Chapter 72 Stress and cupcakes
Stephen reached his room and found Eva sound asleep. His mother was sitting beside her, patting her head. Spotting his presence, his mother left Eva’s side and started moving towards the door. She was exiting the room, ignoring Stephen’s presence
“Mom… I know you are frustrated with me. I am really sorry for whatever happened.”
“Save this sorry for later, as you have to apologize a lot to Eva. I still do not believe you behaved like this with her. In the evening, I saw her worried about you. I tried to make her understand, too. But now I have nothing to say. ”
“Mom. Please, it was Steve’s idea.”
“Yeah, Steve.. Don’t play this blame game, as no matter whose idea was this, what actually matters is that you agreed to it. It’s the very first time that I am disappointed with you.”
Rose didn’t wait any longer and left for her room. Stephen reached near Eva. She was in a deep slumber, resembling that of a baby. Stephen gently pressed his lips against her forehead.
“I am so sorry, love. “
Stephen spent the entire night awake, pondering ways to apologize to Eva.
The next morning, Eva woke up with a severe headache. She observed the surroundings and found herself alone in the room. She struggled to reach the washroom as she wished to take a cold shower first.
While standing under the water, she recalled all the occurrences of last night.
Stephen danced with Natalie, some girls complimenting them and even declaring Eva a wrong choice for Stephen Then she asked for a drink, but what happened after that she didn’t remember clearly. And how did she reach home with Stephen? Or without him?
When Eva exited the washroom, she spotted Stephen pacing in the room with a worried expression. She also noticed a beautiful bouquet on her side of the bed. Eva ignored him and got settled on her bed, holding her head as she could still sense the headache.
Stephen noticed her condition and reached for her. He passed her some tablets and a cup of hot coffee.
Eva didn’t refuse, as she needed it the most. She gulped the tablet and started sipping on the coffee. Stephen felt relieved a little, but he already decided not to waste time and started with his apology.
“Eva… I am so sorry for last night. I know I behaved like a jerk with you. Trust me, I never want to hurt you in any way
"It's ok, I know you don’t like me anymore. And it’s fair too. I know I am nowhere near you,
Whether it’s a matter of status or looks, I can understand how you like that, Natalia.”
“What? No!! That’s rubbish. it solely reserved my affections for one woman in my life, and that woman is you, Eva.
When we met for the first time that night, you made your way into both my room and my life.
I lost my hItart from the moment we first met, and I must emphasize it was the very first time.
I am curious how you could utter such a statement. ”
“You don’t have to pretend anything, Stephen; I saw how you were dancing with her last night.“ Eva couldn’t control and sobbed, recalling the scene.
Stephen humbly kneeled before her and tenderly took hold of her hand.
"Eva, I am really sorry for hurting you in the worst way possible. Last night, whatever you saw was an act, a lie. It was all my mistake. I agree with Steve’s idea to make you jealous
"Steve's idea? What are you talking about? “
Stephen sighed and told her about Steve’s plan Eva was stunned to know so much happening behind her back
“My intention is solely to understand your authentic feelings towards me.
It has always been my belief that you are being forced into this marriage.
I am not holding you responsible. I am not the type of person who is very expressive.
I understand you may find it challenging to acclimate to my presence.
My only aspiration is to witness your contentment alongside me, yet, in our situation, I am unaware of your precise sentiments towards me.”
Eva kept listening to his every word with tears in her eyes. She didn’t know that Stephen was guessing so distinctly from her.
She knew it was her fault too, as in all these past days Stephen was the only one who was trying in this relationship.
Stephen kissed on her palms and told her, “I know I made aand I'm really sorry for that. You can punish me for hurting your feelings.“
Stating this, Stephen left the room, whereas Eva kept sitting on the bed. Her eyes landed on the flower bouquet on her bedside table. She spotted a sorry note attached to it
During the evening, Stephen entered the house. He observed his mother showing him to follow her.
. Stephen could not comprehend, but obediently proceeded in her footsteps. Rose pulled him into the dining room. Stephen was shocked to watch the whole dining table filled with different varieties of cupcakes. There were several trays of cupcakes.
“ What the hell?”
Rose signaled for him to be silent and pulled him into the kitchen. The scene in front shocked Stephen as Eva was standing near the kitchen counter, busy mixing the batter for cupcakes. It filled her apron with flour stains.
Rose again forcefully dragged Stephen into the dining room, while Steve and William entered the room. Rose was shocked to see Steve’s condition, noticing his one eye appearing purple and blue, his wrist covered in a crepe bandage, and him limping slightly.
. "What happened to you? Did you meet with an accident?”
“Yeah, the name of the accident is “messing with Stephen.". William chuckled and replied
how could you take his side? you must have scolded him for smashing your son.”
“Thank you, stars, that Richard was present there to save you; otherwise, I must have broken a few bones of yours.” Stephen told him, gritting his teeth.
“Enough !Stop it, boys, Rose, you didn’t notify me you threw a cupcake party tonight. Well, it’s really yummy, “William inquired while munching a cupcake. Steve also followed his dad’s actions and stuffed a cupcake in his mouth
"Mom, what is happening here? Why is Eva making all this?”
“Well, to start from the beginning, in the afternoon, a maid informed me that Eva is making cupcakes in the kitchen, and she also instructed the kitchen staff not to disturb her work. But the problem was she didn’t stop since then.
She was baking tray after tray of cupcakes.
So I didn’t disturb her and called Michael.
He told me that whenever Eva got stressed about something, she behaved like this.
Baking helps to calm her anxiety. And as we all know, who and what exactly made her stressed this time. Isn’t it Stephen?”
“Oh, so you mean... If she gets more stressed than she will bake yummy cakes for us, that’s interesting." Steve commented while gulping the cupcake and soon he earned a smack on his head by his dad
“Mom, how will she stop? Stephen inquired, becoming worried for her.
"I don’t know. Rose replied while shrugging her shoulders. Stephen didn’t wait any longer and reached the kitchen. He spotted Eva doing beautiful frosting on the cupcakes.
He reached behind her and held her soft hand
"Relax; everything is fine. It’s enough for today; take a rest for now.”
Eva dropped her work. She could feel his powerful chest touching her back. Eva kept the cone aside, slowly removed the apron, and left the kitchen.
Rose William and Steve just watched the scene unfold but didn’t interfere while Stephen knew what Eva must be going through.
Eva reached near her room. Before she could open the door, Steve’s voice from behind halted her. The moment she saw Steve, she gasped in horror and asked in worry,
“Ooh my God, what happened to you?”
“Trust me, I deserve more than this, but anyway..
Eva.. I just came to say sorry for last night.
I created this mess, and only me. Stephen was just following my words.
Don’t be frustrated with him. My brother is a decent man, much better than me.
All these years, we all saw him focused only on work and business.
He was never interested in flings or love affairs like me.
Even at once, I also felt that something was wrong with him. I always saw him carrying a tough exterior for the business world
Yet, his demeanor shifted from the moment you became part of his life. The extent to which he fell in love with you was apparent to all of us. He harbors pure sentiments for you, with no deviation. If we are to hold someone responsible for last night, it is me and myself alone.”
Eva kept listening to Steve with a calm expression. After Steve completed his words, she told him
“So you mean, you are up for punishment, right?"
“Hmm yes, “Steve replied with no hesitation.
“Ok then.. Do as I say, “
Stephen was in his office reading some files.
He couldn’t concentrate on a word of those files.
He was just trying to distract himself. It scattered Stephen to notice the way Eva was behaving.
She was engaging in self-punishment, consequently imposing a more cruel form of punishment on him through self-infliction, not to mention the silent treatment.
He was so lost in his misery, but a sudden message took his attention. Stephen just looked at the message and felt shocked to see that Eva had sent him a message. Stephen dropped the files and opened the message with trembling hands.
Stephen was stunned to see an address written on the message, and at the end there was a mention of a time. Along with a single line
“Better be on time."
“What is this, an invitation or a threat? “ Stephen whispers to himself and grabs his car keys to reach the mentioned place.