Chapter 31 Worries
"About what comes next. About facing my step-mom." She paused to think. "Last night was only the start. Helena is still out there, always working in the background."
Eva sighed as old memories came back. "For years, she controlled our family, pretended to be a good mother, changed the truth, and made people turn against me. She never accepted my kids or me, and I know she's already planning something new."
"Whatever she's planning, we'll be ready," Adrian said, trying to comfort her. But Eva still couldn't let go of her worries.
"The trial will be hard, Adrian. Reena knows how to fool people. She set me up and almost killed me. With all her power and lies, I'm afraid that even with all the evidence, she might escape punishment."
"That's not going to happen."
"You never really know what will happen next. My reputation is still damaged. And my kids will need years of support to deal with everything they've been through."
She thought of Lily refusing to sleep with the lights off and Ethan jumping whenever the phone rang. The signs of fear stayed on their small, worried faces, making Eva's heart ache with guilt and a need to protect them.
It was only after they moved into her father's mansion that they felt brave enough to smile.
"That's a lot to handle."
"It is."
Adrian was quiet for a moment, then reached out and took her hand.
"I know you're scared, but you don't have to face any of it alone."
Eva looked at their hands. His were big and steady; hers were small and shaking.
"I know." She took a deep breath. "That's the other thing that scares me."
"Me?"
"Not you. This." She pointed between them. "I spent seven years in a marriage that made me believe love wasn't real. That trusting someone only brought pain."
Eva looked at him, tears in her eyes. "Sometimes I still hear Derek's voice in my head, telling me I'm not good enough and making me doubt every good thing. He made kindness seem like weakness and every promise feel like a threat."
"Eva..."
"Now you're here, saying and doing all the right things, and I keep waiting for everything to fall apart."
"It won't."
"How do you know?"
Adrian turned to face her, his dark eyes full of intensity.
"Because I've already made all the mistakes I will make with you. I left once, but I won't leave again. I stayed silent before, but I won't do that now. No matter what happens, I'll be right beside you."
Eva searched his eyes for any sign he was lying.
She found none.
All she saw in his eyes was sincerity and determination. And love, so much that it almost scared her.
"Okay," she whispered.
Adrian's brow furrowed. "Okay?"
"Okay, I'll try." Eva gave a small, uncertain smile. "I can't promise it will be easy. I can't promise I won't push you away when things get hard. But I'll try to trust you and believe that maybe, after everything, I really deserve to be happy."
A quiet battle raged inside her as she spoke. A part of her still held on to the hurt and doubt, thoughts whispering in her head, that she was setting herself up for more heartbreak.
But beneath all the fear, hope flickered stubbornly, pushing her to believe that happiness could be possible again, if only she dared to reach for it.
Adrian's face softened, as if in wonder.
"Thank you. And you do deserve it, Eva. More than anyone I've ever known."
He pulled her into his arms and held her gently against his chest. Eva closed her eyes and listened to the steady beat of his heart.
For so long, she had been alone.
But not anymore.
"So," Adrian murmured against her hair, "what happens now?"
Eva thought about the challenges ahead: facing Helena, Reena's trial, and then a long road to healing.
But she also remembered the victories she had already won.
Derek had agreed to sign the divorce papers. Reena was in jail. Eva now had the proof that could bring down everyone who had worked against her family.
She also thought about the future, something she was finally starting to believe in.
"Now," she said softly, "we take back everything they stole from us."
She pulled back and looked at Adrian, her eyes full of determination.
"And we make them regret ever crossing the Fransis family."
Adrian gave her a slow, confident smile, full of promise.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Eva's breath caught as she looked at him.
He was pale, his left arm in a sling, which she noticed now, from where Reena's knife had sliced into his shoulder.
The doctors said the wound was deep but not infected, and that it would heal without permanent damage. But seeing him injured, knowing he'd taken that blade for her...
Something had shifted between them last night.
Something she wasn't ready to name.
"Eva." Adrian's voice drew her from her thoughts. He was watching her with those intense dark eyes, a small smile playing at his lips. "You're staring."
Heat rushed to Eva's cheeks. "I was just—checking your bandage. Making sure you're not bleeding through."
"The bandage is on my shoulder. You were looking at my face." Adrian teased.
Eva's face flushed, "I was looking at your shoulder."
"You were looking at my—"
"Mommy!!!" Lily bounced on her feet, looking all excited.
"Sweetheart, why are you here? And how many times have I told you not to run?"
"Sorry, Mommy." Lily giggled sheepishly. "But grandpa is calling you for breakfast."
"Oh, okay, let's go." Eva agreed instantly, avoiding the conversation they were having before this.
"Uncle Adrian, you come too."
"Baby, Uncle is a bit busy. He'll come after some time. Let's leave to greet your grandpa. Come on."
As she walked away, Adrian watched silently with a knowing smile on his face.
His little lady was not as closed off as she shows on the surface.