Chapter 57 I’m Beginning to Feel Something Strong for Him
Evelyn’s POV
Warm sunlight slipped through the curtains, brushing my eyelids. I stretched a little before instinctively reaching toward Lorenzo’s side of the bed, but my hand met cold sheets.
My eyes flew open.
The space beside me was empty, no warmth, no trace of him.
My chest tightened.
Where could he have gone again?
For a moment, I sat still, listening. The house was too quiet. No footsteps. No low voice. No movement.
“Lorenzo?” I whispered, even though I knew he wouldn’t answer.
I pushed the blanket aside and quietly got out of the bed. I didn’t bother fixing my hair or checking my face. Fear and worry were already tightening down on me. I don’t know why, but any moment I wake up without finding him right beside me always feels like I have lost something precious.
I stepped out of the room, only to stop instantly.
Diego stood at the entrance, back straight, arms crossed, eyes scanning the hallway like he was guarding a prison cell. When he noticed me, he shifted, blocking the exit slightly.
My heart sank. Of course, Lorenzo must have ordered this.
“Good morning, Ms. Martins,” Diego said, his tone overly formal, almost too tight.
“Why are you here?” My voice was soft but shaky.
He cleared his throat. “I’m here to keep watch. Lucifer’s instructions. No movement outside this floor.”
So Lorenzo sneaked out, but kept me trapped. Typical of him.
I rubbed my palms against my sides, steadying my breath. “I just…. I just need some air.”
He shook his head immediately. “I’m sorry, Ms. Martins. But I have strict orders. No going out. Not today.”
My heart pounded.
Not today meant not ever, not until Lorenzo decided I was allowed to breathe.
I swallowed, trying to keep calm. Daisy’s face flashed in my head,small, fragile, struggling at the hospital all alone. She must be hoping to find me beside her today. Could she be scared? Was she eating well? Was she…..?
No.
I couldn’t just stand here.
I looked at Diego again. He was good. Loyal. Always obedient to Lorenzo. But he wasn’t cruel. And he wasn’t blind. I could see he already knew something was eating me up.
“Diego….” my voice cracked slightly, “I need a favor.”
His eyes narrowed instantly. “Ms. Martins, whatever it is.”
“It’s about my sister.” My throat tightened. “Her name is Daisy.”
He stiffened. “Your sister. What about her?”
I exhaled.
His jaw tightened like he already guessed what I wanted. “Ms. Martins.”
“Please….”
The word jumped out before I could hide it.
“Please, Diego. Just take me to her. Just today. Just for a few minutes. I swear I’ll come back before Lorenzo does.”
Emotion clustered my throat. I could feel it rising, threatening to choke me.
He looked away, exhaling deeply. “Lucifer told me specifically not to let you leave, beside I can’t keep covering you up anytime you choose to disobey him.”
“This will be the last time.” My voice wasshaking now. “Lorenzo doesn’t even care if she exists, he hates kids. Daisy needs me….. Diego, she needs me.”
For a few seconds, he stayed silent. Too silent.
Then he dragged a palm over his jaw, conflicted. “Ms. Martins if Lucifer finds out….”
“He won’t.” My voice finally steadied. “And even if he does, I’ll take whatever comes with it.”
He went silent, I could sense the fear in him.
Then finally he broke it. “Fine,” he breathed. “Go get ready.”
My knees almost buckled in relief. “Oh my, thank you so much.” I repeated until I was out of his sight.
The drive felt longer than usual. Or maybe my heart was beating too loud for me to hear anything else. When we got to Daisy’s ward, Diego stayed behind in the hallway while I pushed the door open.
And there she was.
Daisy sat on the hospital bed, her tiny legs crossed, a pale blue blanket over them. She held a small storybook in her hand, her lips moving silently as she read.
She looked peaceful, much healthier than before.
Stronger.
But the moment she lifted her head and saw me standing at the door, everything inside me broke.
“Big sis?” Her voice came out small, hopeful, innocent.
“Oh my God.” My breath hitched. I pressed a hand to my mouth as tears filled my eyes instantly.
I walked toward her, more like I stumbled and pulled her into my arms. She hugged me back softly like she didn’t want to hurt me.
“I missed you,” she whispered into my chest.
I shut my eyes as warm tears slipped out. “I missed you too, baby. So much.”
I stroked her hair gently. “Are they treating you well here?”
She nodded against me.
“Are you eating properly?”
“Yes, sis.” A small smile lingered at the edge of her lips.
“Good girl.”
I pulled back to look at her face. Her cheeks had color now. Her lips weren’t trembling the way they used to. But the moment her eyes met mine, something vulnerable flickered inside her.
“When am I going home, Eve?” She blinked up at me. “I want to go home.”
My heart twisted painfully.
Home? Where was home supposed to be?
Uncle Charles’ house? The place where she would barely eat, where they might force her to sleep on the cold floor simply because they knew I wouldn’t be there to protect her?
Never.
I’d rather burn than take her back there.
I cupped her cheek gently. “Soon, baby. I promise. I’ll come for you.”
A tear slid down her face. “You promise?”
“Yes sweetheart.” I swallowed hard. “But right now…. you need to stay here. Just for a little while longer.”
She frowned. “Why?”
Because Lorenzo hates kids, his house is filled with men who don’t even smile.
Because my life isn’t stable and I don’t even know what tomorrow looks like.
But I couldn’t tell her that.
I forced a smile, even though my throat tightened.
“Because…. you’re safe here. And you’re getting better. And Elena will come check on you often. She’ll bring snacks and books, okay?”
Daisy’s eyes brightened a little. “Elena is nice, I love her.”
“Yes,” I whispered, hugging her again. “She is.”
We stayed like that for a long moment, me holding her tightly, fighting tears the whole time. When I finally let go, her fingers still clung to mine as if she didn’t want me to leave.
“I love you, Eve.”
My lips trembled. “I love you more my angel.”
When I stepped out of the room, Diego was leaning against the wall, waiting patiently. He watched me wipe my face with the back of my hand, trying to gather myself.
I tried to walk past him, but he gently stopped me.
“You okay?”
I forced a nod. “Yeah. Just…. overwhelmed.”
Diego sighed through his nose. “You know…. you could’ve told Lucifer.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “Told him what? That my sister is sick? That she needs care? Lorenzo doesn’t care about things like that.”
Diego shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
“No, I’m not. He doesn’t care about kids. He barely cares about humans.”
“You,” Diego said quietly, “are not just human to him.”
I froze.
My heart jumped loudly. “Don’t say that.”
“Why?” he asked. “Because you’re scared to admit it? Or because you feel something and you don’t want to?”
I swallowed. “I don’t feel anything.”
He looked at me with a small, sad smile. “You’re lying.”
My chest tightened painfully.
Diego continued, “Lucifer isn’t as cruel as you think. He’s just..... complicated. He’s lived through things that would break most people. But you….” he pointed gently at me, you soften him. Even when he tries to hide it.”
“Diego, stop.” My voice cracked with emotion I couldn’t control.
“You’re good for him,” he said softly. “Even after everything he did to you, you still stayed. You still care, even if you don’t want to admit it. I see the future you two could have. Something better than this….. better than the pain.”
My throat tightened, and I looked away quickly, blinking hard.
“Please don’t do this,” I whispered. “I can’t….. I can’t feel anything for someone like him.”
“Someone like him?” Diego repeated gently. “Or someone you’re scared of loving?”
I fell speechless. A long, painful silence.
I didn’t answer, I didn’t need to. My tears already betrayed me.
Diego stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Just…. try. Try to bring out the humanity in him. Try to see beyond the monster he pretends to be. Lucifer pushes everyone away, but with you…. he stops running. That means something.”
I inhaled shakily.
My chest, my head, everything hurts right now.
But one thing was true.
I did care. More than I should, no matter how much I tried to deny it. I’m beging to feel something strong for him.
“I’ll think about it,” I whispered finally, forcing the words through tight lips. “I’ll….. try.”
Diego smiled faintly. “That’s all I’m asking.”
I nodded slowly, wiping my cheek again, before following him out of the hospital, my heart heavier than when I came, but strangely a little braver.