Eva curled up on the couch, her body trembling as sobs wracked through her. She pulled her legs close, trying to make herself as small as possible, as if she could disappear into the fabric of the cushions. The overwhelming fear and confusion from her encounter with Andrew consumed her. She couldn't make sense of his actions, and the weight of it all was too much to bear.

Just then, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder, and her heart leapt in fear. "No, don't touch me!" she cried out instinctively, her voice breaking.

"Eva, it's just me," came Leonard’s calm, fatherly voice.

Eva turned, realizing it wasn’t Andrew but Leonard, her father-in-law. She quickly wiped her tears, trying to compose herself. Her hands shook as she stood up, but Leonard placed a hand on her arm, guiding her back down to the couch.

"Sit, please," he urged softly, his eyes filled with concern. "You don’t have to stand, and call me Dad if you’re comfortable with that. You’re family now."

Eva hesitated before sitting back down, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She wasn't sure how much she could share, but Leonard’s presence felt safe, and after a few moments, she began to talk.

"Andrew..." she started, her voice wavering. "He... he came to my room tonight, drunk. He tried to..."

Her words trailed off, but Leonard didn’t need her to finish. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched. "That bastard,"he muttered under his breath, his anger rising. "I'll kill him for hurting you!"

Eva immediately shook her head, jumping to Andrew’s defense despite her own fear. "No, no, please," she pleaded. "He wasn’t himself. It was the alcohol... he didn’t mean it."

Leonard’s gaze softened as he looked at Eva, taking in her tears and the way she trembled. He let out a deep sigh, his anger giving way to sympathy. "I know Andrew can be difficult. He’s always had his demons, and he hasn’t dealt with them well. But I also know that you’re a strong young woman, Eva. You didn’t give up easily in school, and I believe you won’t give up on him either."

Eva bit her lip, torn between her growing fear of Andrew and her desire to honor her father-in-law’s wishes. She didn’t want to give up, but she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.

"Don’t give up on him, Eva," Leonard urged gently. "He’s hurt, he’s angry, but deep down... he’s not a bad person. He just needs time to heal. Give him that time, and maybe... maybe you can reach him."

Reluctantly, Eva nodded, her heart heavy with uncertainty. "I’ll try," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Leonard gave her a small smile and patted her shoulder. "Good girl. Now, get some rest."

Eva glanced at the clock, realizing how late it had become. But the thought of returning to her room—where Andrew was still sleeping—filled her with dread. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"He’s in my room," she confessed, her voice hesitant. "He passed out after... after everything."

Leonard frowned but quickly masked his concern. "Then go sleep in his room," he suggested, his tone matter-of-fact.

Eva’s eyes widened in disbelief. "In his room?!" she repeated, her voice tinged with panic. The last thing she wanted was to be surrounded by Andrew’s presence, especially after what had just happened.

"He’s drunk, Eva," Leonard reassured her. "He won’t wake up until morning. You’ll be fine."

Despite her reservations, Eva nodded slowly. She trusted Leonard’s judgment, and a part of her was too exhausted to argue. She needed sleep, and there didn’t seem to be any other option.

She made her way up to Andrew’s room, hesitating as she opened the door. The room was dark, and everything was black—the curtains, the bedding, even the furniture. It suited him, she thought bitterly. His coldness, his anger, his heart that seemed so closed off. She shivered as she thought about how frightening he could be.

She gingerly stepped inside, her feet sinking into the plush carpet. The air in the room felt heavy, suffocating even, and her mind raced with memories of the past few hours. Eva’s hands shook as she pulled the covers over her body, curling up on the far side of the bed.

Despite her fear, exhaustion soon took over, and she drifted into a restless sleep, haunted by the thought of what her life had become.

Morning came too quickly for Eva. She woke up to the soft sound of the birds chirping outside the window. The sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains, casting long shadows across the room. For a moment, she forgot where she was. But then the events of the night before came rushing back, and her chest tightened with anxiety.

She sat up slowly, glancing around the room. There was no sign of Andrew. Her heart pounded in her chest as she wondered where he was, what he was thinking, and how he would react today.

As she dressed and made her way downstairs, the house felt eerily quiet. The maid greeted her politely and informed her that breakfast was ready, but Eva wasn’t hungry. She forced herself to eat a little, knowing she needed the strength.

She was seated at the dining table, lost in thought, when Leonard entered the room. He gave her a kind smile as he approached, his eyes filled with concern.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked gently. “I’m surprised you are up this early.”

Eva nodded, though the truth was far from that. "Yes... thank you," she replied quietly.

Leonard sat beside her, his expression softening. "I know things are hard right now, Eva. But I believe in you. Don’t let Andrew’s anger push you away. He needs someone like you, even if he doesn’t realize it yet."

Eva smiled weakly, appreciating Leonard’s kindness. But deep down, she wasn’t sure how much more she could endure. She had promised to try, to not give up—but the weight of it all was becoming too much for her to bear alone.

As she finished her meal, she excused herself and wandered through the mansion, her thoughts heavy. She wondered how long it would take for Andrew to confront her again, and whether she had the strength to face him when he did.

She found herself back in Andrew’s room still tired from the night before. She curled back up inside the blankets and before she knew, she was fast asleep once again.