Eva sat silently, lost in her thoughts, as Andrew’s piercing gaze bore into her. His eyes, filled with intensity and protectiveness, followed every subtle movement she made. The moment was broken when Tristan smacked him on the shoulder.

“What?” Andrew snapped, his voice low and menacing.

“Stop glaring at her like that,” Tristan whispered harshly. “Or else I’m going to take those eyes out of your head.”

Andrew rolled his eyes and scoffed. “I’d like to see you try.”

The tension between the two men began to crackle as Evander stepped in. “Alright, both of you, calm down. We’re here for Eva, not your testosterone-driven competition.”

Anthony entered the room, interrupting their spat. “Eva, you can go see him now.”

Before she could take a step, Andrew grabbed her hand. “Why do you need to talk to him?” His tone was laced with concern and a hint of possessiveness.

“I just need to speak with him alone,” she replied firmly.

Andrew frowned. “Alone? Absolutely not.”

Anthony sighed and placed a calming hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Josh is tied up, restrained, and under constant surveillance. Nothing can happen to her.”

Tristan chimed in, “There are cameras in the cell. We’ll monitor every second.”

Still, Andrew stood firm. “If she’s going, I’m going.”

Evander smirked. “Can you just let him go with you, Eva? The guy’s lovesick and obsessed with your safety.”

“I’m not lovesick,” Andrew countered quickly, his cheeks slightly coloring. “She’s my woman, and I’m going to protect her.”

Eva sighed in resignation. “Fine. You can come. But you’re not to interfere.”

Andrew’s expression softened, and he nodded, silently following her. Tristan and Evander exchanged knowing smiles behind his back.

“He’s whipped,” Anthony chuckled.

“Completely,” Evander agreed. “But I guess love does that.”

Anthony raised an eyebrow. “And speaking of love, anything to share, Evander?”

“Not yet,” Evander shot back, grinning. “But at least I don’t actively sabotage relationships like some single jerks.”

Tristan glared but said nothing, a faint twitch betraying his thoughts.

Eva and Andrew entered the dark cell where Josh sat bound to a chair. His face was bruised, his clothes stained with blood. He lifted his head, smiling weakly as his eyes fell on Eva.

“Eva,” he croaked.

Andrew clenched his fists, his jaw tightening at the sight of Josh smiling at his wife.

Eva placed a chair in front of Josh and sat down, her expression steady despite the turmoil in her chest. “I’m here for a heart-to-heart talk,” she said calmly.

Josh chuckled bitterly. “Oh really? What do you want to know?”

“Were you ever truly in love with me, or was it all just a lie?” she asked.

Josh’s eyes flicked briefly to Andrew’s glare before he smirked. “Love you? No. I don’t think I ever loved you.”

Eva’s face hardened. “Then why did you propose? Was it Celine?”

Josh scoffed. “No. I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Eva’s voice rose. “Then why?”

Josh grinned maliciously. “Because someone else loved you, and I couldn’t let him have you.”

Eva stared at him, confused. “What are you talking about? No one else ever showed interest in me.”

“You were so focused on your books you didn’t notice,” Josh said. “But your ‘best friend’ Lucas? He was head over heels for you. Always protecting you, supporting you. It made me sick.”

Eva blinked in shock. “Lucas? No. He never—”

Josh interrupted her. “People in college thought you were a whore, Eva. Two-timing me with Lucas. And who spread that little rumor? Your darling sister Jessica.”

Andrew stepped forward, his fury barely contained. Eva held up her hand. “Don’t,” she said sternly. “Go stand over there and let me handle this.”

Andrew hesitated but obeyed, retreating a few steps and glaring daggers at Josh.

“You and Jessica conspired to ruin my reputation?” Eva demanded, her voice trembling with anger.

Josh shrugged. “I wanted to control you. Jessica promised she’d help me get what I wanted—a night with you. But you always avoided me, didn’t you? Just like you avoided Andrew. Did you finally let him—?”

His words were cut off by the sound of Eva’s palm connecting with his cheek. The force of the slap echoed in the small cell.

“You bastard!” Eva screamed, slapping him again. “You think you can manipulate people’s lives like that? I was a fool to ever love you!”

Josh laughed weakly, even as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. “And you’re still as naive as ever.”

Rage consumed Eva. She turned to Andrew. “Where are the weapons?”

Andrew pointed to a case in the corner, watching as Eva grabbed a whip. Tristan and Evander entered, curious about the commotion. Anthony leaned against the wall, silently observing.

Eva lashed the whip across Josh’s chest, her strikes precise and relentless. “This is for lying to me,” she yelled, her voice filled with years of suppressed hurt. She whipped him again. “This is for humiliating me!”

Josh flinched, gritting his teeth against the pain, but his composure cracked as the lashes continued. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, and his cries of agony filled the room.

When she finally stopped, tears blurred Eva’s vision. Andrew took the whip from her hands and replaced it with an iron rod that Tristan had handed over.

“This is for what you did at the wedding,” Eva said coldly, swinging the rod into Josh’s stomach. He doubled over, coughing up blood before fainting.

Eva dropped to her knees, sobbing as the weight of everything overwhelmed her. Andrew knelt beside her, pulling her into his arms. “It’s over,” he whispered, his voice soft yet resolute. “You don’t have to carry this anymore.”

Andrew carried Eva out of the cell and into his car, cradling her like she was the most precious thing in his world. She clung to him, burying her face in his chest as her sobs subsided.

Tristan watched them leave, his expression unreadable. “Josh doesn’t deserve to live,” he said quietly.

Anthony nodded. “Let’s make sure he doesn’t.”

As they walked back to the cell, the men silently vowed to ensure that Josh paid for every tear Eva had shed. For now, Andrew would handle the healing, and they would handle the retribution.