CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

EVA’S POV

"You are out of your damn mind!!”

My heart was still racing when Clark said those words.

“I am not Eva…I know what I want and I don’t want to marry Rachel anymore.”

I stared at him like he had just spoken in another language.

As much as I cared more than I should for Clark, there were some certain things that were never meant to be or happen as much as I badly wanted it.

“Clark… no,” I said immediately, shaking my head.

“You can’t say that.”

He stepped closer.

“I just did.”

I took a step back.

“You shouldn’t even be here saying this to me……you are to get married soon..what are you saying???.”

“I had to.” he replied.

“I’m tired of pretending.”

“That doesn’t change anything,” I said firmly.

“In fact, it makes everything worse.”

He frowned.

“Why?”

“Because I finally realized how serious this is ” I said.

“Your mother invited Rachel…That alone tells me this is bigger than feelings.”

“My mother invited her but you came along!! And besides she doesn’t even like Rachel,” he snapped.

“She made that clear.”

“And what about you?” I asked quietly.

He hesitated.

“I don’t like her either,” he admitted.

“Not the way I should… Proposing to her was a terrible decision, Eva…I don’t even know why I did it.”

I laughed bitterly.

“You know why Clark!! You fell in love with my sister!! That's why….you found something in her that made you propose!!”

He reached for my hand but I pulled away.

“What if I proposed out of duty and obligation and not love??"

“Clark, listen to me,” I said.

“You need to go ahead with your wedding plans.”

His eyes widened.

“What?”

“Yes!!!” I continued.

“If anyone even suspects that something happened between us, it will destroy both of us…Your image…my reputation. Everything!! They won't stop talking about it even after many years and trust me when I say that Rachel will make our lives miserable…she's been doing that for years even without me hurting her and just imagine what she would do if I hurt her this way??”

“So you want me to marry someone I don’t love?” he asked.

“I want you to do the right thing,” I replied.

“And even if you end things with Rachel now and decide to be with me later, people will talk.”

He clenched his jaw.

“I don’t care what people say.”

“I do,” I said softly.

“Because I’ve lived my life cleaning up messes I didn’t create.”

There was a long silence.

“And there’s something else,” I added.

He looked at me.

“What?”

“My ex-boyfriend… Daniel,” I said slowly.

“He came back.”

Clark’s face darkened.

“And?”

“He apologized…he begged and I’m considering giving him another chance.”

That was the wrong thing to say.

Clark moved so fast I barely had time to react.

His hand cupped my face, and before I could stop him, his lips crashed into mine.

The kiss was rough, Possessive and desperate.

“Eva,” he murmured against my lips.

“You’re mine.”

I tried to push him away.

“Clark…”

“You’ve always been mine,” he continued, kissing me again.

“And you know it.”

My heart screamed yes but my mind screamed no.

I forced myself to break free, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Stop,” I said sharply.

“This is exactly why you need to leave.”

He stared at me, breathing hard.

“You’re choosing him over me? That low life bastard who dumped you like you were a piece of trash, you are choosing him over what we have?? Over what we share???”

“I’m choosing peace, Clark…” I replied.

“Now go.”

His eyes hardened.

“You’re making a mistake.”

“Maybe,” I said.

“But it’s my mistake to make.”

He turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him.

The moment he was gone, I collapsed onto the bed and burst into tears.

I cried for what could never be.

For what almost happened.

For the man I wanted but could never have.

When my tears finally slowed, I grabbed my phone and called Christiana.

“Talk to me.” she said immediately.

“I don’t know what to do,” I sobbed.

“Clark wants me…My ex wants me and I feel like I’m drowning.”

She was quiet for a moment.

“You mean Rachel's fiance??"

“Yes Christiana…what should I do…I have feelings for him but he isn't mine and was never mine in the first place."

“Follow your heart, Eva.” she said gently.

“But be careful…the heart can be very misleading.”

That night, I called Daniel.

“I’ll give us another chance,” I told him.

He sounded happier than I had ever heard him.

“I already planned a date.”

The date was… fine.

Daniel tried..he really did and he was attentive, sweet, familiar.

But my heart wasn’t fully there.

When I got home, my mother was in the living room.

Rachel burst in suddenly, glowing.

“Guess what!” she said.

“Clark fixed the wedding date! One month from now!”

"Congratulations Rachel.” I said with a forced smile on my face.

“Thank you sister….I was genuinely scared that he was going to call off the wedding because of his mother." She said.

“Call off whose wedding?? Not when I am still alive." My mother said.

Then I dropped my own bomb.

“Daniel and I are back together.”

"Who is Daniel??”

"My ex…Daniel..the one I told you guys about that blocked me everywhere??"

“Oh that Daniel…oh well congratulations dear.”

Rachel clapped excitedly.

“Perfect! We should all go on a group date.”

I tried to refuse but my mother insisted.

So I agreed.

I called Daniel and told him there was a change to the plans we had and he didn't object.

The day of the group date, I dressed to kill.

Daniel couldn’t stop staring when he picked me up.

We got to the restaurant first as Daniel told us to wait for Clark and Rachel before giving the waitress our order.

“You look nervous..are you okay??" Daniel asked.

“Yeah I am…I just have a lot on my mind.” I said.

“Whatever is bothering you, you can talk to me Eva…I am here for you…I apologize for my reckless behavior in the past but I promise I have changed…I will love you the way you deserve to be loved now." Daniel said as I smiled weakly.

“Thank you Daniel."

A few minutes later at the restaurant, Clark walked in with Rachel.

Clark's eyes locked on me.

I felt extremely uncomfortable as I shifty nervously in my seat.

"Hi Eva… hi Daniel..” Rachel greeted as we greeted them back.

"Will you all excuse me, I will be right back.”

I excused myself to the bathroom, splashing water on my face.

As I turned to leave, the door opened.

Clark walked in and he locked it.

My heart stopped.