Chapter 56: Her Fear. His Cunningness

Author’s POV

“A new mother should eat more. It will be beneficial for both her and the baby,” Maria said warmly as she arranged the plates of food on the small table in front of Eva.

Eva sat quietly on the bed, watching Maria without much expression on her face. The room smelled of freshly cooked food, but her mind seemed distant, tangled in thoughts she didn’t want to face.

“Do you wish to eat anything else?” Maria asked, turning toward her with curiosity.

“No,” Eva replied softly.

Maria frowned in mild surprise and sat down beside her on the bed. “Why? It’s so strange that you don’t want to eat any of your favorite foods.”

Eva hesitated, lowering her gaze to her hands. “Because I… I.. ”

“You’re craving something else. Got it, girl. Got it,” Maria interrupted playfully before Eva could finish.

Eva couldn’t help but smile. “Not exactly craving. But… yes, I do want to eat something else.”

“Well, that’s exactly what we call a craving,” Maria laughed. “Oh, Eva, you remind me of the time when I was pregnant with my munchkin.”

Her eyes sparkled with nostalgia.

“Girl, I troubled my husband so much during that time. You know, you should take advantage of this period. It’s the perfect chance.”

Eva tilted her head slightly. “Take advantage?”

“Yes,” Maria said mischievously. “Just take your revenge on Rafael. Trouble him by demanding some random food in the middle of the night.”

Eva chuckled at the thought.

“Oh, that’s devilish,” she commented.

Maria shrugged dramatically. “Husbands can be devilish too. So why shouldn’t we take our revenge in the sweetest possible way?”

Eva laughed softly, feeling a rare moment of lightness.

“Listen,” Maria continued with a wink, “don’t overthink everything. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, don’t cry. Instead, make Rafael cry because of your cravings.”

Eva’s smile lingered, but Maria’s words sparked a sudden idea in her mind.

A small, thoughtful silence followed.

“But remember what I taught you today,” Maria added.

“Yeah,” Eva replied.

Maria raised an eyebrow teasingly. “What did I teach you?”

Eva tried to suppress a smile. “Don’t walk fast. Don't Run. Eat a lot. And trouble Rafael.”

Maria burst into laughter.

“Good girl,” she said proudly.

Then she pushed the plate gently toward Eva. “Now eat. You must be hungry.”

Eva nodded slowly and picked up the spoon.

—-

At night,

The mansion was quiet when Rafael finally entered the bedroom.

It was already midnight.

He had spent the entire evening in a tense meeting with several mafia allies, discussing strategies for the upcoming counterattack against the Romanos. The war looming ahead weighed heavily on his mind.

When he stepped inside the room, his gaze immediately fell on Eva.

She was sleeping peacefully on the bed.

Her long hair was spread across the pillow, and her breathing was soft and steady. For a moment, Rafael simply stood there, watching her.

Something in his chest eased.

He walked into the bathroom and returned a few minutes later after taking a quick shower. Water droplets still clung to his skin. He wore only loose white pants, leaving his upper body bare.

Quietly, he slid into the bed behind Eva and wrapped his arm around her waist.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as the familiar scent of her hair reached him. He inhaled slowly, holding her closer.

For the first time that day, his body relaxed.

“Rafael?” Eva murmured sleepily.

“Hmm,” he responded.

“You came back?” she whispered.

“Hmm.”

She turned slightly in his arms until she was facing him.

“Where did you go?” she asked softly.

“I had a meeting with some of my mafia friends,” Rafael replied.

His voice was calm, but his eyes still carried traces of exhaustion.

“Did you eat?” he asked after a moment.

“Hmm,” Eva answered.

Rafael narrowed his eyes slightly. “What does ‘hmm’ mean?”

Eva shrugged lightly. “So many things. I don’t remember.”

A faint smile appeared on Rafael’s lips.

He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

“Good,” he said.

For a moment, silence settled between them.

Then Eva hesitated.

“Rafael… may I ask you something?”

“Yes,” he replied.

She took a small breath.

“I want to talk to my dad and my brother.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she felt his body stiffen.

Rafael’s arms tightened around her slightly. His jaw hardened as he inhaled slowly, as if trying to control the sudden surge of anger rising inside him.

“Regarding what?” he asked in a controlled voice.

“I just… feel like talking to them,” Eva said carefully. “It has been so many days.”

She paused before continuing.

“I swear to God, I won’t tell them anything about us.”

Rafael remained silent.

“I just want to share the happy news,” she added gently. “My dad always used to say that he wanted to become a grandfather someday… especially from my child.”

Her voice softened with emotion.

“And now…” Eva whispered, placing a hand over her stomach, “…that wish is finally coming true. So I want to share this news with him,"she replied.

“Do you remember his contact number?” he asked. Rafael’s tone was calm, almost casual.

Eva looked at him in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. “Yes,” she replied without hesitation.

Without another word, Rafael reached toward the bedside table and picked up his new phone. He unlocked it and extended it toward her. “Talk.”

A soft smile touched Eva’s lips, fragile but genuine. “Thank you,” she said quietly. Taking the phone, she quickly typed in the familiar number, her fingers moving with urgency. She brought the phone to her ear as it began to ring.

Once. Twice. Three times.

No answer.

Her smile faded, replaced by a faint crease between her brows. Rafael’s gaze stayed fixed on her, silently observing every flicker of emotion that crossed her face.

“I think Daddy might be in the washroom,” she murmured, more to herself than to him, as if trying to soothe the disappointment rising inside her.

“Try once again,” Rafael said evenly.

Eva nodded and dialed the number again. This time, she pressed the phone closer to her ear, hope clinging stubbornly to her chest.

The ringing continued.

And again… no answer.

Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She lowered the phone, her lips pressing together to stop them from trembling.

“You may talk to them later,” Rafael said, gently taking the phone from her hand.

He studied her face… the quiet sadness, the disappointment she tried so hard to hide. For a brief moment, something unreadable passed through his eyes.

“You will let me?” she asked softly, looking up at him with a trace of uncertainty.

“Yes,” he replied without pause.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Rafael’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Sleep now,” he said, his voice lowering. “I don’t want you to stress yourself.”

He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, lingering for just a second longer than necessary. Then he set the phone back on the table and turned toward her, pulling her into his arms.

Eva didn’t resist. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat calmed her, but the ache in her heart remained.

Her father hadn’t answered.

And that thought alone made her chest tighten.

Slowly, her eyes began to close, exhaustion taking over her

fragile emotions.

But she didn’t know the truth.

She didn’t know that the silence on the other end of the call wasn’t coincidence.

It was control.

It was planned.

It was Rafael’s game.