CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

EVA'S POV

I thought I was dreaming.

That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw him on his knees in front of me.

Daniel.

My ex-boyfriend.

The same man who once promised me forever and then disappeared from my life like I meant nothing.

The same man who blocked me on every social media platform, ignored my calls, and pretended I never existed after breaking my heart.

I blinked once.

Twice.

He was still there.

“Eva,” he said, his voice breaking.

“I still love you.”

My heart pounded violently against my chest.

For a brief second, I truly believed I had finally lost my mind.

Maybe exhaustion had finally caught up with me or maybe loneliness had decided to play tricks on my heart.

But when he reached out and held my hand, I knew this was real.

I pulled my hand away immediately and suddenly burst into laughter.

I was so sure that at that moment, I looked like a maniac laughing like that.

“Why are you laughing Eva??? Are you that excited to see me??"

“No,” I said sharply.

“This isn’t happening.”

“Eva, please,” he begged.

“Just listen to me.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Listen to you? After everything you did?”

He swallowed hard.

“I made a mistake.”

“A mistake?” I repeated.

“You cheated on me, Daniel. Then you blocked me everywhere…you didn’t just leave…you erased me.”

He shook his head.

“I was scared, I was stupid but I never stopped loving you.”

“That’s a lie,” I snapped.

“Love doesn’t disappear when things get hard. .Love doesn’t block someone and pretend they never existed after fucking cheating on them!!!!”

He tried to touch me again but I stepped back.

“I cried myself to sleep because of you,” I continued, my voice shaking.

“I questioned my worth because of you. And now you think you can kneel here and fix everything with words?”

“I came to apologize,” he said quietly.

“I don’t want your apology,” I replied firmly.

“I want you to leave right now.”

Silence filled the room.

“Eva, please forgive me…find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“I forgave you a long time ago,” I said finally.

“But forgiveness doesn’t mean access.”

Tears filled his eyes.

“So this is it?”

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation.

“You need to leave.”

He stayed on his knees for a few seconds longer, then slowly stood up.

“I’ll always love you,” he said.

“That’s your burden, not mine,” I replied.

When he finally left, my legs gave way and I sank onto the couch.

My past had come knocking at the worst possible time.

I picked up my phone to distract myself, scrolling aimlessly through social media, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

That was when my phone rang.

Rachel.

I hesitated before answering.

“Eva!!!” she squealed loudly.

“Guess what!!!”

“What?” I asked cautiously.

“Clark’s mother invited me for dinner!” she screamed excitedly.

My heart sank.

“Oh,” I said, forcing a smile into my voice.

“That’s great….Congratulations.”

“She wants to get to know me better!” Rachel continued.

“I think she’s finally warming up to me.”

A sharp sting of jealousy pierced my chest, and I hated myself for it.

“That’s good,” I said again.

“You deserve it.”

There was a brief pause.

“And guess what else?” Rachel added.

“What?”

“You’re coming with me.”

I sat up instantly.

I knew Rachel was crazy and schemy but I didn't know it was this bad.

sometimes I wonder if she was really my biological sister or one of us was adopted because she weren't alike in anyway.

Rachel must definitely be out of her fucking mind.

“What? No.”

“Yes.”

“No, Rachel…. I’m not going.”

She laughed nervously.

“Eva, I’ll be too nervous….I need you there.”

“I don’t belong there,” I said bluntly.

“This is about you, Clark and his mother…family time so what business do I have there???”

“You’re my sister and also family…” she insisted.

“And you make things easier for me.”

“I’m not your emotional support pet,” I snapped before I could stop myself.

She went quiet.

“Please,” she said softly.

“Just this once.”

I closed my eyes, torn.

“Fine,” I said finally.

“But only because you asked nicely.”

She squealed again.

“Thank you! I love you!”

I ended the call and stared at my phone.

I had a bad feeling about this and whenever I have a bad feeling about something, it usually doesn't end well.

Dinner was exactly what I expected.

Rachel talked endlessly.

She laughed too loudly, touched Clark too much, and tried too hard to impress his mother.

Clark’s mother watched her quietly, asking simple questions.

“What are your plans after marriage, Rachel?” she asked.

Rachel smiled brightly. “I’ll support Clark in everything.”

“And your goals?” his mother pressed.

Rachel hesitated.

“Well… being a good wife.”

The silence that followed was loud.

When dinner ended, Clark’s mother thanked us politely and excused herself early.

The moment we stepped outside, Rachel broke down.

“She hates me,” she cried.

“She absolutely hates me!”

“She doesn’t hate you,” I said, pulling her into a hug.

“She’s just… reserved.”

“She looked at me like I wasn’t good enough.” Rachel sobbed.

I rubbed her back gently.

“You’re overthinking it.”

But deep down, I wasn’t sure.

After being able to finally persuade Rachel that whatever she was thinking was only in her head, she left my apartment and went back home.

The entire drama was beginning to get so exhausted for me and I had no idea what to do.

Later that night, I was back in my room when a knock came on my door.

My heart skipped as I opened it.

Clark stood there.

His eyes were dark. Serious. Determined.

“Eva,” he said quietly.

“I don’t want to marry Rachel anymore.”

My breath caught.

“What?” I whispered.

“I don’t want this life,” he continued.

“And I don’t want to lie to myself anymore....I want you Eva.”

My world tilted dangerously.

“You are out of your damn mind!!!"