Chapter 32 Stepmother
For the first time in years, Eva sat down to a family breakfast without the familiar knot of dread twisting in her stomach.
Morning sunlight filled the Fransis estate's dining room. The long mahogany table was covered with fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, and all the special dishes Mrs. Chen made for special occasions.
Her father, Richard, sat at the head of the table, more relaxed than Eva had seen him after she discussed her divorce and Reena's true motive.
He leaned back in his chair, a soft smile replacing his usual sternness, and his normally tense shoulders dropped as he surveyed his family.
The worry lines on his face looked softer today, and his eyes were brighter, glancing around the room as if letting himself believe things might finally be all right.
Daniel was there too, still at the house after the shock of Reena's arrest for trying to kill Eva and stealing money from the Francis group, which had disturbed the family and made everyone uneasy.
He sometimes tapped his fingers nervously on his mug while watching the door, as if waiting for more bad news to come.
He was reading something on his tablet, sometimes mumbling about stock prices and market changes, but he often looked up to watch Lily and Ethan.
Lily sat next to Adrian, chatting about her dreams of big pancakes as he listened patiently.
Her son, Ethan, sat across from them, his dark eyes watching Adrian's every move. It was clear that Ethan still didn't trust Adrian as much as Lily did.
Eva's son rarely spoke at these breakfasts, but it was clear he was paying close attention to Adrian.
And then there was Adrian.
Eva caught her breath, heart stuttering, when she looked at him.
Memories came unbidden, bits of late-night talks and almost-confessions, the kiss that still quietly lingered between them.
A familiar ache pressed at her chest, a sharp, longing reminder of every word left unsaid.
"Eva." Adrian's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
"W-what?"
"You're staring again. Are you looking at my arm sling or my face?" Adrian teased, a playful smile spreading across his face.
Eva's cheeks grew hot. "Shut up. I wasn't looking at you. I was... I was just looking at the flower behind you."
"But there's no flower behind me. I'm sure you were looking at my—"
"Mommy, you were looking at Uncle Adrian's face," Lily said helpfully. "I saw you."
Daniel snorted, almost choking on his coffee, while Richard hid behind his newspaper, his hands shaking slightly.
Eva felt a rush of embarrassment; she wished she could disappear. Her hands gripped her fork tightly, and she quickly looked down at her plate, her cheeks burning, very aware that everyone was watching her.
"Thank you, Lily," she said, her voice dry. "You were very helpful."
"You're welcome, Mommy!" Lily beamed, not noticing the adult tension around her.
Adrian's smile grew more amused. "Just so you know, I don't mind being looked at. Especially by you."
Eva opened her mouth to reply, unsure what to say, when Mrs. Chen appeared in the doorway.
"Miss Eva? Someone is here to see you."
Eva frowned. "Who?"
Something hard to read flickered across Mrs. Chen's face. "Mrs. Helena Park. Your stepmother is here. She says she has something to talk to you."
A sudden, cold feeling spread through the room like a chilly wind.
The newspaper in Richard's hands was crumpled by his fist, his face turning pale as he looked up. Daniel dropped his tablet on the table; he stared, eyes wide with shock. Adrian stood up quickly, wincing and holding his injured shoulder, every move full of worry.
A chill went through Eva's spine, goosebumps prickling her skin.
Helena was here.
Eva found Helena waiting in the formal sitting room—the air thick with unease, the same room her father used for serious talks and business meetings.
Helena stood by the window, looking out at the gardens with practiced calm. She was dressed perfectly, as always: a cream-colored suit, a pearl necklace around her neck, and not a hair out of place.
She looked just like she always acted: a polished, elegant woman of high society.
But Eva knew better now.
"Helena."
Her stepmother turned, eyes flashing with calculation and warning before she summoned her practiced warmth.
"Eva, darling." Helena stepped forward, arms out as if to hug her. "I came as soon as I heard. That terrible business with Reena, I simply can't believe she would do such things. My own daughter—"
"Stop."
That single, quiet word stopped Helena in her tracks.
Eva didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to. Seven years of bottled-up emotion had turned into something far more powerful than anger.
Don't touch me," Eva said. "And don't call me 'darling.' I know what you did."
"Eva, what are you-"
Eva continued, "I know how you forged Dad's signature on the trust papers, lied to the board about Reena's alibi, and kept the rest of us in the dark for years. So, don't pretend you don't know exactly what your daughter did, because you're the one who taught her everything."
Helena's mask flickered again, this time with surprise; her eyes widened, and a tightening around her mouth—but she quickly smoothed it away, her features resuming their flawless composure.
"Eva, I don't know what that girl has been telling you, but—"
"That girl you are talking about is your daughter. Your biological daughter. The one you hid from my father for years."
Helena pursed her lips.
"She is the same daughter you raised by feeding hatred and trained to destroy me." Eva's voice remained steady, even as her heart pounded.
"I didn't-"
"We have evidence obtained from Reena herself, Helena. Overseas bank records. Your conversation with your daughter. A very detailed file that Reena kept on all of your... activities."
The mask on Helena's face cracked further. And a chuckle left her mouth, her face filled with amusement.
"I see." Helena's voice cooled, the warmth draining away like water from a broken vase. "Reena turned on me, then. Well, I shouldn't be surprised. I did raise her like that, after all."
"Right, you raised her to be a weapon. And then you're surprised when she turns that weapon on you?"