Page 58 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
"She's not my girlfriend.We just see each other from time to time, to feel good," Steve replied casually.
"Oh, such scandalous behavior!"I said, pretending to be shocked.
Steve chuckled before continuing, his face growing serious.
"How are you feeling this morning?"he inquired, his tone filled with sincerity.
"Fine, don't worry," I lied, my voice betraying my distress.
"You're a terrible liar," he replied, staring at me."Do you want to talk about it?"
Tears welled up again, uncontrollable, and before I knew it, I was crying once more in Steve's arms.
"There's not much to say," I answered in a broken voice."He has another woman in his life."
"But he seemed very worried yesterday when he called me asking where you were."
"Of course he's worried, we're talking about Tristan, not some selfish jerk, but she'll be there to comfort him," I concluded bitterly, the taste of bile in my mouth.
"You mean Audrey?"Steve asked gently.
"Who else?He's completely enchanted by that woman.Since he met her, she's all he sees."
"Don't you want to fight for him?"he asked, hesitantly.
"I've already tried.I've been fighting for months, watching him fall in love with someone else without being able to change anything," I explained, my throat tight."When we're both in the same room, he barely notices my presence anymore.You can't force someone to love you.I refuse to stay any longer, watching him give the love that was once mine to someone else.It's beyond my strength; it would destroy what's left of me," I added with a sob.
"I understand," Steve whispered."But you need to let him know you're okay.We can't let him worry like this.It'll drive him crazy."
"I know, I'll do it.But don't tell him I'm here.I don't want to see him, not yet.We need time.Distance will make our separation less painful."
My voice broke on these last words, and a painful sob escaped me despite myself.
"Oh, Eva..."Steve sighed, tightening his arms around me."I'm here, okay?You can always count on me."
When I turned on my cell phone that evening, several texts and voice messages from Tristan were waiting for me.I stared at the screen for a moment, my heart pounding, but I had neither the strength to read the former nor to listen to the latter.Leila and Satoshi had also tried to reach me.I sent them both the same message:
EVA:I'm fine.I'm safe.I just need time.
LEILA:I'm here if you want to talk.I love you.Take care of yourself.We're keeping an eye on Tristan.
SATOSHI:I know you have good reasons to doubt him, but know that he still loves you.
36.Talk to me
TRISTAN
I had just gotten out of the shower when the phone started ringing.
Eva!
I answered immediately, my hands trembling.
"Eva?Is that you?"
Only silence answered me.I pulled the phone away to double-check who was calling.It was definitely her, no doubt about it.With a heavy heart, I realized she was there, on the other end of the line, her throat tight, unable to speak.I could almost hear her breathing.I had done this to her.I had reduced this strong, vibrant woman to silence.I felt her pain as if it were my own, and I hated myself for the suffering I was causing her.
"Eva, tell me you're okay," I begged in a low voice, like someone speaking to an injured animal they're afraid of scaring away.
