Chapter 28 Confrontation
Reena's face went pale, and her eyes grew wide, shock and disbelief clear on her face.
"That's—that's private property. You can't just—"
"I can. And I have." Adrian moved to stand next to Eva, calm and steady. "It's over, Reena. Your pointless grudge against a woman who did nothing wrong except exist ends now."
"Nothing wrong?" Reena's voice rose to a shriek. "Are you serious? She took everything from me!"
"No." Eva stepped forward, her voice steady and quiet. "You took everything from yourself. You had a choice, Reena. You could have let go of your mother's hatred. You could have built your own life. But you chose to destroy mine instead."
Tears of rage shone in Reena's eyes. "You don't understand. You could never understand."
"You're right." Eva cut her off. "I don't understand. And I don't need to." She turned to Adrian. "Call the police."
"I already did." Adrian kept his eyes on Reena. "They'll be here in five minutes."
Reena looked back and forth between them, no longer able to stay calm. Desperation showed in her eyes, and her shoulders slumped in defeat.
For a moment, she looked heartbroken, like someone whose world, built on years of bitter schemes, had fallen apart in one night.
Then her expression hardened.
"If I'm going down," she hissed, "I'm taking you with me."
She reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out something that glinted in the dim light.
A knife.
Time seemed to freeze.
Eva stared at the blade in Reena's hand. It was a small, very sharp letter opener that gleamed under the bright lights.
It looked almost fancy, like something meant for an executive's desk.
But the cold hatred in Reena's eyes took away any sense of elegance from the moment.
"Reena." Adrian's voice was dangerously calm. "Put that down."
"Why should I?" Reena's laugh was rough and wild. "What do I have left to lose? My plans are ruined. My advantage is gone. I'm going to prison either way."
"You'll make things worse for yourself."
"Worse?" She laughed again. "There is nothing worse for me. There's only this—the satisfaction of knowing that Eva won't get her happy ending either."
She lunged.
Eva stumbled back, her heels catching on the carpet. The knife sliced through the air where her chest had been a moment before, close enough for her to feel the brush of metal against her coat.
"Eva!" Adrian moved faster than she thought possible, putting himself between her and Reena. "Get back!"
But Reena wasn't finished.
She swung again, wild and desperate, the blade aimed at Adrian's throat. He grabbed her wrist and twisted it forcefully until she cried out. The knife slipped from her grasp and dropped to the floor.
"Let go of me!" Reena thrashed in his grip. "LET GO!"
Adrian didn't let go.
He maintained his grip on her, holding her arms firmly at her sides. His expression remained serious and unmoving as his security team rushed in to hold Reena down further.
In seconds, Reena was on the ground with her hands behind her back, her screams quieted by the thick carpet.
Eva stood frozen, shaking, her breath coming in quick, uneven gasps.
It was over.
It was finally over.
"Eva." Adrian was in front of her suddenly, his hands cupping her face, his dark eyes searching hers. "Are you hurt? Did she—"
"I'm fine." Eva's voice trembled. "I'm fine. She didn't touch me."
But Adrian didn't seem convinced. He checked her for injuries before pulling her into his arms.
Eva collapsed against his chest, her legs finally giving out under her. She buried her face in his shoulder, breathing in his scent, sandalwood and something that was just him. She felt safe.
"It's over," Adrian murmured against her hair. "You did it, Eva. You were incredible."
Eva let out a shaky, weak laugh. Amazing was the last thing she felt; tiredness and fear threatened to take over.
But she was alive.
Her children were safe.
And Reena would never hurt her again.
The police arrived seven minutes later.
Eva stood next to Adrian as officers filled the penthouse, checking that everything was safe and asking questions.
Reena was pulled to her feet and taken out in handcuffs, her earlier anger replaced by empty shock.
As she passed Eva, she stopped.
The officers tried to push her forward, but Reena fought back, staring at Eva with a look that was hard to ignore.
"This isn't over," she whispered. "My mother is still out there. And she won't stop until you're destroyed."
Eva's confidence shook. Reena's cold words broke through her courage, sending a wave of fear through her heart.
The thought of facing another threat, someone just as full of hate, sent a new wave of fear through her.
She tried to steady herself, reminding her heart that she and her children were safe for now, but the shadow of Reena's mother loomed somewhere out there.
Eva couldn't stop worrying that tonight was only the end of the beginning.
But she didn't show her internal conflict on her face. Eva met her stare without flinching. "Then she'll fail too."
Something flickered in Reena's eyes. Was it fear? Respect? The officers dragged her away before Eva could tell.
The penthouse fell silent.
Eva let out a slow breath as the stress of the night finally caught up with her. Her legs shook with tiredness, and her head ached from all the excitement.
"Eva." Daniel appeared at her side, his expression tight with concern. "Are you okay?"
"I will be." She gave a weak smile. "After I sleep for about a hundred years."
"I'll settle for getting you out of here." Daniel glanced at Adrian, something unspoken passing between the two men. "My car is downstairs. I'll take the evidence to Leonard—he needs to review it before we hand it over to the authorities."
Adrian nodded. "Good. I'll take Eva home."
"I can take myself—" Eva started.
"No." Both men spoke simultaneously.