Chapter12
“Eveline…”
“Eveline, did you get the documents?”
Adrian wanted to say more, but the elevator doors had already closed.
Still reeling from their last exchange, a familiar voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
It was Martin.
The man he resented to his core stood there without a hint of guilt, even smiling at him as if nothing were
amiss.
“Adrian, surviving a crash like that… congratulations.”
Surviving a crash?
A wave of anger surged up in Adrian’s chest. Even after what Eveline had said, he couldn’t shake the
feeling that his uncle knew far more than he let on.
How else could it be that the moment he was gone, Martin had been there to take his place?
His expression darkened as he stepped forward, jaw tight.
“Martin, stealing someone’s fiancée isn’t exactly honorable.“.
Martin’s smile didn’t fade, but his reply was merciless.
“Stealing? And what exactly do you think I did?”
“You and I both know you’re the one who betrayed her, Adrian.”
The truth hit a nerve. Adrian’s temper flared instantly, his voice rising.
“You took advantage of her when she was vulnerable. You must have lied to-”
“Enough.”
The elevator opened again before he could finish.
Eveline stepped out with a folder in hand, walked straight past Adrian, and stopped beside Martin. Her
tone made her stance crystal clear.
“He didn’t do anything. I chose him.”
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“Don’t project your own choices onto me, Adrian.”
Projecting?
A sharp ache spread through his chest as a memory surfaced–of the day in the cave, when he had defended Maria without a second thought.
Was this how Eveline had felt then?
Back then, he’d been so focused on Maria that he’d forgotten Eveline’s old injury, forgotten to even ask if
she was hurt.
Now, seeing her and Martin walking away together, her hand tucked into his arm, the sight burned in his
eyes.
He didn’t follow. Not yet.
But hope still stirred stubbornly in his chest.
“Eveline,” he called after her, raising his voice, “I’m not giving up.”
He didn’t believe she could let go of him completely in just a few days.
He had made mistakes, and he regretted them.
But to simply let her go? That, he couldn’t do.
His words carried clearly to her, but they only made her want to laugh.
He said he wouldn’t give up, but had it ever occurred to him that she might never turn back?
Or was he so sure she eventually would?
Eveline let out a small, amused breath and didn’t bother to respond.
After all…
She didn’t believe Adrian would ever give up Maria so easily, either.
As her figure receded, Adrian stood frozen, unable to move.
Did she truly hate him so much that she wouldn’t even spare him a glance?
Of course.
He had brought this on himself.
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2:00 a.m.
Adrian staggered out of the bar, half–empty bottle still clutched in his hand.
He was completely drunk, but the haze of alcohol did little to dull the ache in his chest.
His phone kept ringing. He shut it off–solitude was preferable. Whoever was calling, it wasn’t Eveline.
He didn’t know how long he’d been walking before his legs finally gave out. Collapsing at the edge of the
road, he leaned back against the cold pavement.
A soft sobbing sound drifted through the air. He frowned.
When he forced his eyes open, he thought–just for a second–he saw Eveline’s face.
“Eveline…”
He reached toward the figure, but the moment his fingers brushed the air, the image vanished.
And in its place appeared a very different face-
Under the streetlight stood Maria, eyes swollen with tears.
“Adrian… I’m just glad you’re okay. I called you so many times, but you never picked up…”
Snapping back to reality, Adrian stared at her for a long moment before slowly rising to his feet.
Then he pulled her into his arms.
Did he still love her?
If this were any other time, the answer would’ve been easy–yes.
He’d started dating Eveline because of Maria. He ended it for the same reason.
He had once believed that what he shared with Maria was more profound than anything he had with
Eveline.
But after everything, after they had become the runaway lovers in their own cliché story, sitting side by
side on a bus to nowhere… all he felt was uncertainty.
Maybe time had worn down what he once felt. Or maybe he’d never loved her that much to begin with-
maybe it was all just a romanticized illusion.
“Adrian, if you love her more… I’ll let you go. Just like she let you go.”
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Maria saw the hesitation in his eyes and knew she had to push.
She had “loved” many men, but Adrian–Adrian was the best option. The safest bet.
She was confident. After all these years, she believed he would choose her again. He always had.
But this time, Adrian froze.
Maria’s heart sank.
And then, he nodded.
Her expression cracked.
Before she could protest, Adrian let go of her hand and walked away, dazed and silent.
He didn’t notice the fury in her eyes as she watched him leave.
All he could do was walk, and walk.
The alcohol had fully worn off now. He checked his phone–still no missed calls from Eveline.
The events of the day replayed in his mind. Then, suddenly, he thought of the ring.
Yes. He needed to get her a ring. A real one.
The thought cleared his head. He immediately called a friend who worked as a jewelry designer, offering
ten times the usual fee to have it done overnight.
By midday the next day, the ring was ready–rough around the edges, but heartfelt.
Now that it was in his hands, though, doubt crept in. Would showing up with a ring be too much, too soon?
He stood on the sidewalk, staring at it, unsure.
Then a name came to mind: Eveline’s grandfather.
He knew how much Eveline had loved him. Surely, for her sake, the old man would give him a chance.
With that in mind, Adrian rushed to the nursing home.
But as he arrived, he saw them–Eveline and Martin, walking side by side, arms intertwined.
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