reflections, Adrian abruptly stood up and approached her.

Though his figure was slim, he exerted a powerful presence, perhaps because of his longstanding position of power.

Eva instinctively stepped back.

But Adrian gripped her shoulders and trapped her between his strong chest and the cold wall.

"What are you doing?" Eva swallowed.

She wanted to escape, but Adrian held the nape of her neck. Then his warm breath brushed her face.

"Now, tell me how exactly I've mistreated you," he said in a low, melodious voice.

He even kneaded the nape of Eva's neck, each touch searingly tender.

Confusion flashed in Eva's eyes. What was he doing?

She believed that he would give a cold shoulder to her, especially after he ignored her message yesterday and disappeared for the night. At the very least, it should have been awkward.

But now he behaved like he had never received that message at all.

Or perhaps he was pretending as if nothing had happened?

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Adrian pinched Eva's chin and narrowed his eyes. "What's wrong?"

Eva stared into his face, her lips parted, words trapped at the edge of her tongue.

She wanted to ask him, but she couldn't utter a single word.

What if he questioned her, "I was just trying to leave you some dignity. Why can't you see that?"

How should she respond?

She'd better take care of it quietly.

"It's nothing," Eva shook her head.

Adrian's eyes darkened.

Eva had been acting strange lately. She suddenly felt distant, unwilling to say anything.

As he thought about this, the affectionate feeling disappeared completely. Adrian released Eva's chin and stepped back.

Suppressing the lump in her throat, Eva said, "I'll get back to work."

As she turned around, she heard Adrian say, "Wait."

"What?"

"You haven't taken your vacation this year, right?"

Eva paused and nodded. "Yes."

"Then start your vacation tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, you've been unwell recently. You can have a good rest during your vacation."

His concern was for Eva's recent state and fever, prompting him to suggest an early vacation.

But to Eva, his words could be translated into a warning.

She rarely took her vacation at this time of the year, but Adrian asked her to take it early. Was he suggesting that she should get rid of the child during her vacation? Having known him since childhood, Eva understood him too well.

He was not one to mince words or act pointlessly.

Despite being aware of this possibility, Eva still felt a chill down her spine.

After a long while, she replied in a strangled voice, "Okay, I'll start my vacation tomorrow."

...

Upon hearing of this, Emily got furious and almost swept the utensils off the table and onto the floor.

"Damn Adrian! How could he be so cruel? I'm going to kill him!"

Anticipating her outburst, Eva had booked a private room in advance to ensure privacy for their conversation.

While Emily raged, Eva appeared calm. However, she didn't touch any of the dishes on the table and just quietly sipped her tea.

Seeing Emily angry, she advised, "Don't be mad. We'd have to pay for anything broken."

"You're right." Emily quickly put down the cup in her hand, but then she stood up and shook Eva's shoulders, "Eva, how can you stay so calm? He can't treat you like this!"

Eva, feeling dizzy from the shaking, put down her cup. "So what should I do? Force him to take responsibility and let him, Vivian, and everyone else laugh at the Hansen family?" She paused and shook her head. "Our marriage is a mere transaction. At least we should part ways with dignity."

 

 

Chapter 19

Eva's words calmed Emily down a bit.

She knew Eva was always sensible. She should have expected this outcome earlier. But even so, she felt sorry for Eva.

She bit her lip and asked, "But... are you really okay with this?"

Eva responded indifferently, "Does it help to protest?"

She was indeed not okay with it and had tried to see if anything could change.

However, reality slapped her in the face and told her not to delude herself.

"Will you go with me to the clinic tomorrow?" Eva paused and chuckled. "I don't want to go alone."

Emily nodded. "Come on. I'm your best friend. Even if I'm busy, I'll make time, okay? You didn't have to ask."

Eva smiled, "Let's eat then."

She appeared calm and showed no sign of dissatisfaction.

Looking at Eva like this, Emily felt like crying.

Before the Hansen family went bankrupt, Eva was a happy, carefree girl. Now, she was anxious, hesitant, and restrained.

"Eva, if you feel upset, just cry." Emily sighed. "There's no one else here. I'm your best friend. It's okay to be vulnerable." Hearing this, Eva froze.

Should she cry?

After the Hansen family's collapse, she cried countless times, and it was during that time that she realized crying couldn't solve any problems.

If she cried, those who wanted to bring her down would mock her for sure.

Since then, Eva decided she would no longer shed tears in front of others, no matter how trustworthy they might be.

With this in mind, Eva smiled softly. "Silly girl, what's there to cry about? He made it clear long ago that our marriage was a sham. I helped him appease his grandmother, and he cleared my debts. It was a mere transaction." She said it with a light-hearted tone, but Emily was furious.

"You're lying! If it was just a transaction, why would you get pregnant? If he treated it as a transaction, he shouldn't have touched you. Isn't abortion risky? What does he think of you?"

Eva felt a dull ache in her heart.

In the beginning, their relationship wasn't as it appeared now.

They lived together to avoid suspicion, but Adrian would voluntarily sleep on the couch.

Eva was only able to climb out of the depths of despair with his help. And on top of that, he was also the man she liked. So, how could she bear to let him sleep on the couch?

Eva offered to share the bed with Adrian, with a pillow between them on the ample bed, which didn't affect their sleep.

They maintained this distance for a long while. The change happened one night.

Adrian took her to an event and introduced her to important people. Eva used to know those important figures as the heiress of the Hansen family, but that night she was introduced as Adrian's wife. On Adrian's account, no one dared to disrespect her.

Happy with the proceedings, Eva invited Adrian for a drink, and they discussed work as they drank heavily.

It took Eva a lot of effort to help Adrian back home, but she accidentally stumbled and ended up in his arms.

It seemed to ignite something in Adrian, who firmly grasped her waist and pinned her beneath him.

Despite his lean figure, he had a strong build. Possibly due to the influence of alcohol, Eva's face instantly flushed, and she tried to push him away.

The next second, Adrian's warm lips pressed against hers.

Stunned, Eva lost the will to push him away as warmth filled her mouth.

By the time she realized what was happening, she was kissing him back.

Adrian held her tight like a fish long deprived of water.

That night, Eva indulged herself.

When she woke up in Adrian's embrace, she saw his furrowed brows. As he was about to say something, she preempted, "We both had too much to drink last night. It was just an accident." A flicker of surprise crossed Adrian's eyes as he repeated, "An accident?"

Eva nodded. "Yes."

It could only be an accident. If anything complicated arose, it would surely destroy their current relationship. He might think that she had ulterior motives and would no longer let her stay by his side. Adrian's expression briefly turned gloomy.

After a while, he regained his composure and asked coldly, "Girls tend to lose out in these situations. What do you want?"

Eva pretended to be nonchalant. "Why would I want anything? Adults have physical needs, that's all."

Adria gritted his teeth and squinted at her. "You think it's just a physical need?"

Eva shrugged carelessly, "What else could it be? Don't overthink it. If you really think you owe me, just give me money."

That day, she carefully shielded her affection for Adrian, suggesting it was all a transaction.

She said she wanted ten million dollars.

Adrian's face sharpened in an instant. Eva had never seen him so angry.

Still, he gave her the ten million dollars.

Then Adrian gave Eva the cold shoulders for a long time.

He would avoid her gaze and leave for work early to avoid her and deliberately stay late at the office, so they hardly crossed paths. Their relationship improved after Mabel's birthday celebration.

Snapping back to reality, Eva sighed.

"It should be settled quickly."

Once everything was settled, she would leave.

Once Mabel's surgery was over, she and Adrian would get a divorce, and then she would be free to go wherever she wished.

Eva filed a leave request with the HR department, which was quickly approved.

The next day, Eva woke up early, met Emily, and went directly to the clinic.

 

Chapter 20

Upon arriving at the clinic, Emily looked around with a frown and asked in a low voice, "Why don't we go to Cleveland Clinic? Is this small one reliable?" Eva calmly replied, "It's not convenient."

There were people in Cleveland Clinic who knew Mabel. She hadn't considered being pregnant, so she went there to get checked before.

Now that she needed to handle it discreetly, she couldn't go back to Cleveland Clinic.

What if someone spotted her and told Mabel?

To avoid any accidents, Eva planned to have an abortion at this small clinic.

Emily went to register and pay for Eva's examination.

While waiting, the two sat on the bench.

Emily turned her head to look at Eva every now and then.

Eva couldn't resist asking, "Why do you keep looking at me?"

Emily's eyes turned slightly red. "I was wondering when you became so cold-hearted."

Eva was taken aback. She was cold-hearted?

"This child is also yours," Emily whispered.

Eva unconsciously rested her hand on her belly.

Yes, this child was hers too.

She didn't want to abort, but she seemed to have no better option.

Seeing her lost in thought, Emily continued, "Eva, you don't want to give up the baby, right? Let's think of another solution."

"Another solution?" Eva stared blankly.

She felt as if she was caught in a dead end. Was there any other path she could take?

"Yes," Emily grasped her shoulders firmly. "There must be a way. I know you can't bear to part with the baby. Just think it through so you don't regret it later, okay?" Eva was about to nod when the nurse called her name.

It was still early, and there weren't many people around.

Eva instinctively stood up. "I'll go for the check-up first." Emily nodded, "Alright, go ahead."

...

The clinic was cold and unwelcoming throughout.

Most people came here for abortions.

The doctor glanced at Eva over his glasses with her pregnancy report in hand. "Have you decided on an abortion?"

Mind in turmoil, Eva hesitated after hearing the question.

The doctor, accustomed to such hesitancy in this kind of clinic, explained the process of abortion, the costs, and the necessary check-ups with an impassive face. "If you've made up your mind, go pay and wait for your turn," he concluded.

"Thank you," Eva stood up and walked outside.

Emily was waiting outside and hurried over as soon as she saw Eva.

"What did they say?"

Eva was about to speak but suddenly felt her legs go weak, almost falling to the ground.

Emily, quick on her feet, caught her in time.

"Are you alright?"

Eva muttered, "I'm fine..."

Emily helped her to the bench, full of concern. "Did you skip breakfast?"

Eva had no appetite at all.

Lately, she hadn't been eating properly. It wasn't a lack of desire but rather a sudden loss of appetite that might be related to an illness or possibly the pregnancy.

Or maybe it was because of Adrian.

"You look pale. Are you feeling unwell?"

"I might have low blood sugar," Eva said.

"I'll go get you something to eat. Wait here for me. I'll be back soon."

Emily left in a hurry.

Eva closed her eyes wearily.

The two voices in her mind started to argue again.

"What are you thinking? Haven't you already made up your mind? Why do you hesitate? If you don't resolve this, you'll always be in pain. Don't forget, he's already asked for a divorce." "So what? You're an adult. Can't you support a child on your own?"

"You think raising a child only requires money? What about emotional and psychological aspects?"

"If you don't want the child to grow up in a single-parent home, you can remarry. You're still so young. You can get a new husband whenever you want."

The combination of low blood sugar and these two voices gave Eva an almost unbearable headache.

An astonished voice suddenly interrupted.

"Eva? Is that you?"

At first, the voice didn't sound clear, and Eva thought she might have misheard.

However, gradually, the voice became clearer. She opened her eyes and looked towards the source of the sound.

A woman in her forties stood there, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

It took Eva a few seconds to recognize who it was.

Eva's complexion changed slightly, and the pain seemed to disappear as she straightened up.

"Oh my, it's really you."

The woman approached Eva warmly. "I assumed I was mistaken. What are you doing here?"

Eva's heart sank.

She came to this clinic to avoid familiar faces.

But fate didn't choose her.

Most importantly, this woman was Diana Robinson, who spent a lot of time with Adrian's mother, Margaret Blackwood. Eva could only face her calmly.

"Hi, Mrs. Robinson. I'm here with my friend."

Emily had gone out and wouldn't be back soon. Diana didn't know Emily, so Eva thought she wouldn't gossip.

"Is that so?" Diana's gaze fell on Eva's belly, suspicion apparent in her eyes.

Diana was known to be sharp-tongued and gossipy. If she found out someone's secret, the whole town would know by the next day. It was terrible to run into her.

Eva pressed her lips together, her expression gloomy.

As expected, Diana kept glancing at Eva's belly and sneered, "Where's your friend then? Why are you here alone? Are you trying to hide something? Margaret said such nice things about you. You're not going to let her down, right?" Eva couldn't stand being slandered.

"Mrs. Robinson, what do you mean? I don't have anything to hide. If you say that again, I'll sue you for slander."

Diana pretended to be frightened. "Hey, I was just joking. Why are you acting like this? Did I hit a nerve?"