Eva had never felt more exhausted than she did after hours of shopping with Irene and the others. As she looked around at the endless rows of clothes and shoes, her feet ached, and she realized she had finally reached her limit.

“Please, I’m so tired,” Eva sighed, looking at her friends with a pleading expression.

Madeline, seeing Eva’s exhausted face, chuckled and gently pulled Irene and Mia aside. “Alright, we’ve exhausted her enough,” she laughed. They agreed to let Eva take a break at the nearby café.

Eva sighed with relief as she sank into a chair, waving goodbye as her friends continued shopping. But before she could even take her first sip of her drink, a second cup was set down beside her.

“Excuse me, I didn’t order two drinks,” Eva began to say to the waiter, looking up in confusion.

“That’s because I ordered it,” a familiar voice cut in sharply.

Eva’s head snapped up, and her breath hitched as she found herself face-to-face with Jessica.

“Sis?” Eva stammered, jumping to her feet, stunned by the unexpected reunion. “How… how are you? Why did you leave?”

Jessica’s mouth twisted into a sneer as she crossed her arms. “Drop the act, Eva. Sit down. We need to talk.”

Eva’s heart pounded as she took her seat, studying Jessica’s face. This was not the warm reunion she had hoped for. She barely noticed the figures around them or the wary gaze of Tristan’s informant who watched from a distance, making a quick call to Tristan.

Tristan answered, and the informant reported, “Jessica is with your sister at the café. They’re talking now.”

Tristan’s heart raced as he quickly hung up and tried calling Andrew, but each call went unanswered. Growing frustrated, he muttered a curse under his breath. “Damn it, Andrew, where are you?”

He quickly dialed Anthony, who picked up on the first ring. “Anthony, Jessica is with Eva. I need you to get there. I don’t want that snake putting nonsense into her head.”

Anthony agreed immediately, his voice cold and determined. “I’m on it,” he said before hanging up.

Meanwhile, back at the café, Jessica’s words cut deep as she continued speaking to Eva. “You should leave Andrew,” she said flatly, her eyes glinting with something darker than mere resentment.

Eva’s heart sank. “Jessica, why would you say that? You left him… didn’t you?”

Jessica’s smirk deepened. “Did you really think he could forget me that easily?” Her tone was laced with venom. “He was in love with me, Eva. You’re just filling a spot I left behind. Don’t kid yourself.”

Eva’s hands gripped her cup tightly, her mind swirling with doubts and fear. “Why are you saying this?” she whispered.

Jessica shrugged. “Because it’s the truth. You really think he could move on and love someone else in a few short months? He’s only with you out of convenience. The second I want him back, he’ll drop you like nothing.”

Eva felt tears sting her eyes, but she forced them down. “I don’t believe you, Jessica.”

Jessica laughed, leaning closer, a smug smile on her face. “You don’t have to. But here’s the truth: Andrew and I… well, we were together, Eva. Many times.” She leaned back, savoring the shocked look on Eva’s face.

Eva’s heart broke a little more with each word, but she fought to keep her composure. She had known this already; she had known that Jessica and Andrew had been together. But hearing it like this, with Jessica’s mocking tone, left her feeling raw.

“Why are you doing this?” Eva asked, her voice cracking.

“Because, darling sister, I want him back. He was always mine, and he will be again. So why don’t you do yourself a favor and leave him before he leaves you?”

With that, Jessica stood up, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she strode out of the café, leaving Eva sitting alone, struggling to contain the tears that finally spilled down her cheeks.

As Eva wiped her tears and tried to gather her thoughts, a gentle hand touched her shoulder. She looked up to see Anthony’s concerned face. “Eva, what happened?” he asked softly, noticing the pain in her eyes.

Eva forced a small smile, shaking her head. “Nothing, Anthony. I… I have to go.”

Irene and the others joined them just then, sensing the shift in Eva’s mood. “Eva, are you alright?” Irene asked, looking at her with concern.

“I’m fine, really. I just… I need to talk to Andrew,” Eva replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Before anyone could stop her, she turned and hurried out, her mind set on confronting Andrew and finding out the truth for herself. Madeline, still worried, looked at Anthony.

“Why are you here?” she asked him, her tone laced with suspicion.

Anthony shrugged, but his gaze stayed fixed on Eva as she disappeared through the mall doors. “Just… coincidence,” he muttered, though they both knew it was far from that.

Eva’s heart was racing as she drove toward the company, her thoughts a chaotic mix of hope and fear. She had to know if Jessica’s words were true. Did Andrew still harbor feelings for Jessica? Had he really only chosen her out of convenience, or was there something more?

When she finally reached the company, she practically ran through the hallways to Andrew’s office. She could feel her heart pounding with every step, her mind echoing with Jessica’s cruel words.