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Midnight

Author: Lena nicolette
last update publish date: 2026-07-03 05:48:56

The digital clock on Eva's bedside table read 11:17 p.m.

She hadn't changed out of her work clothes.

Her apartment was quiet except for the steady ticking of the old wall clock in the living room.

On the small coffee table lay a white envelope.

She had tried putting it in a drawer.

Then into her handbag.

Finally, she'd placed it back on the table.

No matter where she moved it...

It always seemed to find its way back into her thoughts.

"If you change your mind, call me before midnight."

She read the sentence again.

And again.

Her phone buzzed.

It was a text from Noah.

«Don't forget to eat tonight. You're always taking care of me, but someone has to take care of you too. 😊»

Eva smiled despite herself.

Then the smile slowly faded.

He had no idea what tomorrow might bring.

She typed back quickly.

«I already ate. Get some sleep. I'll see you first thing in the morning. ❤️»

A few seconds later, the three little dots appeared.

«Promise?»

Eva swallowed the lump in her throat.

«Promise.»

She set the phone down and walked to the kitchen.

The refrigerator held little more than bottled water, eggs, and a carton of milk that would expire in two days.

She closed the door without taking anything.

Her gaze drifted to the stack of unpaid bills on the counter.

Rent.

Electricity.

Hospital payments.

Each envelope seemed heavier than the last.

She sank into a chair and buried her face in her hands.

"I don't know what to do."

The words barely rose above a whisper.

For the first time in years...

She felt trapped.

Not because she lacked the strength to keep fighting.

But because there was nowhere left to fight.

Her phone lit up again.

This time it was her best friend.

Lena Brooks.

Eva answered after the second ring.

"Hey."

"You sound awful."

"I've had a long day."

"I heard about the Blackwood wedding."

Eva closed her eyes.

"So the gossip has already started."

"It's everywhere."

Lena hesitated.

"Are you okay?"

Eva wanted to say yes.

Instead...

"I met Adrian Blackwood today."

Silence.

"You what?"

"He asked me to marry him."

Another silence.

Then—

"I'm sorry... WHAT?"

Eva couldn't help laughing.

It was the first genuine laugh she'd managed all day.

"I know how it sounds."

"It sounds like you've finally lost your mind."

"I thought so too."

"What happened?"

Eva told her everything.

The missing bride.

The meeting.

The contract.

The investigation.

The money.

When she finished, neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Finally, Lena asked quietly,

"What are you going to do?"

"I already said no."

"And now?"

Eva looked at the envelope.

"I don't know."

Lena sighed softly.

"I can't tell you what to choose."

"I know."

"But if you do this..."

She paused.

"...do it because it's your decision."

"Not because you feel cornered."

Eva leaned back in her chair.

"I wish there were another way."

"So do I."

The call ended a few minutes later.

The apartment grew quiet once again.

Eva looked at the clock.

11:54 p.m.

Six minutes.

Six minutes until Adrian's offer expired.

She picked up the envelope.

Then put it back down.

Picked it up again.

"No."

She stood abruptly.

"I'm not doing this."

She grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

She needed fresh air.

Anything to stop thinking.

The streets were nearly empty.

A cool breeze swept through the city as she wandered without a destination.

She had almost reached the corner of her block when her phone rang.

It was the hospital.

Her pulse quickened.

She answered immediately.

"Hello?"

The nurse sounded breathless.

"Miss Hart... your brother just collapsed."

Everything around Eva seemed to stop.

"What?"

"We've stabilized him, but the doctor needs your authorization immediately."

"I-I'm coming."

She ended the call and broke into a run.

A taxi slowed beside her before she even raised her hand.

She climbed in, barely able to catch her breath.

"St. Catherine Medical Center."

The driver nodded and pulled away.

As the taxi sped through the sleeping city, Eva looked down at her phone.

The screen glowed in the darkness.

11:59 p.m.

One minute.

One minute before the offer disappeared forever.

Her thumb hovered over Adrian Blackwood's number.

She closed her eyes.

The taxi raced toward the hospital.

The clock ticked closer to midnight.

And Eva had to decide...

Whether saving her brother was worth sacrificing the life she'd always planned for herself.

End of the first half of Chapter Five.

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  • The Bride he never wanted    One Minute Past Midnight

    Eva stared at the glowing screen.11:59 p.m.Her thumb hovered over Adrian Blackwood's number.One tap.That was all it would take.One tap, and the life she'd spent years building would disappear.The taxi slowed to a stop outside St. Catherine Medical Center."Miss, we've arrived."She blinked, realizing she'd been holding her breath."Thank you."She paid the driver and stepped into the cool night air.The automatic doors slid open with a soft hiss.The emergency department was quieter than usual, but the tension in the waiting area was unmistakable.A nurse spotted her immediately."Miss Hart?""How's my brother?""He's stable now, but the doctor is waiting."Eva hurried down the corridor.Dr. Collins met her outside Noah's room."The episode was caused by stress on his heart," he explained gently. "We've managed to stabilize him, but we can't keep postponing the operation."Eva nodded numbly."I understand.""I wish I had better news.""So do I."The doctor hesitated before speak

  • The Bride he never wanted    Midnight

    The digital clock on Eva's bedside table read 11:17 p.m.She hadn't changed out of her work clothes.Her apartment was quiet except for the steady ticking of the old wall clock in the living room.On the small coffee table lay a white envelope.She had tried putting it in a drawer.Then into her handbag.Finally, she'd placed it back on the table.No matter where she moved it...It always seemed to find its way back into her thoughts."If you change your mind, call me before midnight."She read the sentence again.And again.Her phone buzzed.It was a text from Noah.«Don't forget to eat tonight. You're always taking care of me, but someone has to take care of you too. 😊»Eva smiled despite herself.Then the smile slowly faded.He had no idea what tomorrow might bring.She typed back quickly.«I already ate. Get some sleep. I'll see you first thing in the morning. ❤️»A few seconds later, the three little dots appeared.«Promise?»Eva swallowed the lump in her throat.«Promise.»She

  • The Bride he never wanted    The Offer

    The headquarters of Blackwood Group towered above the city like a monument to power.Eva stood outside the revolving glass doors, clutching the business card Adrian had given her the day before.She glanced at her reflection in the polished glass.A cream blouse.Black trousers.Her hair pulled into a neat ponytail.Professional.Simple.Nothing like the glamorous women whose faces filled the business magazines displayed in the lobby."You can still leave," she murmured to herself.No one knew she was here.She could turn around, walk to the nearest bus stop, and pretend yesterday had never happened.Instead, she stepped inside.The lobby was breathtaking.White marble floors reflected the morning sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows.Employees crossed the room with quiet confidence, each moving with purpose.Everything about the building whispered wealth.Not the loud kind.The kind that didn't need to prove itself.A receptionist looked up and smiled."Good morning. H

  • The Bride he never wanted    An impossible proposal

    The hallway fell silent.Eva stared at Richard Blackwood, certain she had misheard him."I think I've just found one."His eyes remained fixed on her.She let out a small, nervous laugh."That's... not funny.""I'm not joking."The smile on Richard's face didn't reach his eyes.Eva looked from him to Adrian, expecting him to shut the idea down immediately.Instead...Adrian said nothing.Her heartbeat quickened."You can't be serious," she whispered.Richard folded his hands behind his back."The guests don't know the bride personally. Most of them are business associates. The ceremony hasn't started, and the press hasn't seen her yet."He turned to Adrian."The merger survives."Eva stared at him in disbelief."You can't replace a bride like she's a missing decoration.""No," Richard replied calmly. "But we can replace a woman who has already chosen to leave.""I said no."Richard raised an eyebrow."I wasn't asking you."Something about the way he said it made Eva's blood boil.She

  • The Bride he never wanted    Twenty minutes

    The ballroom buzzed with quiet conversations.At first, it had been polite whispers.Now the whispers were growing louder."What's taking so long?""I heard the bride isn't feeling well.""No, I heard someone fainted."Eva walked past a group of guests, forcing herself to smile."We appreciate your patience. The ceremony will begin shortly."The moment she turned away, her smile disappeared.Her assistant hurried toward her, breathing hard."We've searched everywhere."Eva's heart sank."The gardens?"She nodded."The guest house.""Yes.""The parking lot?""Nothing."Eva rubbed her temple.This couldn't be happening.Not today.Not at a Blackwood wedding.She looked toward the grand staircase just as Adrian stepped out of the bridal suite.His expression remained unreadable.Only the slight tightening of his jaw suggested anything was wrong.His head of security approached him."We've checked the CCTV footage, sir.""And?""The bride left through the staff entrance forty-three minute

  • The Bride he never wanted    The Missing Bride

    The first scream came from the bridal suite.Eva Hart looked up from the seating chart in her hands. A makeup artist rushed past her, nearly knocking over a tray of champagne."What happened?" Eva asked, catching the woman's arm."The bride..." The woman's face had gone pale. "She's gone."Eva frowned."Gone where?""I—I don't know."For a second, the world around her seemed to stop.Outside, a string quartet continued playing as though nothing had happened. Guests laughed over glasses of champagne. Camera flashes lit up the entrance of the Blackwood Estate.Inside, panic spread like wildfire.Eva pushed open the door to the bridal suite.The room looked as though someone had left in a hurry.A wedding gown hung neatly on its stand.The bouquet rested on the vanity.An expensive pair of heels sat untouched near the mirror.But the bride...Was nowhere to be seen."Search every room," Eva said, already pulling out her phone. "The gardens. The guest house. Everywhere."Her assistant nod

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