The next morning, Eve was running on barely three hours of sleep.
She hid it well, months of deception had taught her how to wear exhaustion like perfume.
Still, the moment she stepped into Ethan's office, his eyes narrowed.
"You look terrible."
Eve paused halfway through setting a folder on his desk.
"Good morning to you too."
"I'm serious."
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
"Did you sleep at all?"
"Enough."
The lie came easily.
His gaze lingered on her face.
For a moment, Eve worried he somehow knew.
About Vanessa.
About Kelvin.
About everything.
But then Ethan sighed.
"Go home early today."
Eve blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Ethan—"
"That's an order."
His voice softened.
"Whatever is keeping you awake can wait until tomorrow."
Guilt twisted inside her chest.
Because despite everything, Ethan genuinely cared.
And she was betraying him.
Every single day.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Ethan simply nodded and returned to his paperwork.
The conversation was over.
But the guilt stayed with her for the rest of the day.
---
By evening, Eve's car rolled through the iron gates of Kelvin's estate.
The mansion sat on top of a hill overlooking the city.
Cold.
Elegant.
Intimidating.
Like its owner.
A servant escorted her through the house before leading her to Kelvin's study.
She found him sitting behind a massive oak desk.
The room smelled faintly of expensive whiskey and leather.
Kelvin didn't look up immediately.
He finished reading the document in his hand before setting it aside.
"Report."
No greeting.
No pleasantries.
Just business.
Eve handed him a folder.
"The shipment date has been confirmed."
Kelvin opened it.
"Anything else?"
"They've changed security contractors."
His eyes flickered upward.
"Names?"
Eve provided them.
Kelvin listened quietly.
The silence that followed stretched for several seconds.
Then he closed the folder.
"Not bad."
Coming from Kelvin, it was practically a standing ovation.
Eve hesitated.
"Can I see my mother?"
Kelvin studied her.
His expression revealed nothing.
Then he nodded.
"One hour."
Relief washed through her instantly.
"Thank you."
"Don't waste my time, Eve."
---
The hospital smelled like disinfectant and sadness.
It always did.
Eve hated coming here.
Not because of her mother.
Because of what the place represented.
Failure.
Fear.
Desperation.
She walked familiar hallways until she reached room 407.
Her mother looked exactly the same.
No improvement.
No decline.
Just trapped.
Motionless beneath white blankets.
The machines continued their endless rhythm.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Eve sat beside the bed.
Carefully taking her mother's hand.
It felt fragile.
Too fragile.
"Hi, Mom."
Her voice cracked.
She swallowed hard.
"I got promoted."
The lie slipped out automatically.
It was easier than telling the truth.
"I wish you could see it."
Silence.
Only the machines answered.
Eve lowered her gaze.
"So many things have happened."
Her throat tightened.
"And I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this."
Nothing.
No response.
No movement.
Just silence.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
A nurse entered carrying a clipboard.
The woman's smile faded the moment she saw Eve.
And suddenly Eve knew.
Something was wrong.
"Miss Carter..."
The nurse looked uncomfortable.
"We need to discuss your mother's account."
Eve's stomach dropped.
The nurse glanced at the clipboard.
"The outstanding balance has reached a critical point."
Eve closed her eyes.
No.
Not now.
"We've delayed this conversation several times already."
The nurse looked genuinely apologetic.
"But administration is demanding payment."
"How much time do I have?"
The nurse hesitated.
"Not much."
A painful silence followed.
"If payment isn't made soon, we'll be forced to make other arrangements."
Other arrangements.
Such polite words.
For something so cruel.
Eve understood exactly what they meant.
Her grip tightened around her mother's hand.
"I'll get the money."
The nurse looked doubtful.
But nodded anyway.
"Please do."
Then she left.
Leaving Eve alone once again.
---
Several minutes passed before Eve finally pulled out her phone.
Her thumb hovered over Ethan's contact.
One call.
That was all it would take.
Ethan would help.
She knew he would.
Without hesitation.
Without questions.
Then reality crashed into her.
She'd told him she was an orphan.
No parents.
No family.
No one.
A dying mother would destroy years of carefully crafted lies.
Slowly, Eve locked her phone.
And slipped it back into her pocket.
She was on her own.
Again.
---
By the time she returned to Kelvin's mansion, night had fallen.
The servants directed her back to the study.
Kelvin was exactly where she'd left him.
As if he hadn't moved at all.
Eve stood in front of the desk.
"My mother's hospital needs payment."
Kelvin didn't react.
Not even slightly.
"The balance is overdue."
Still nothing.
Eve felt frustration rising.
"If they don't receive payment soon—"
"Then you'd better hurry."
Her voice died instantly.
Kelvin finally looked up.
His eyes were cold.
Calculating.
"I need the location."
Eve froze.
"Kelvin—"
"The exact location."
His tone never changed.
"Where the goods will be moved before the transfer date."
"My mother could lose her treatment."
Kelvin leaned back in his chair.
Unmoved.
"Then don't fail."
The room fell silent.
Eve stared at him.
Waiting for some sign of sympathy.
Mercy.
Anything.
Nothing came.
Kelvin folded his hands on the desk.
"Bring me what I asked for."
His voice was calm.
Deadly calm.
"And I'll pay every cent of your mother's hospital bill."
The words landed like chains around her throat.
Because they both knew the truth.
Kelvin wasn't offering help.
He was setting a deadline.
And Eve had just run out of time.
writing{variant="standard" id="41857"}
The next morning, Eve was running on barely three hours of sleep.
She hid it well.
Years of deception had taught her how to wear exhaustion like perfume.
Still, the moment she stepped into Ethan's office, his eyes narrowed.
"You look terrible."
Eve paused halfway through setting a folder on his desk.
"Good morning to you too."
"I'm serious."
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
"Did you sleep at all?"
"Enough."
The lie came easily.
His gaze lingered on her face.
For a moment, Eve worried he somehow knew.
About Vanessa.
About Kelvin.
About everything.
But then Ethan sighed.
"Go home early today."
Eve blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"Ethan—"
"That's an order."
His voice softened.
"Whatever is keeping you awake can wait until tomorrow."
Guilt twisted inside her chest.
Because despite everything, Ethan genuinely cared.
And she was betraying him.
Every single day.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Ethan simply nodded and returned to his paperwork.
The conversation was over.
But the guilt stayed with her for the rest of the day.
---
By evening, Eve's car rolled through the iron gates of Kelvin's estate.
The mansion sat on top of a hill overlooking the city.
Cold.
Elegant.
Intimidating.
Like its owner.
A servant escorted her through the house before leading her to Kelvin's study.
She found him sitting behind a massive oak desk.
The room smelled faintly of expensive whiskey and leather.
Kelvin didn't look up immediately.
He finished reading the document in his hand before setting it aside.
"Report."
No greeting.
No pleasantries.
Just business.
Eve handed him a folder.
"The shipment date has been confirmed."
Kelvin opened it.
"Anything else?"
"They've changed security contractors."
His eyes flickered upward.
"Names?"
Eve provided them.
Kelvin listened quietly.
The silence that followed stretched for several seconds.
Then he closed the folder.
"Not bad."
Coming from Kelvin, it was practically a standing ovation.
Eve hesitated.
"Can I see my mother?"
Kelvin studied her.
His expression revealed nothing.
Then he nodded.
"One hour."
Relief washed through her instantly.
"Thank you."
"Don't waste my time, Eve."
---
The hospital smelled like disinfectant and sadness.
It always did.
Eve hated coming here.
Not because of her mother.
Because of what the place represented.
Failure.
Fear.
Desperation.
She walked familiar hallways until she reached room 407.
Her mother looked exactly the same.
No improvement.
No decline.
Just trapped.
Motionless beneath white blankets.
The machines continued their endless rhythm.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Eve sat beside the bed.
Carefully taking her mother's hand.
It felt fragile.
Too fragile.
"Hi, Mom."
Her voice cracked.
She swallowed hard.
"I got promoted."
The lie slipped out automatically.
It was easier than telling the truth.
"I wish you could see it."
Silence.
Only the machines answered.
Eve lowered her gaze.
"So many things have happened."
Her throat tightened.
"And I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this."
Nothing.
No response.
No movement.
Just silence.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
A nurse entered carrying a clipboard.
The woman's smile faded the moment she saw Eve.
And suddenly Eve knew.
Something was wrong.
"Miss Carter..."
The nurse looked uncomfortable.
"We need to discuss your mother's account."
Eve's stomach dropped.
The nurse glanced at the clipboard.
"The outstanding balance has reached a critical point."
Eve closed her eyes.
No.
Not now.
"We've delayed this conversation several times already."
The nurse looked genuinely apologetic.
"But administration is demanding payment."
"How much time do I have?"
The nurse hesitated.
"Not much."
A painful silence followed.
"If payment isn't made soon, we'll be forced to make other arrangements."
Other arrangements.
Such polite words.
For something so cruel.
Eve understood exactly what they meant.
Her grip tightened around her mother's hand.
"I'll get the money."
The nurse looked doubtful.
But nodded anyway.
"Please do."
Then she left.
Leaving Eve alone once again.
---
Several minutes passed before Eve finally pulled out her phone.
Her thumb hovered over Ethan's contact.
One call.
That was all it would take.
Ethan would help.
She knew he would.
Without hesitation.
Without questions.
Then reality crashed into her.
She'd told him she was an orphan.
No parents.
No family.
No one.
A dying mother would destroy years of carefully crafted lies.
Slowly, Eve locked her phone.
And slipped it back into her pocket.
She was on her own.
Again.
---
By the time she returned to Kelvin's mansion, night had fallen.
The servants directed her back to the study.
Kelvin was exactly where she'd left him.
As if he hadn't moved at all.
Eve stood in front of the desk.
"My mother's hospital needs payment."
Kelvin didn't react.
Not even slightly.
"The balance is overdue."
Still nothing.
Eve felt frustration rising.
"If they don't receive payment soon—"
"Then you'd better hurry."
Her voice died instantly.
Kelvin finally looked up.
His eyes were cold.
Calculating.
"I need the location."
Eve froze.
"Kelvin—"
"The exact location."
His tone never changed.
"Where the goods will be moved before the transfer date."
"My mother could lose her treatment."
Kelvin leaned back in his chair.
Unmoved.
"Then don't fail."
The room fell silent.
Eve stared at him.
Waiting for some sign of sympathy.
Mercy.
Anything.
Nothing came.
Kelvin folded his hands on the desk.
"Bring me what I asked for."
His voice was calm.
Deadly calm.
"And I'll pay every cent of your mother's hospital bill."
The words landed like chains around her throat.
Because they both knew the truth.
Kelvin wasn't offering help.
He was setting a deadline.
And Eve had just run out of time.