Page 17 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
"A wine from Tuscany, a real treat for the taste buds!"he told us as he filled our glasses.
We thanked him warmly before beginning our tasting.
The evening flowed to the rhythm of laughter and anecdotes.Soon, perhaps too soon, it was time to part ways.
Steve returned with Eva and me to the penthouse.Once inside, Eva left us men alone, understanding our need for this one-on-one moment.
"The guest room is ready, Steve," she told him."You'll find clean towels on the bed."
"Thanks, Eva," Steve replied."Good night."
"Good night," she added, disappearing into our bedroom.
I went behind the bar, chose two cognac glasses, and poured the amber liquid.I handed a glass to my friend before slipping into an armchair facing him.A sip of cognac gently burned my throat as I savored this moment of calm.
"What's bothering you?"he asked me."You barely said anything all evening."
"Sorry," I apologized."I hadn't realized."
"Tell me!"
I remained silent for a moment, searching for words, then I began.
"It's my parents..."
"Things still aren't better between them?"he asked sympathetically.
"It's getting worse.It kills me to see them like this, especially with Lily caught between them.It's horrible."
"You know you can't do anything about it.When love is gone, you end up becoming bitter and blaming the other for every flaw or failing."
I took a deep breath before continuing.
"My mother is becoming increasingly bitter, and I admit I don't know how to help her anymore."
Steve nodded, his gaze filled with understanding.
"I understand this situation is wearing you down, but you can't carry this burden for her.It's up to her to decide what she wants to do with her life.Has she considered seeing a psychologist for her depression?"
"No, she refuses to hear about it."
"That's too bad because it could help her."
"I know, I keep talking to her about it."
I took another sip of cognac, letting silence settle before daring to formulate the question that haunted me.
"What if this happens to Eva and me?"
"Why are you asking that?"he asked cautiously.
"It's hard to explain," I sighed."Most of the time, everything is fine between us, and then, without warning, tension sets in, palpable, suffocating.We argue over details that shouldn't even matter.Some days, I feel completely helpless in the face of our conflicts.Over time, frustration and resentment build up.I admit I don't know how to defuse these tensions.We talk, but we don't understand each other.I don't know how to find the natural connection that once united us."
I paused, searching for words, my gaze lost in space.
"It's as if my parents' pattern is repeating itself.Their all-consuming love at the beginning, then their increasingly toxic relationship over the years...I refuse to live that.I think it would destroy me.I couldn't bear to see everything I've built with Eva collapse in the same way."
Steve looked at me for a long time, carefully choosing his words to ease my fears.
