Eva felt her heart racing with confusion and hurt as Andrew leaned in to kiss her. It was too much, too soon, and she felt the weight of her doubts crashing over her. She pushed him away, her voice breaking as she said, “I... I can’t.” With that, she turned and ran, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she fled to his office.

Andrew followed immediately, determined to get her to understand what he could barely admit to himself. As he entered, he closed the door behind him. She spun around, tears streaming down her face, the raw vulnerability in her gaze piercing straight through him.

“Why?” she whispered, her voice quivering as she searched his face for answers. “Why are you doing this to me, Andrew?” She lifted her hands to his chest, fists clenched in frustration, and she began to gently pound them against him as if that could lessen the ache she felt inside.

Andrew caught her wrists and softly pressed his hands against her cheeks, wiping away her tears with his thumbs as he cupped her face. “Eva, just... give me some time. Let me explain, please.”

“Explain what?” Her voice broke as she struggled to make sense of the whirlwind he had thrust her into. “That you’ll be gone when this three-month contract ends? That all of this... this hope, is temporary?” She choked on the words, her voice dissolving into tears once more.

“No,” he said softly, pulling her closer as she crumbled against him. He stroked her hair, whispering, “I don’t want anyone else. Just you, Eva. You’re the only one I want now. This marriage, for me… it’s forever.”

His words washed over her, and it felt as if her strength finally left her. The emotional exhaustion of the day caught up with her, and her eyes began to close against her will. To Andrew’s surprise, she drifted into a deep sleep right there in his arms, surrendering entirely to his embrace. With a soft smile, he lifted her carefully, carrying her to the couch and settling down with her on his lap. For the first time, he allowed himself to feel the full extent of his possessiveness and his need to protect her.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, and he beckoned James in, who entered with a knowing smile at the sight of his boss cradling Eva so gently.

“James,” Andrew’s voice was cold and calculating as he addressed him, “any news on Jessica?”

“Yes, sir. I was just about to notify you—she’s on her way back.”

“Perfect,” Andrew replied, his tone dark as he gently tightened his hold on Eva. “I’ll be waiting for her return.” His expression hardened, imagining how he’d make Jessica answer for everything she’d done. For the betrayal. For the pain. For daring to manipulate people’s lives.

Once James left, Andrew looked down at Eva, who was breathing softly, nestled against him. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, whispering, “You’ll never have to worry again, I promise. I’ll protect you, always.”

Meanwhile, across town, Kai was still trying desperately to make amends with Madeline. He knelt in front of her, his voice wavering as he said, “I know I messed up. I was an idiot, a complete jerk, and I didn’t realize what I’d lost until you distanced yourself from me.”

“Kai…” Madeline looked away, painfully aware of the people around them watching his public display of regret. But Kai held onto her leg, not caring about the stares. “Madeline, I don’t care who’s watching. I’ll stay on my knees until you forgive me,” he said, his voice carrying more emotion than she had ever heard from him.

Madeline sighed, reluctantly nodding. “Fine. I forgive you.”

His face broke into a wide smile, and he leaped up, pulling her into a warm embrace. But their moment was quickly interrupted by Anthony’s arrival, his stern expression making Kai instinctively let go.

“Madeline, who is this?” Anthony’s voice was calm but guarded.

Madeline quickly composed herself. “This is Kai. He’s just… a colleague,” she said, her voice filled with uncertainty as she tried to downplay their relationship.

Anthony arched a brow, his eyes lingering on Kai with a silent warning, before glancing down at the woman by his side, Hazel Smith, who stood quietly, observing everything with a polite smile.

Madeline seized the chance to redirect the focus. “Anthony,” she asked, her gaze shifting to Hazel, “who’s your friend?”

Anthony glanced at Hazel with a slight smirk. “This is Hazel Smith,” he replied, his tone strangely unreadable. “She’s a doctor at our hospital. We have some work to discuss.”

Madeline couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more going on, but she decided not to pry. As they walked off, she looked at Kai, who was watching them intently. “Is Anthony… really your brother?” he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

“Yes,” Madeline replied simply, unsure of what Kai was thinking.

Kai’s expression turned somber as he realized he hadn’t just hurt Madeline; he’d hurt Anthony’s sister. A pang of guilt tightened in his chest as he realized the gravity of his actions.

Back at the office, Eva awoke to find herself alone on the couch. She sat up slowly, her mind swirling with thoughts of the morning’s events, Andrew’s words replaying in her head. She wasn’t sure what to believe, but his warmth and his reassurances left her feeling… hopeful, if hesitant.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Andrew’s return. He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable as he stepped into the room. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the tension between them thick and charged.

“I meant what I said earlier, Eva,” he murmured, stepping closer. “This isn’t just a contract for me. I don’t want this to end.”

She looked down, her fingers fiddling nervously. “Andrew, it’s hard to believe that someone like you could want something… real.”

He reached out, lifting her chin so she was forced to meet his gaze. “And why is that? Because I made mistakes? Because I kept my feelings guarded?”

She nodded, her voice soft. “Because I’ve always been afraid that you’d walk away as soon as the contract ended.”

A shadow of regret flickered in his eyes. “I’m not perfect, Eva. I can’t change the past. But I’m not walking away. Not from you.”

Her heart skipped a beat, her walls weakening against the conviction in his voice. “Andrew…”

“Trust me, Eva. Just a little longer,” he whispered, leaning forward to brush his lips gently against her forehead, leaving her breathless.

As she looked up at him, a faint smile tugged at her lips. Maybe, just maybe, they could make this work. And for the first time, she allowed herself to believe that love—however imperfect—might be worth the risk.