Chapter 26: What Seventeen Years Cost Me

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: What Seventeen Years Cost Me

~Frederick’s POV~

I sat Reynold down, making sure one of my guards stayed right beside him to keep unwanted attention away, before turning and walking back toward Eva, who was standing nearby with a glass of champagne.

"Come with me," I said, my voice low and firm.

Eva blinked, a smirk spreading across her lips as she placed her glass on a passing waiter’s tray. "Well, look at that. Now you’re ready to talk."

I ignored her. I wasn’t about to cause a scene in the middle of Bernard’s party, but she needed to be dealt with, and I wanted answers.

I led her toward a quieter part of the estate, away from the music and the crowd. Once we were far enough away that no one could hear us, I stopped and turned to face her.

"What the hell was that back there?" I demanded, my voice cutting through the quiet of the secluded pathway.

Eva let out a soft, teasing laugh and stepped closer with a mocking smile. "Come on, show some respect to your wife, Frederick. I’ve tried reaching out to you so many times, but you keep ignoring me. I knew you would be here tonight, so I came here to see you."

A vein throbbed at my temple. I glared at her, my anger rising. "Don’t ever call yourself that again. You tried to reach out to me, and you should know by now that I’ve been ignoring you on purpose. So tell me, what kind of pathetic show were you putting on out there? Answer me. What the hell did you just call me?"

Eva didn’t even flinch. She simply crossed her arms and lifted her chin, wearing that arrogant, untouchable confidence she always seemed to carry.

"I called you what I called you," she replied smoothly, her eyes glinting with playful defiance. "I’m not repeating myself, Frederick."

A dangerous look flashed across my face. "Good thing you’re not," I murmured, taking a slow step closer to her. "Because if you ever call me baby in public again, especially in front of someone who belongs to me, I’ll make you regret the day you signed with your agency."

Eva’s eyes widened, her playful expression disappearing instantly. She uncrossed her arms and stepped closer, disbelief replacing her smug amusement.

"What? Someone who belongs to you, Frederick?" she asked. "That tiny boy you’re old enough to be his father? Don’t tell me what I’m thinking is true. You wouldn’t stoop this low and become a cradle-robber."

I looked down at her, my expression turning cold. "Who I’m with is none of your damn business. From now on, stay away from me whenever you see me. And if you cross that line again, I swear you’ll regret it. You ungrateful soul."

The moment she heard those words, her expression crumbled. The arrogance disappeared from her face, replaced by desperation as she looked at me.

"Please, Frederick. I’m sorry. I know I was wrong." Her voice softened as she took a small step toward me. "I already reached out to your grandparents, and they told me that if you still wanted me, they wouldn’t stand in our way. I know I can’t change what happened in the past, but please... let’s start over."

"I don’t want you anymore, Eva," I said coldly. "Not now, not tomorrow, and not ever. You’re part of my past. I’ll let what happened today slide for one reason—just one—and you know exactly why."

I turned to leave, but before I could take two steps, Eva’s voice stopped me.

"You said you would always love me, Frederick..."

I turned back to look at her.

She took another step closer, her voice trembling slightly. "I understand how you’re feeling, but look at us, Frederick. We shared so many memories together." She tilted her face up toward me, desperation clear in her eyes. "I’m done playing games. I’ve achieved everything I wanted in my career, and I’m ready to settle down now. With you. Please... can you forgive me and let us put the past behind us?"

A bitter, humorless laugh escaped my lips. "Seventeen years ago, you wanted to chase your dreams. I didn’t want you to go, but I respected your decision for Lily’s sake. I didn’t want to take your dream away from you. You asked me to give you ten years, Eva, and I agreed because that was how much I loved you back then."

I paused, my jaw tightening.

"But after those ten years, I came to you and told you it was finally time for us to settle down. I told you that getting married wouldn’t affect your career. But you said you were still enjoying your fame. You told me not to ruin your future, your career, or everything you had built. Then you asked me for another five years. And I agreed again."

My voice grew colder. "I did everything I could to help you become the woman you are today. And what did you do, Eva? You went ahead and—"

"I’m sorry! I was wrong!" Eva sobbed, cutting me off. "I’m ready now!"

I stared at her, years of resentment finally boiling over.

"You’re ungrateful. I knew from the beginning that our worlds were different, but I loved you anyway. I gave you every chance to build a life where you could stand beside me without anyone looking down on you. I supported your dreams, funded your career, and gave you everything you needed to become the woman you are today. I did all of that because I believed that one day, you would finally be ready to stand beside me. But after everything I’ve done for you, you still chose to walk away."

My voice hardened. "I’ve done enough, Eva. I’m done with you. From now on, whenever you see me, stay away."

Eva’s expression twisted, bitterness replacing her tears. "It’s because of that boy, isn’t it?" she spat. "You’ve always wanted me to come back to you, but now that I’m finally ready to settle down with you, you suddenly want me to stay away?"

I stared at her coldly. "Who the hell do you think you are? I chased after you for only one reason, Eva, but I’m absolutely certain she doesn’t need someone like you anymore. So stay away from me. I’m done with you. Avoid me, just like you told me to pretend I didn’t know you all those years. And if you ever cross that line again, I swear I’ll make you regret it."

Eva’s face hardened, and she suddenly shouted, "He’ll betray you! He’s still young, Frederick. Eventually, he’ll chase his own dreams, find someone his own age, and realize he could never be with someone old enough to be his father!"

"You don’t have to worry about that," I shot back, my jaw tightening. "I’m not going to let the same mistakes happen twice. But I’m damn sure he won’t turn out to be an ungrateful bitch like you."

Eva let out a harsh, venomous laugh. "Fine. You trust him that much?" she challenged. "How about I go out there and tell him who I am to you? Let’s see if he still wants you after he finds out the truth."

She took a step toward the party.

"You wouldn’t dare," I warned, my voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "You wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself, Eva, because you mean nothing to me. Even if you tell him, he won’t leave me. He’s not some stupid cheater like you."

SNNAAPPP.

Eva stepped forward and lashed out, her hand cracking hard across my cheek.

"How dare you talk to me like that?!"