Chapter 74 I Do Miss You

Chapter 74 I Do Miss You
Author's POV,

Eva was lying on her bed in her father’s mansion, her body tired but her mind refusing to rest. The soft yellow lamp near her bedside gave the room a warm glow, but it did nothing to calm the storm inside her heart.

Her phone rested in her hand as she scrolled mindlessly through different apps, trying to distract herself in the middle of the night. But no amount of mindless scrolling could erase the ugly truth she had learned today.

After coming back from Rafael’s company, she had gone straight to her room. She didn’t want to sit with her father and brother any longer after hearing that horrifying revelation.

Her father had kept Rafael in prison for thirteen long years. Thirteen years.

And not just that…

Twenty-three people from Rafael’s family had died because of an old business rivalry.

The thought made her chest tighten.

How could her own family do something so cruel?

How could they sit at the dinner table and act normal after destroying someone’s entire life?

Eva closed her eyes tightly.

She remembered Rafael’s cold expression earlier, the pain hidden behind his calm voice, the way he looked at her father…not with anger, but with years of buried suffering.

And yet… he had still protected her.

That thought hurt the most.

She let out a tired sigh and placed her phone on the bedside table before turning to the other side, forcing herself to sleep.

But just then.. Her phone vibrated.

She frowned, turned back, and grabbed it. Her heart skipped when she saw the name.

Rafael.

She opened the message.

“Missing you.” A small smile appeared on her lips before she could stop it. Idiot. She quickly typed back.

“I don’t.” The reply came almost instantly.

“I know. You miss something else.”

Eva froze. PShe stared at the screen, fully understanding what he meant. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and she felt herself grow embarrassed. Her body betrayed her as warmth spread lower, making her curse silently.

‘God… since when did I become this shameless? Now even his texts affect me?’

Before she could reply, another message came.

“Ate?” She bit her lip.

“Yeah. You?” A few seconds later…

“I will in a while. Currently I’m with Rina in the hospital.” Eva immediately sat up. Her smile disappeared.

“What? How is she?”

“She’s doing better. Doctor said she’ll need to stay here for a few more days.” Eva frowned.

“Few more days? What happened to her? You told me she only had minor injuries.”

The typing bubble appeared again.

“I didn’t, sweetheart. It was Calo who said that. Later, the doctor revealed she was almost dying when she reached the hospital.”

Eva’s eyes widened.

“Oh my God…”

She whispered it aloud.Her fingers moved quickly.

“And you hid this from me?”

“I only found out yesterday.”

She stared at the message, guilt filling her chest. Rina had been suffering, and she had no idea.

“I want to meet her, Rafael.”

“Okay. You can come tomorrow.”

“No. Right now.”

Without waiting for his reply, Eva immediately pressed the call button. The phone rang once.

Twice. Then he answered. His voice was low and tired.

“What are you saying? Not right now?”

“Yes, not right now,” Rafael said softly. “She’s in surgery.”

Eva’s heart dropped.

“Surgery? For what?”

“It’s an exploratory laparotomy.”

She blinked.

“What is that?” There was a brief silence before he answered patiently.

“It’s done to check internal trauma. She has been having diffuse pain for some days. The doctor said it could be because of severe trauma to her abdomen… and possibly internal bleeding.”

Eva covered her mouth.

“Oh no…”

She could hear the exhaustion in his voice. Beneath his calmness, there was fear.

Real fear.

“Rafael…”

“Hm?”

“Are you okay?” There was silence on the other end. Then he gave a small, humorless laugh.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.” She frowned. He was lying.

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Pretend with me.” Another silence. This one felt heavier. Finally, Rafael spoke, his voice quieter.

“I’m just tired, Eva.” Her chest ached hearing that.

Not angry. Not broken. Just tired. As if life had taken too much from him.

She softened her voice.

“Look… if you’re stressed and you want me there, then say it. I’ll come.”

“No, you should sleep.”

“I’m serious.”

“And I’m serious too.”

She sighed.

“You always do this.”

“Do what now?”

“Carry everything alone.”

He chuckled weakly.

“Occupational hazard.”

“This isn’t funny.”

“I know.”

Eva leaned against the headboard, holding the phone closer. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Just quiet breathing on both sides. Then she said softly,

“I hate knowing you’re sad and not being able to do anything.”

Rafael’s voice came low and warm.

“You do more than you think.”

“How?”

“By staying.” Her breath caught. He continued.

“Everyone else left when things got ugly. You didn’t.”

Tears stung her eyes.

“Sometimes I think I should have left too.”

“I know.”

“But I didn’t.”

“I know that too.” Her voice trembled.

“I don’t know what this is between us, Rafael. Half the time I want to fight you… and the other half I just want to be near you.”

This time, his voice was softer than ever.

“Same.”

She smiled through her tears.

“Idiot.”

“Your idiot.”

Her heart skipped.

She whispered,

“Take care of yourself tonight.”

“I will.”

“And call me after her surgery.”

“I promise.”

“And Rafael?”

“Hmm?”

“…I do miss you.”

There was silence. Then she heard his quiet smile through the phone.

“I know, sweetheart.”

“Please eat something,” Eva requested softly.

“I’ve lost my appetite,” Rafael replied, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

“Could you please tell me which hospital you’re in so I can order food for you?” she asked.

“Leave it, Eva,” he said.

“No, I can’t. Just tell me, please,” she insisted.

“I don’t want to eat.”

“Then what do you want?” she asked gently.

There was a pause before he answered in a low voice, “I want to talk to you.”

Her heart skipped for a moment.

“We can talk, but first tell me where you are,” she said again.

He sighed softly, finally giving up. “XXXX Hospital.”

The moment he said it, Eva got off her bed and walked straight to her closet.

“Wait. I’m ordering your food,” she said while quickly changing out of her nightdress.

On the other end, Rafael let out a faint chuckle. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re too stubborn. Someone has to take care of you,” she replied.

Then his voice turned serious. “Eva, I need to talk to the doctor, so I’m disconnecting the call. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay,” she replied softly.

A few hours later, Rafael stood outside the operation room, speaking to the doctor. Rina’s surgery had just finished. The doctor explained that she was stable, but the internal injuries were severe. Then h
e said something else that made all the color leave Rafael’s face.

“Okay,” Rafael replied flatly.

As the doctor walked away, a familiar feminine voice called out..

“Rafael.”

He turned around and saw Eva walking toward him, worried and breathless.