The warm atmosphere of Andrew's office turned colder as Eva sat on the couch, adjusting her slightly swollen lips while Andrew returned to his desk, his intense gaze never leaving her. Their conversation had taken a meaningful turn, with Andrew promising a new start. Eva's heart was torn between hope and the doubts that lingered from the pain of their rocky beginning. She had agreed to trust him one last time, to give their marriage a real chance. But the peace of that decision was fleeting.

Earlier, Eva had been hesitant when Jennifer encouraged her to take Andrew lunch at the office. Jennifer’s soft but firm push had convinced Eva, despite her nervousness about Andrew’s reaction. She still remembered the time he had scolded her for doing the same.

When she arrived at King Corporation, she found the office empty. James reassured her that Andrew would arrive soon, so she waited. By the time Andrew arrived, Eva was sitting quietly on the couch, clutching the lunch she had prepared. His entrance had been sudden and warm—he immediately hugged her tightly, ignoring her protests.

“Andrew, let me go,” she mumbled, half-embarrassed, half-annoyed.

“Not yet,” Andrew murmured, holding her closer. “I missed you.”

Eva rolled her eyes, but a smile crept onto her face as she sighed, “Fine, but eat before it gets cold.”

Andrew wasn’t interested in food. Instead, he pulled her closer, nuzzling her neck, nibbling lightly. “Andrew, that hurts!” Eva exclaimed, pushing him away.

Before Andrew could respond, the office door opened, and Adrien walked in, startled at the sight of them. “Oh, sorry! I’ll just leave this file here and go,” Adrien stammered, placing the file on Andrew’s desk and scurrying out.

Andrew grumbled at the interruption, glaring after Adrien before turning back to Eva. Ignoring her protests, he pulled her into another embrace and kissed her deeply, leaving her breathless and flustered.

“You’re impossible,” she muttered, gently smacking his chest. “A beast.”

“You haven’t even seen the beast yet,” he teased, his eyes darkening with mischief.

Before Andrew could claim another kiss, the door opened again. This time, it was Alex, who stopped short, taking in the scene.

“Bro, I didn’t know you were this romantic,” Alex joked, smirking as he caught Eva’s gaze. “Hello, sister-in-law! I’m Alex King, Andrew’s little brother.”

Eva, now fully embarrassed, pushed Andrew away. “Nice to meet you,” she said, trying to compose herself.

Alex grinned. “Lunch smells good. Can I join?”

Andrew scoffed. “This food is mine. She brought it for me.”

“Don’t be rude, Andrew,” Eva said, laughing as she invited Alex to join them. Soon, Adrien had joined the group too, and the four of them shared a lively meal. For a brief moment, it felt like family.

After lunch, Eva prepared to leave, but Andrew wasn’t ready to let her go. He called her over to his desk, but she hesitated. Seeing this, he joined her on the couch and took her hand.

“What’s bothering you?” Andrew asked softly.

“Nothing,” Eva replied, avoiding his gaze.

Andrew frowned, knowing she wasn’t being truthful. “Are you feeling sorry for your ex?”

Eva looked at him, bewildered. “What? Of course not. He deserved what he got.”

“Then why are you so distant?” Andrew pressed.

Eva sighed. “I’m just tired, Andrew. Tired of always being controlled, tired of feeling like I have no say.”

Andrew’s eyes softened. “Your words hurt, but you’re right. I’ve been too controlling. Let’s start over, Eva. A new chapter.”

“How can I believe you?” Eva whispered.

“Just trust me one more time,” Andrew pleaded. “I promise, we’ll have a good marriage.”

Eva pondered his words and nodded hesitantly. She noticed small changes in him—perhaps he truly was trying. Andrew smiled and asked, “When you see Jessica again, what will you do?”

Eva shrugged. “I don’t feel anything for her anymore. She had everything and threw it away. I won’t waste my energy on her.”

Andrew nodded, proud of her strength. “What if she dies?”

“I don’t care,” Eva replied simply, surprising Andrew with her indifference.

As Eva left Andrew’s office, she smiled softly, feeling hopeful about their future. She was waiting outside for her car when a black vehicle screeched to a stop in front of her. Before she could react, two men jumped out, grabbed her, and dragged her into the car.

“Help!” Eva screamed, but her cries were muffled as one man covered her mouth with a rag. A sickly-sweet smell filled her senses, and everything went dark.

“Drive! The boss is waiting,” one of the kidnappers barked.

The car sped through the city, heading toward an abandoned factory. Eva stirred slightly but remained unconscious as they carried her inside.

“Did you get her?” a voice asked from the shadows.

“Yes, boss.”

“Good,” the figure stepped into the light, revealing a cruel smile. “Eva, my darling, I will now take my revenge.”