Jessica had always been bold, but today she felt particularly triumphant. She had managed to sneak into Kings Corp, weaving through the building unnoticed, and now stood outside Andrew’s office door. Adjusting her dress and plastering on a sultry smile, she knocked lightly before hearing his cold, irritated voice from the other side.

“Come in and make it fast—I’m busy,” Andrew called out.

Jessica entered with a confident stride, her heels clicking on the marble floor. “Hello, Andrew,” she purred, her smile widening.

Andrew’s head shot up, his jaw tightening as rage flashed in his eyes. “You,” he spat, his fists clenching. Every fiber of his being screamed to throw her out, but he reminded himself of his carefully crafted plan. For Eva, he had to stay composed.

Jessica mistook his hesitation for interest and grew bolder. Without missing a beat, she strode over and perched herself on his lap, leaning in as her hips pressed against him. “Andrew, I missed you,” she murmured, leaning forward to capture his lips.

Andrew’s entire body tensed. His mind roared with disgust, a part of him desperately wanting to shove her off. But he remained still, his restraint razor-thin. Eva will understand. She has to.

Just then, the door burst open.

“Andrew—” Eva’s voice faltered mid-sentence as her eyes fell on the scene before her. Jessica, perched on Andrew’s lap, her body far too close for comfort. Time seemed to stop as Eva’s world came crashing down.

Her voice cracked as she stumbled back. “Sorry if I interrupted,” she whispered, the hurt in her tone piercing through Andrew’s chest. Before he could say anything, she spun on her heel and fled the room, her tears spilling freely.

Andrew’s rage ignited. With a roar, he shoved Jessica off his lap, sending her stumbling backward.

“Andrew, wait—” Jessica began, her voice adopting a faux-innocent tone.

“Shut the fuck up!” Andrew bellowed, his eyes blazing with fury. “Don’t you dare say another word before I do something you’ll regret.”

Jessica’s confident facade crumbled as fear overtook her. Without another word, she scurried out of the office, leaving Andrew to wrestle with his growing sense of failure.

He collapsed into his chair, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it,” he muttered. He had hurt Eva, the one person who meant everything to him. I should have told her. I should have trusted her with the truth.

Without hesitation, he grabbed his car keys and bolted out of the office. He had to find her, to fix this before it was too late.

When Andrew arrived at the mansion, he found Eva pacing outside his study, her face tear-streaked, but her expression resolute. For a brief moment, hope flickered in his chest—she hadn’t left. Maybe he still had a chance.

“Eva,” he called softly.

She turned to face him, her eyes filled with a storm of emotions. “Andrew, can we talk?”

“Of course,” he said, gesturing for her to enter the study. Once inside, Andrew closed the door and leaned against it, bracing himself for what was to come.

Eva took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of courage she had. “Andrew, this marriage… it’s not what I expected,” she began. Her voice was steady, but her hands trembled slightly. “I agreed to this because I wanted to protect my family. But I can’t do this anymore.”

Andrew stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“I can’t live like this,” she continued, her voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t marry you to be treated with cold indifference. I didn’t know I’d be stepping into a marriage where I’d feel so alone.”

“Eva, you knew this was a business marriage,” Andrew replied, his tone guarded. “Neither of us wanted this.”

Her chest tightened at his words, the final crack splintering her heart. “Marriage is supposed to be built on love and trust, Andrew. I’ve had nothing but loneliness. I’ve tried, I really have. But I can’t anymore.”

“Eva…” Andrew stepped forward, his eyes softening. “I know I’ve been distant. But you have to believe me—I do care for you.”

Tears spilled over as Eva shook her head. “It’s not enough. You still love Jessica. And now that she’s back—”

“Stop,” Andrew interrupted, his voice firm. “I don’t love Jessica. I thought I did, but I was wrong. Eva, it’s you. You’re the one I love.”

His confession caught her off guard, and for a moment, hope flickered in her chest. But then she remembered the hurt, the coldness, the scene she had walked in on earlier. “Andrew, sometimes love isn’t enough when it’s hidden behind walls.”

“I can change,” he pleaded, taking her hands in his. “Please, Eva. Just give me a chance to prove it to you.”

Eva pulled her hands away, her voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t hope for something that might never come. I need to find my own happiness, even if that means leaving you.”

Andrew’s heart shattered at her words. “If that’s what you want,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “I won’t stop you. I just want you to be happy… even if it’s not with me.”

Eva turned away, her tears blurring her vision. She couldn’t bear to see the pain in his eyes, knowing it mirrored her own. “Thank you,” she whispered before rushing out of the study.

Andrew stood there in silence, his world crumbling around him. He had pushed her away, built walls too high for even himself to climb. And now, he had lost her.

Eva drove to the small apartment she had purchased during college. The familiar surroundings brought her little comfort as she collapsed onto the couch, tears streaming down her face. She told herself she had made the right choice, but the ache in her chest was unbearable.

“Maybe love just isn’t for me,” she whispered to the empty room, her heart breaking all over again.