Like a lingering ghost, Issac haunted them.
When Eva was younger, Evelyn had been too weak to hold her for long. During chemotherapy sessions, they’d be separated for months at a time, explaining Eva’s fears about another long absence after today’s outing.
This was why Evelyn refused conservative treatment. Though Eva spent more time with Lucas, she was surprisingly attached to Evelyn. She couldn’t bear seeing that look of longing on her daughter’s face anymore.
As a toddler, Eva would cry for her mother. But as she grew, she understood: Mommy was sick and couldn’t hug her long or take her out often. She became remarkably considerate, never clinging to Evelyn in ways that might strain her.
Having such a child was exhausting but blessed.
Back then, Evelyn had lost all will to live. Though grateful Lucas had saved her, she couldn’t find a reason to continue. Cancer devoured Lucas’s savings like a monster, and she attempted suicide multiple times, not wanting to burden anyone.
Then Lucas brought home a babbling toddler.
She was tiny, with cheeks soft as flower petals and the quietest whimper. Her small hand gripped Evelyn’s finger as Evelyn looked questioningly at Lucas, both faces sharing the same confusion.
“She’s my sister’s child,” Lucas had explained, his voice heavy. “Her father died in military service. My sister… followed him.”
“She’s only eighteen months old. Will you help me raise her?”
Only then did Evelyn learn that Lucas had depleted his doctor’s savings on her treatments. Her current care was funded by Eva’s parents‘ military
benefits and inheritance.
She held this orphaned child tightly, as if embracing her younger self, and wept.
After that day, Evelyn never considered suicide again. Her life now included this small person, as important as Lucas, who needed her care. weighty responsibility became her anchor to life.
She loved Eva as deeply as Eva loved her.
This
Inside their warm car sanctuary, Eva fell asleep, content with her mother’s promise. As Evelyn unwrapped her daughter’s scarf, she spoke softly.
“That was Issac by the lake, wasn’t it?”
Lucas’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. He wanted to deny it but could only remain silent. Evelyn found her answer in that silence. She smiled, her eyes gentle as spring willows. “Lucas, what are you afraid of?”
“L…” Lucas stared at the road. “I’m not.”
“I won’t love him again,” Evelyn’s voice was soft but resolute. “Lucas, I won’t make that mistake again.”
not what I meant.”
Lucas cursed his awkwardness. In the rearview mirror, he saw Evelyn’s faint smile, showing no trace of sadness or strain.
“Lucas, you’re so dense,” her eyes sparkled. “Really.”
W
Though puzzled by the teasing, Lucas felt a flutter of warmth. He had to admit he’d worried about Evelyn falling for Issac again, feared her being hurt
once more.
That scene from three years ago still haunted him. Finding Evelyn unconscious in the water, he’d acted with unprecedented clarity – without her permission, he’d faked her death and taken her south.
Now, seeing Issac again felt like revisiting a nightmare. If he hadn’t been holding Eva, he would have struck him.
Evelyn fell silent after her words, smiling softly as she her sleeping daughter’s flushed cheek.
He’d loved Evelyn for so long
enough just to protect her, to see her happy.
Whether Evelyn loved him or not, being with her and Eva was his greatest blessing.
But now, hearing the gentle teasing in her voice, his heart raced with sudden understanding of what might come next.
“I…” he fumbled for words, stopping the car and opening the back door to reach for sleeping Eva.
Evelyn stopped him with a gesture. Pale from illness, her dark eyes bright, she smiled. “Shh. We’ll talk about it later.”
Evelyn wasn’t made of stone. Lucas’s constant care over three years had slowly warmed her heart, frozen by Issac’s cruelty. But until her cancer was cured, she dared not make any promises.
Yet she couldn’t keep Lucas in limbo forever.
After receiving good news about her treatment, Evelyn made a decision. If she survived the surgery, she would try to entrust her scarred self completely to Lucas.
Love had bloomed so mysteriously. Watching drowsy Eva, Evelyn gently patted her back.
