RENT A HEART

EVE's POV

Days had gone without a word from chris. I'd gone to his condo, called countless times, but nothing. So, I left the mansion. It was too hard to stay there, surrounded by memories. I needed the comfort of my family home, even if only temporarily.

I'd told Mum I was coming, so I wasn't surprised to see her waiting on the porch.

"Mum," I called, stepping out of the car.

"Welcome home, honey," she said, embracing me warmly. I held on tight for a moment, letting her hug chase away some of the chill that had settled around my heart.

"Let's go inside, dear."

Luckily, my brothers weren't home, and Dad was at a meeting, so it was just Mum and me. A small wave of relief washed over me. I needed this quiet time.

A smile touched my lips as I opened my bedroom door. Nostalgia hit me hard. So many memories lived within these walls.

I shut the door, unpacked, and there, tucked away in the wardrobe, was a small diary. My favorite one from high school. Intrigued, I sat on the bed, pulled the duvet around me, and started reading. Waves of second-hand embarrassment washed over me with each cringe-worthy entry, especially the ones about Frederick.

Looking back, it was clearly adolescent infatuation. No sane girl would pine after a boy who kissed every girl in school, who constantly chose everyone else over her, who made her feel inadequate.

I sat up abruptly when I reached the entry where I'd finally confessed my feelings to Frederick. He'd dismissed them, telling me he didn't see me that way, that I wasn't as beautiful as the girls he dated.

*Why didn't I remember this?* I reread the passage, making sure I hadn't imagined it. "Then why did he lie in the garden?" I whispered, the question hanging in the air. "Was there any truth to his confession at all?"

Chris had been right all along. I owed him a huge apology. And more.

I was still lost in the diary when Mum walked in, her face etched with worry. I'd never seen her look so tense, so anxious. A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

"You might want to see this," Mum said, her voice tight. I followed her to the living room, where Dad and my brothers sat glued to a breaking news report.

"What's going on? Is something wrong with the company?" I asked, but no one answered.

"Wait for it," Cole said.

After the commercial break, Chris's picture flashed across the screen. My heart plummeted. My mind conjured up worst-case scenarios.

"An anonymous source has released shocking details about one of Skylight Country's most eligible bachelors, Christopher Luther. Information reveals he's the only son of Lionel Luther, an heir to the Atlantis Conglomerate, the most powerful in the country, and the owner and founder of Stratos Construction, a company that has maintained anonymity throughout its impressive rise. Even more shocking, he is rumored to be dating Eve Mickelson, niece of Jaime Mickelson, who was brutally murdered decades ago by Christopher's father, Lionel Luther."

The information slammed into me like a physical blow. I swayed, and the room started to spin. Mum caught me, easing me onto the nearest couch.

"This is unbelievable," mason, one of the twin, murmured.

"Shocking, to say the least," Romeo agreed. "He was the anonymous contractor everyone was raving about."

"Stratos built two of our biggest subsidiaries," Cole said, his voice grim. "We were about to send them another proposal."

Dad's voice was sharp, decisive. "Cancel every contract we have with Stratos. We will not do business with them. No member of this family will have any dealings with a Luther." His gaze landed on me, heavy with meaning.

It took a moment for his words to sink in. "We can't just call off the deal," Cole argued. "He's the best out there. The only one who can build what we need."

"Nonsense! Find another company. Stratos will not build another thing for this family." His voice brooked no argument. Then, his eyes locked on mine again. "And you will break off whatever you have with that young man."

I wiped away the tears blurring my vision. "I can't do that, Father."

Surprise flickered across my brothers' faces. Mason even winked.

"His father murdered my twin brother!" Dad bellowed. "He would have been your uncle, if he were still alive!"

I was startled. My father had never raised his voice at me, let alone shouted in anger.

"It was his 'father', Dad. Not him. He doesn't even have a relationship with his father. I love him Dad, I dont think i can't live without him." My voice shook, but I held his gaze. "I'd rather die than break up with him." I turned and walked out, needing to escape the suffocating tension.

"Eve!" Mum called, but I was already gone. I had to see Chris.

I dialed his number repeatedly on my way to his company, a high-rise I realized I passed every day on my way to work. It was almost 3 p.m., the workday winding down. The moment I stepped inside, I felt every eye on me. I was recognized.

The receptionist directed me to Chris's office, but his assistant told me he'd just left.

"Eve?" I turned to see a familiar face, the man who'd been with Chris at the fashion show.

"Hi, I'm Franklin. Please, come with me." He led me to an office, the interior breathtakingly majestic. "This is Christopher's office. Can I get you anything?"

"Nothing, thank you." I wasn't in the mood for pleasantries.

"You're here to see Christopher? Sorry you missed him."

"Where is he?" Nothing else mattered at that moment.

He shrugged. "He didn't say."

Frustration welled up. I turned to leave. There was no point staying.

"Wait," Franklin called as I reached the door.

I raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to continue.

"I'm not supposed to say, but I think you should know… since it involves you."

His vagueness piqued my curiosity. I sat back down.

"Chris and I finished our investigation into the man who was secretly recording you at the fashion show. We know who sent him, who paid him. It was a setup, meant to create a scandal."

"So Chris was right." Disappointment laced my voice. "And you weren't planning on telling me?"

"I wasn't supposed to tell you anything. This is the most I can share. Just know Chris took care of everything."

"Was the person behind this also responsible for leaking Chris's information?" My gut told me it was connected.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you more than that." He rose to his feet.

I knew he was holding back. "Please, I need to know… Franklin, please."

He exhaled, the words rushing out in a single breath. "It was Frederick. He's been behind everything."

The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. I almost staggered. How? How could he do this?