Eva had been confined to bed for days now, the ache in her back gradually easing as her body healed. The long hours spent in her room had given her plenty of time to think—too much time, perhaps. As she lay there, contemplating the complexities of her marriage, Leonard, Andrew’s father, walked in to check on her.

“How are you feeling today, dear?” Leonard asked, his deep voice laced with concern.

Eva offered a small smile, sitting up slightly in the bed. “Much better, thank you. I think I’m finally starting to feel like myself again.”

Leonard nodded, pleased to hear the improvement. After a pause, his expression softened, and he leaned in slightly. “And how’s it going, trying to win my son over? Any progress?”

Eva sighed heavily, the weight of his question pressing on her heart. “I don’t know, Dad,” she admitted, her voice carrying a note of frustration. “He’s a tough one to crack. One minute, I feel like we’re making progress, and the next, he’s as distant as ever.”

Leonard chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling. “Andrew has always been stubborn, but don’t worry, I have a plan to give you a little help.”

Eva looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Vanessa and I will be heading off on a vacation soon, and Irene will be with Mia at the Foster mansion,” Leonard explained with a warm smile.

Eva bowed her head, feeling a familiar pang of guilt. “I feel like I’m troubling all of you,” she muttered, her hands fidgeting with the blanket.

Before Leonard could respond, Vanessa entered the room, her presence commanding as always. “Not at all,” she said firmly, walking over to the bed.

Eva’s heart raced, suddenly feeling nervous in front of Andrew’s mother. “Mrs. King,” she stammered, unsure of how to address the woman who had been so cold toward her in the past.

Vanessa shook her head, her expression softening. “Call me Mom.”

Eva blinked, taken aback. There was a warmth in Vanessa’s tone that Eva wasn’t used to, but slowly, she managed to meet her gaze. “M...Mom,” she finally whispered, the word feeling strange on her tongue.

Vanessa sat down beside the bed, her voice gentle. “I owe you an apology, Eva. I’ve been... hurtful, and I know it. But it wasn’t you I was angry with. It was Jessica’s scheming that caused all this trouble, not you. I see that now. I just want my son to be happy.”

Eva’s chest tightened at Vanessa’s confession, and a flicker of hope sparked within her. Could this be the turning point? Could Vanessa truly be on her side now?

Before the moment could grow too serious, Irene burst into the room with her usual energy. “What are you plotting in here, Mom?” she teased, her eyes darting between Vanessa and Eva.

Eva smiled apologetically, but Irene waved her off. “Don’t worry, I’ll help too,” she said with a grin, clearly already in on whatever plan Vanessa and Leonard had cooked up.

Later that evening, the family gathered for dinner. The air was light, though a current of something unsaid rippled beneath the surface. Eva could feel it, and from the way Andrew kept glancing suspiciously around the table, he could feel it too.

Vanessa leaned toward Leonard, whispering something in his ear. He nodded before setting his fork down with a slight clink, his gaze shifting to Andrew. “Andrew,” Leonard said in his usual commanding tone.

Andrew looked up from his plate, brow furrowing. “Yes, Dad?”

“Your mother and I will be heading off on a vacation,” Leonard announced, his voice as casual as if he were discussing the weather.

Andrew shrugged, seemingly unfazed. “How long will you be gone?”

Vanessa smiled, chiming in, “We’re not sure yet. We want to spend some quality time together.”

Andrew’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of suspicion in his eyes. “Do what you wish,” he said, his tone indifferent.

Irene, not one to miss an opportunity to tease her brother, leaned in. “Oh, by the way, I’ll be staying at the Foster mansion with Mia,” she added.

Andrew’s fork paused mid-air, his suspicion deepening. “Why?”

Irene’s smile never faltered. “Mia and I are working on a school project. It’s a big one, and we also need to study for exams.”

Andrew narrowed his eyes. “I thought the project wasn’t due until the end of the year.”

Irene quickly countered, “We’re getting a head start. There’s so much work to do.”

Vanessa jumped in to support her daughter. “Andrew, stop hassling Irene. Let her do what she needs to do.”

Andrew glanced between them, his suspicion still evident, but he let it go with a slight nod. “Fine, but I’ll figure out if you’re scheming,” he muttered under his breath, though no one seemed to hear—or at least they pretended not to.

The days passed quickly, and Sunday soon arrived. Leonard and Vanessa stood at the door, their luggage packed and ready for their trip to Switzerland. Leonard patted Eva’s head fondly. “Take care, dear,” he said, his voice soft and fatherly.

He then turned to Andrew, his expression hardening. “You better take care of her while we’re gone.”

Andrew rolled his eyes, playing innocent. “Of course I will.”

Irene, ever the joker, winked at her father. “Bye, Dad. But don’t get me a sibling while you’re gone,” she teased.

Vanessa playfully smacked Irene’s arm, laughing. “That’s enough, young lady.”

Leonard winked back, grinning as he pulled Vanessa closer. “Don’t worry about that,” he said, making Vanessa’s cheeks turn a bright shade of red.

“Andrew, let’s go,” Vanessa said quickly, trying to change the subject. “Drop us at the airport.”

Evander arrived shortly after, saying his goodbyes before taking Irene to the Foster mansion, leaving Eva alone at the King estate.

As the house grew quiet, Eva found herself pacing the halls, her thoughts racing. She couldn’t help but wonder what the coming days would bring. Would being alone with him bring them closer? Or would it only deepen the distance that already existed?

Andrew, on the other hand, was lost in his own thoughts. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was up, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. As he sat in his office later that afternoon, pretending to work, his mind kept drifting back to Eva—her vulnerability, her strength, and the way she looked at him sometimes, as if she wanted to break through the wall he’d built between them.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “What are they all up to?” he muttered, but deep down, he knew. They wanted him to see Eva in a new light, to give their marriage a real chance.

As the day settled in, Eva sat by the window, watching the sky and clouds go by. The house was too quiet, too still. She couldn’t help but wonder if Andrew was thinking about her, too. The thought made her stomach flutter with nerves, but she quickly shook it off.

With Leonard and Vanessa gone, this was her chance. And she wasn’t going to waste it.