Chapter 16 if you'll let me
"We’re still strangers. You can’t just waltz into my life and expect me to trust you."
“I know. I’m not welcome in your life, and I don’t expect anything.” Adrian met her gaze. “I just want a chance to prove myself. To make up for the years I missed.”
"And how will you do that?"
"By protecting you and what matters to you. By being there for you." He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Let me stand by your side. That’s all I’m asking."
Eva looked into his eyes, searching for any sign he was lying.
She found none.
“And what about the children?” she asked. "What do you want from them? You keep saying you don’t want custody of them. But how can I trust you?"
“I told you, I don’t expect anything. I just want to protect you all. I’ll accept what you’re willing to give.” Adrian’s expression softened. “I have no intention of taking them from you. I just want to know them. To be part of their lives, if you’ll let me.”
Eva felt her chest grow tight. Was she really thinking about letting Adrian into her life?
For so long, she had raised Lily and Ethan by herself. Derek never cared about them; to him, they were just extra baggage or even problems. She had done everything alone.
She remembered the night Lily was sick with a fever; she sat up in the darkness, cooling her daughter's skin with damp towels while Ethan cried from the other room, needing comfort too.
There was no one to turn to, no one to share the worry or the burden.
She had carried her daughter to the hospital and looked after her alone.
It had always been like that.
Now, this man was offering to help carry that burden.
Offering to be a father.
She saw it in Adrian’s eyes. The pain from all those lost years and the guilt that showed in his hopeful smile were clear.
He wanted what he had missed, and she could feel how sorry he was.
“I need time,” she finally said. “To think. To process all of this.”
"Take your time." Adrian sat back, giving her space. "I'm not going anywhere.”
The waiter brought the wine, and their conversation turned to lighter topics. They chatted about the restaurant, the city, and other small things that didn’t make Eva think too much.
Eva’s thoughts raced. Could she really let her guard down? Was she being foolish for even thinking about it?
Adrian Cavanaugh was not what she expected.
He was sincere.
And despite every warning bell in her head, Eva found herself wanting to believe him.
Wanting to trust him.
Wanting… more.
When Eva returned home that night, the house was dark.
Derek’s car was gone again. He was probably at Reena’s place, and Mrs. Chen had already gone to bed. The children were asleep, and Eva listened to their soft breathing through the baby monitor she always kept nearby.
She should have felt relieved with the quiet house and her family safe. Instead, a nervous feeling crept in, surprising her.
Still, she couldn’t stop feeling uneasy. The worry just wouldn’t leave.
Something was wrong.
She tried to ignore it, but deep down, she knew something was wrong tonight. She felt danger close by.
She walked slowly through the house, checking the locks and looking into the shadows. Everything looked normal. Nothing seemed out of place.
Still, she couldn’t get rid of the feeling.
Her phone buzzed with a new message notification.
Eva pulled out her phone, expecting a message from Adrian.
But what she saw was a text from an Unknown Number.
It wasn’t Adrian. Who could it be?
She opened the message. Uneasiness crept into her body.
There was a single picture. It was a photo of her walking into the restaurant tonight.
Below the photo, a single line of text:
“He can’t protect you forever. Eva”
Eva froze, fear gripping her.
Before she could react, another message appeared:
“We know what you’re hiding, Kitty. And soon, everyone will know your secret.”
Eva's breath caught, her mind flashing to that one memory she had tried to bury.
The word 'Kitty' hurt her, bringing up a cold panic she tried to hide even from herself.
She pressed a hand to her chest, willing her heartbeat to slow. No one was supposed to know.
No one could have found out what happened all those years ago.
Her hands shook so much she almost dropped her phone.
We?
Her thoughts spun rapidly, thinking of the possibility. Was it Derek? Reena? Or someone else she hadn’t noticed? Each possibility felt worse than the one before.
Someone had been following her.
And that someone knew about Adrian.
And someone wanted her to know that she wasn’t safe.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. This wasn’t the time to panic. She had to stay strong for her kids.
She opened Adrian’s contact and typed a message, her fingers shaking.
“Someone’s following me. I received a text from an unknown number. It’s a photo of me entering the restaurant this evening. I’m scared. I don’t know what to do.”
The reply came within seconds, “Eva, don’t panic. Just stay inside the house. Lock all the doors. I’m sending someone now.”
Then another message: “Forget it, I’m on my way. I’ll be there in fifteen.”
Eva pressed her phone to her chest, her heart pounding.
Twenty minutes later, Eva heard the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
She walked carefully to the front door, looked through the window, then unlocked it.
Adrian stood on the porch, his face tense with worry. Behind him, two men in dark suits stood by a shiny black SUV. She realized they were bodyguards.
“Eva.” Adrian stepped inside the moment she opened the door, his eyes scanning her face. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” The words came out shakier than she intended. “I’m just… scared.”
“I’m here. Don’t be scared. Show me the messages.”
Eva gave him her phone. She watched as his face darkened while he read the texts, his jaw tight with anger.
“Do you recognize the number?” she asked.