Eva lay on her bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as a cascade of thoughts swirled in her mind. The whirlwind of the past two months felt almost surreal. She had gone from planning a life with Josh to standing at the altar with Andrew, a man whose cold demeanor had hidden an unexpectedly warm heart.

"Life has a way of surprising you," Eva whispered to herself, her voice heavy with emotion. She thought back to the betrayal—the image of Josh and her former friend Celine entwined in a deceitful embrace still stung. "But Andrew… he's different. Or at least, I hope he is."

With a sigh, Eva sat up. She couldn't let herself spiral into thoughts of the past. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten all day. After a light breakfast, she busied herself with chores, attempting to ground herself in normalcy. But her apartment walls felt too confining, so she decided to take a walk in the nearby park.

The fresh air was invigorating, and the laughter of children playing nearby brought a small smile to her face. She caught herself imagining a future—a little boy with Andrew’s striking eyes chasing after a giggling girl with her hair. The thought was both comforting and terrifying.

Her daydream was shattered by a voice she hadn't wanted to hear again.

"Eva," Celine called mockingly. Eva turned and froze at the sight of her former friend.

"Are you homeless now?" Celine sneered. "Did your family disown you? You must be struggling to end up here of all places."

Eva clenched her fists, taking a steadying breath. "It's none of your business," she said, her tone firm. "And I have no interest in speaking with you."

She turned to walk away, but another voice stopped her cold.

"Eva," Josh said, his smug tone grating on her nerves. "Where's your husband?"

"Husband?" Celine’s confusion was palpable, her expression twisting as she tried to process the information. "You’re married?"

Josh smirked, looking Eva up and down. "Yes, and she didn’t even invite us to the wedding. Isn’t that rude, Celine?"

Eva's patience snapped. "As I just told Celine, my business is none of your concern."

Celine’s lips curled into a mocking smile. "Well, we missed your wedding, but you can still come to ours. Don’t worry—we’ll make sure you’re invited."

"Yes, you should come," Josh added, his tone insincere.

Eva’s irritation burned brightly, but she refused to give them the satisfaction of a reaction. Without another word, she turned and walked away, her head held high.

Back at her apartment, Eva stared at her phone, willing Andrew to call. But the screen stayed stubbornly blank. She tried calling him a few times, but each attempt went unanswered. Frustrated and hurt, she tossed her phone onto the couch, only for it to buzz with an incoming call.

"Irene," Eva greeted, forcing a smile into her voice.

"Eva, why haven’t you been home? I went to the mansion, and you weren’t there," Irene demanded, her concern evident.

"It's complicated," Eva admitted. "I’ll explain in a few days."

Irene huffed but didn’t press further. "Fine. Oh, by the way, Evan proposed to Mia!"

The news brought a genuine smile to Eva’s face. "Really? That’s wonderful! Tell me everything."

Irene launched into an animated retelling of Evan’s proposal, complete with details of Tristan’s reluctant approval. "Your brother acts all cold, but he’s such a softie inside," Irene laughed.

Eva agreed, her heart warming at the thought of her family’s happiness. But her mood dimmed when Irene brought up Celine and Josh's wedding.

"Are you going?" Irene asked.

Eva hesitated. "I don’t think it’s a good idea."

"They’ll think you’re weak if you don’t show up," Irene insisted. "Besides, you should make an impression. I’ll send you a dress."

Before Eva could protest, Irene hung up. She shook her head at Irene’s whirlwind energy and let out a small laugh despite herself.

The next day, Eva still hadn’t heard from Andrew. Her phone buzzed, and she eagerly checked, only to see Evander’s name.

"Eva," Evander greeted.

"Have you heard from Andrew?" she asked anxiously.

"He’s on a mission," Evander explained. "Don’t worry; he’ll be back soon."

"Mission?" Eva repeated, her thoughts swirling. "What mission? Is he… working for someone?"

Before she could dwell on the question, her doorbell rang. Evander excused himself and ended the call after relaying his message. 

A courier handed her a package from Irene. Inside were three stunning dresses. Eva chose a navy blue one with a tasteful slit, sending a picture to Irene, who immediately replied with enthusiastic approval.

Eva admired herself in the mirror, her heart pounding as she prepared to face her past. "I’ll wish them luck and end things for good," she resolved.

At the wedding venue, Eva walked in, drawing gasps and envious stares. The navy dress hugged her curves perfectly, and her poised demeanor only added to her allure.

Josh and Celine noticed her immediately. Celine’s smile faltered as she took in Eva’s radiant beauty.

"She came," Celine muttered under her breath.

Josh couldn’t take his eyes off Eva, his jaw tightening as he watched her confidently navigate the room.

Jessica, lurking nearby, smirked as her plan began to unfold. "Perfect," she thought. "It’s time to make Eva fall and ensure Andrew won’t want her anymore."

Eva held her head high, unaware of the storm brewing around her. Today wasn’t about revenge or proving a point—it was about reclaiming her peace. As she approached Josh and Celine, her steps were steady, her resolve unshakable.

"Congratulations," she said, her voice calm and even. "I wish you both all the happiness."

With that, Eva turned and walked away, leaving behind the toxic remnants of her past. Little did she know, the battle for her future was only beginning.