CHAPTER 97: ATONE

"You don’t have to. I am fine." She responded and then turned toward Paul, "Darling, I will take my leave first, my friends are still waiting for me." Then excused herself, forcing a polite smile before turning away. But Patricia wasn’t about to let her go.

"I will be back," she murmured quickly to Roman before running after Eve.

"You have made my piece escape," Syres muttered, his tone edged with dejection, prompting Roman to release his collar.

"Are you sure you won’t regret it once she’s married?" Roman asked, striking deliberately at the nerve.

"You didn’t regret it when you killed my brother. Why should I regret this? We are both awful bastards." Syres sneered, his smirk sharp and cruel.

"You hate me, not her. Why torture her? You think this hurts me? No, Syres, this only destroys you." Roman taunted. For a fleeting moment, Syres’s expression darkened, shadows flickering in his eyes as though Roman’s words had struck deeper than he would admit.

"Then you know nothing about me," Syres replied flatly, turning to walk away. It was a small victory for Roman, knowing he has managed to plant a doubt in him. Though not enough to wake him, it was at least a progress.

On the balcony, Patricia approached quietly. "Hi... beautiful view, isn’t it?" She said softly, stepping beside Eve. Her gaze caught the shimmer of tears rolling freely down Eve’s cheeks.

"You followed me," Eve muttered, but her voice carried no protest. Her eyes stayed fixed on the scenery before her, as if the horizon could hold her pain.

Patricia stayed silent, giving her space.

After a long pause, Eve’s voice trembled into the quiet. "You know, we weren’t always like this." Patricia already knew who we meant.

"My family and Syres were inseparable. So close our parents began treating us more like siblings than friends." She let out a broken laugh that cracked under grief. "I ruined that bond with my stubbornness."

Patricia’s heart tightened. Ruined? This wasn’t what she had been told. She leaned closer, waiting.

"I have always loved vacations since they meant more time with Syres. That day, I insisted we extend the holiday instead of going home. My brother... he wanted to get back in time for a race. He was so angry. In that anger, he set the house on fire." Her voice faltered, a bitter smile twisting her face as her tears fell harder.

"If I hadn’t insisted... he would have had his race. He might have been a successful athlete today. And our families..." her voice broke, "they would still be inseparable. My stubbornness cost us everything. That tragic day... was my fault."

Patricia’s chest ached at the raw grief pouring out of her. But one question gnawed at her. "Eve... why blame Roman? Did you actually see your brother set the house on fire?"

Eve wiped her tears, inhaling shakily before turning to her. "No. I didn’t see it. Syres pulled me out first... and then, suddenly, a maid appeared beside me. She told me my brother had done it." Her voice was hollow, her confession unbelievable.

Patricia stared at her, stunned by the fragility of a story built on hearsay, and the devastating guilt it had carved into Eve’s soul.

"You think he did it just because a maid told you so?" Patricia asked carefully, as though questioning if Eve herself truly believed that claim.

"I know that look." Eve’s lips trembled into a sad smile. "I didn’t believe her at first. But after the fire, Syres said he saw Roman do it. And there was no way he would lie against him. Then Grandpa grounded Roman for a while, and that only confirmed my suspicions." Her words left Patricia stunned. She trusted Syres because she loved him, that enough was clear. But was that really enough reason to condemn Roman?

"Syres was the one who saw him?" Patricia repeated slowly.

"Yes. Ask him yourself if you want details." Eve replied, before shifting the subject. "But tell me, what did you want to speak with me about?"

Patricia blinked, recalling her real purpose. "It’s about Paul. You don’t have to marry him, no, you can’t marry him. He’s not the man you think he is."

Eve gave a faint smile at her urgency, which only deepened Patricia’s frown.

"And how exactly do you plan on helping me escape this marriage?" Eve asked bluntly.

"We... I mean, your brother has already gathered evidence against him. Soon we will find witnesses to testify. But he doesn’t want to move forward without your support. Eve, he needs you to stand with him this once. Trust him." Patricia pleaded, her voice soft but insistent.

Eve lowered her gaze, silent, her thoughts heavy. At last, she whispered, "Paul is powerful. His influence in this city is enough to crush any case in court. If I refuse him, my aunt will pay the price. And if she suffers, she will make sure Roman suffers too. I can’t let him risk his life and his company for me. I don’t deserve that."

Patricia leaned forward. "Your aunt would be in trouble? Does Paul have something on her?"

"Yes." Eve’s answer was quiet but firm. "That’s why Roman must stop. Even if Paul were convicted, he wouldn’t fall alone. He would drag my aunt and everyone else down with him. And I can’t let that happen. My aunt raised me after my mother died. I owe her at least this much."

Patricia’s heart twisted in frustration. She couldn’t understand, why protect her aunt’s sins at the cost of her own happiness? "So you would sacrifice your future just to cover up her crimes?" She asked, disbelief thick in her tone. At that moment, Patricia finally understood why Roman hadn’t wanted her to intervene. Eve was impossibly hard to convince.

Eve’s next words broke something inside her. "The truth is... deep down, I know Roman didn’t start that fire. But standing by him would have meant losing Syres. I thought if I abandoned my family, Syres would still choose me. But I was wrong." Her eyes glistened, and yet a resigned smile tugged at her lips. "Now it’s too late to undo anything. I want to atone for my mistakes. By marrying Paul, everyone gets their happy ending. Syres won’t have to worry about me anymore."

Her calmness was heartbreaking, her smile almost cruel in how easily it masked despair.

Then a voice butted in, "You have to listen to her, Eve."