Page 69 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
She was playing on my guilt, and she was doing it well.A part of me wanted to refuse outright, to stay firm.But another part… another part hesitated.Because deep down, she wasn’t entirely wrong.She had worked hard.And I had let the lines blur between us.
"You can attend the event," I said after a pause."And help Stella welcome the guests.But that’s it.No speech."
She watched me for a long moment, then a slow smile curved her lips.
"Alright," she murmured."I’ll do as you say.You’ll have my resignation on your desk after the gala."
And without another word, she stood up and walked out.
I exhaled, rubbing a hand down my face.A bitter taste lingered in my mouth.
Had I made the right decision?
I wasn’t sure anymore.
***
By Wednesday night, my mood had hit rock bottom.The office had emptied hours ago.I took a break and checked my phone, hoping—praying—for a response from Eva to one of my many messages.But the screen remained painfully blank.
It was as if I no longer existed to her.
Without thinking, driven by a desperate need to hear her voice, I dialed her number.Just like before, it went straight to voicemail.Her familiar recorded message tightened something in my chest.
"Eva… I don’t know if you’ll ever listen to this, but if you do, please… I just need to hear your voice.Even if it’s to tell me I’m an idiot, or to tell me to go to hell."
My voice cracked slightly.
"I miss you.So much.The house feels empty without you, andCommunity Pilotisn’t the same.There are so many things I regret… I wish I could go back and do things differently, but I can’t.All I can do is hope you’ll give me another chance, even though I don’t deserve it.I love you, Eva."
I hung up, my chest tight, the weight of her absence crushing me.
Then suddenly—
A vibration.A notification.
My heart nearly stopped when I saw her name on the screen.
EVA:One chance.
Two words.
Two simple words that held all the hope in the world.
43.Save your venom
EVA
The doorbell rang at Steve’s apartment.When I opened the door, a delivery guy smiled at me, almost entirely hidden behind an enormous bouquet of red roses.Their intoxicating scent instantly filled the hallway.It was the third delivery this week.Ever since Tristan had found out where I was, he seemed determined to bridge the distance between us with an avalanche of gifts.
Every day, he sent me something—flowers, artwork, outrageously expensive jewelry.I didn’t really care about the monetary value, but I had to admit, the gesture touched me deeply.
With each carefully chosen present, he showed me how much I meant to him, how much he thought about me despite our separation.His quiet yet unwavering devotion slowly soothed the turmoil in my soul, rekindling my faith in the future—in us.
A note came with the roses.
I’d give you the stars if I could, but since I can’t reach them, here are some flowers to brighten your day.I love you, Eva.Tristan.
Since we’d found out about my pregnancy, Steve had been watching over me with an almost annoying level of attentiveness, making sure I ate properly and got enough rest.
