26. Eva in Morris estate
The next morning, the Walter house was alive with chatter, the aroma of breakfast, and the occasional clatter of utensils. Eva was helping Granny set the table, humming softly, while Ria darted around, teasing Denver about something trivial.
Neil stepped out of the room, this time fully dressed, crisp shirt neatly tucked in, a faint crease of sleep still lingering at the corners of his eyes.
“Good morning, son,” Grandpa said warmly, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Neil nodded, his expression calm but observant, taking in the lively household. “Good morning,” he replied, his voice carrying that familiar deep, measured tone that made people listen even without realizing it.
Granny beamed at him. “Neil, you should have slept in—breakfast is almost ready.”
Neil’s gaze flickered toward Eva, who was arranging plates on the table. She looked radiant in her casual morning attire, the sunlight catching the strands of her hair. He quickly looked away, masking the fleeting thought, and walked toward the table.
Over breakfast, there was laughter, light teasing, and the usual familial chaos that made the house feel warm and alive.
Neil’s presence was quiet but commanding, his eyes occasionally drifting toward Eva, who seemed completely absorbed in her role as granddaughter, helper, and the heart of the morning.
As everyone finished, Neil stood and cleared his throat slightly. “I promised my family I would bring Eva to the dinner tonight,” he said, his voice even but carrying subtle emphasis.
Eva froze mid-bite, the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried not to show her panic. She had hoped to avoid this for a little while longer.
“Dinner?” Ria tilted her head, smirking knowingly. “Oh, so now my sister has a husband who actually listens to family requests?”
Eva shot Ria a look, muffled a sigh into her napkin, and Ria muttered under her breath, “This is going to be fun eve.”
Neil, noticing her slight tension but not saying a word, continued calmly, “Yes. Tonight. I promised. So prepare yourself, Eva.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but she simply nodded, biting back a comment. After all, this was part of their agreement—one year of pretending, one year of navigating these unpredictable, chaotic, and sometimes awkward family moments.
And Neil? He was quietly pleased—because Eva’s reactions, even when exasperated, were… unmistakably hers.
_ _
The Walter family gathered at the porch as Neil and Eva prepared to leave. Granny fussed over Eva’s scarf while Grandpa stood tall, smiling proudly.
Neil shook Grandpa’s hand firmly, voice smooth as silk. “I promised I’d come here often, and here I am, sir. You see?”
Grandpa’s chest swelled with pride. “Good boy. Lucky our Eva found you.”
Eva’s smile froze, but inside her chest twisted.
He’s so calculated, she thought bitterly, watching how flawlessly he fit into the role of the “perfect husband.” Every word planned, every gesture practiced.
He isn’t here for me. He isn’t here because he cares.
He’s here because he needs me—for that dinner, to please his family, and not to fulfill what Grandpa and Granny requested.But now they… they actually believe it.
Her gaze lingered on her grandparents’ glowing faces, their eyes soft with trust, pride shining as if Neil had been sent straight from heaven for their granddaughter.
If only they knew, Eva thought, swallowing hard. If only they knew how fake it all is.
Neil opened the car door for her with that maddening composure. “Get in, Walter.”
She slid into the seat, her lips twitching into the fakest smile she could manage for the sake of her family.
Ria, of course, wasn’t helping. She leaned against the doorway with a wicked grin. “Ohhh, Mr. Mrs. Perfect off to the in-laws! How romantic.”
“Shut up, Ria,” Eva muttered, forcing cheer.
But inside? She was burning.
The car hummed along the quiet road, fields blurring outside. For the first time that morning, Neil broke the silence.
“You look tired, Walter,” he said, glancing at her. “Didn’t sleep well?”
Eva’s lips curved into a dry smile. “Stop the car.”
His brow furrowed, but he obeyed, pulling over to the side of the empty road.
“What now?”
Without answering, Eva unbuckled her seatbelt, slid out, and slipped into the back seat.
Neil turned halfway, confused. “Why are you back there?”
She folded her arms. “Isn’t this seat already reserved for someone else?” pointing to the front seat.
“What?” His voice sharpened, genuinely baffled.
She didn’t answer. Just looked out the window, face calm but storm raging beneath her eyes.
Neil let out a long exhale, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Walter…”
“Hmm,” she replied lazily, like she hadn’t heard him.
He tried again. “About the bond—”
“You mean the little masterpiece you kept hidden beside your bed?” she cut him off, still not looking at him. “Yeah, I saw it.”
Neil’s jaw tightened. “Oh, that.”
“Oh, that,” she mocked under her breath.
“I forgot to tell you I added one point—no relationships, no dating until this contract ends,” he explained casually, as if it were just another bullet on a grocery list.
Eva’s lips pressed together. She leaned her head against the glass, muttering so low it was almost inaudible—except he heard it, loud and clear.
“Why do you care to add it… when you can’t even keep it?”
His eyes snapped to her in the rearview mirror. But she didn’t look back. She didn’t even flinch.
Her silence was heavier than any fight. He clenched the steering wheel, suddenly restless, but Eva’s message was clear: she was done giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Neil’s fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “So, you entered my room?”
“Yes, I did—just to wake you up. But you were nowhere to find, as usual,” she scoffed, her tone dripping with accusation.
Neil’s eyes flicked to hers in the mirror, voice low but firm.
“Don’t you dare go there again when I’m not there.”
Eva froze, eyes widening. He wasn’t joking—he was dead serious.
She let out a dry laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Wow. I can’t enter your room, but you can sleep in my room? Shirtless. Beside me. And I’m the one breaking boundaries?”
Neil clenched his jaw, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. He hated how her words had weight, how they exposed the double standard he hadn’t realized he’d set.
Eva leaned forward a little, her voice laced with sarcasm.
“Do you even hear yourself? You make the rules, you break them, and then you expect me to follow along like some obedient little intern. Sorry, Dr. Morris, not happening.”
For once, Neil couldn’t fire back. His silence was louder than any argument.
Eva smirked faintly, sinking back into the seat.
“That’s what I thought.”
The car moving, two people sitting miles apart though only inches separated them.
Neil’s grip on the wheel relaxed just a little, his lips parting as if to argue—yet nothing came out.
For a second, his eyes softened, like he wanted to explain. “Eva… you don’t understand. Boundaries… they’re not just rules for me. They’re—” He stopped himself abruptly, jaw tightening, eyes flicking back to the road.
Eva tilted her head, suspicion sparking in her chest. “They’re what?”
“Nothing,” he said flatly, retreating into that cold shell again.
She scoffed under her breath, turning her gaze to the window. “Figures. You only talk when it’s convenient.”
Neil exhaled slowly, the muscles in his forearm tightening as he held the wheel. Inside, a storm brewed—words he couldn’t say, truths he couldn’t spill. Not yet.
The Morris estate loomed like something out of a forgotten painting—lavish yet haunting, every corner holding whispers of old wealth and buried secrets.
The driveway stretched endlessly, lined with neatly trimmed hedges that seemed too perfect, almost unnatural.
Eva’s eyes flicked to the towering facade, windows like watchful eyes.
So this is where he grew up? No wonder he’s like this—always controlled, always unreadable. A house this big doesn’t hold warmth, it holds silence.
Neil parked smoothly, his face unreadable as always. But his eyes caught the faint curve of her lips. It wasn’t her sunshine smile—it was something else. A practiced one. Polished. Fake.
The Morris estate swallowed them whole the moment they stepped in— made to intimidate, not impress. Eva adjusted her expression to a polite smile, her poise almost unsettlingly graceful. Neil noticed it instantly. She’s acting now. But why does it bother him.
The grand doors opened, and waiting there were Callum, Cynthia, and Ryle.
As soon as they stepped into the grand living room, Ryle practically bounded forward. “Eva!” His grin stretched wide. “Finally, the bride is home.”
Eva’s brows lifted slightly when her gaze fell on Cynthia. Recognition flickered—the plant house, the quiet woman she’d once bumped into. She’s here? With them?
Eva laughed softly, the kind that carried warmth and mischief. “Hi Ryle.”she hugged ryle.
Ryle gasped dramatically. “See, brother? She gets me!” He spun to Neil, pointing. “She understands my soul better than you ever tried.”
Neil pinched the bridge of his nose. “God give me patience.”
Neil’s deep voice broke the moment. “Brother. Sister-in-law.” His tone softened almost imperceptibly as he stepped forward introducing them to Eva.
Eva blinked, then smirked, stepping forward with poise Neil hadn’t expected. “And you must be Ryle—the brother who talks more than he listens?”
Callum choked on a laugh, Cynthia’s lips curved into the faintest approving smile, and Neil—well, Neil froze, just for half a second.
Callum placed a hand dramatically over his chest. “Oh, she’s real and she’s got bite. Neil, I like her already.”
Eva extended her hand politely to Callum. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Neil’s told me…” she paused, glancing sideways at her husband with a perfect fake smile, “almost nothing.”
Callum chuckled, his voice deep, warm but tired. “That sounds exactly like him. Welcome, Eva. It’s good to have you here.” He pulled Cynthia closer, introducing gently, “My wife, Cynthia.”
Eva’s surprise lingered in her eyes but she masked it quickly, bowing her head slightly. “We’ve met… briefly. At the plant shop.”
Cynthia’s gaze softened in recognition, but she didn’t push. Instead, she nodded politely, “we are friends already.”
“Well, come in, lovebirds! Don’t just stand at the door like mannequins. This is Morris air—you’ll get used to it. It’s heavy with pride, secrets, and probably ghosts.”
Eva’s lips twitched despite herself, but she walked in with a grace that shocked Neil. She wasn’t shrinking. She wasn’t overwhelmed. She was playing a part—his part. Acting polished, elegant, untouchable.
And for some reason, it unsettled him.
The two women fell easily into conversation, laughing at some small detail only they shared. And as they did, three pairs of male eyes watched them—Neil, Callum, Ryle. All equally surprised.
Callum leaned back against the couch, smirking. “Well, would you look at that. First Cynthia, now Eva. I swear, I love the women in this house. They’re the only ones who make it worth stepping inside.”
Ryle nodded immediately. “Facts.”
Neil gave them both a side-eye, but before he could change the subject, Callum tilted his head with that older-brother slyness. “Why don’t you shift here, Neil? Bring her into this house properly.”
The words hit heavier than they should. Eva stiffened instantly, her spine straightening as though the suggestion carried invisible chains.
Neil caught it. His jaw flexed, and his response was swift. “It will be far from the hospital,” he said evenly, calm but edged. “Not practical.”
Ryle smirked knowingly, watching Eva’s silence. Cynthia, though, quietly placed a hand over Callum’s arm, stopping him from pressing further.
The room filled again with chatter, but Neil’s mind was stuck on that one sharp second—the way Eva’s smile faltered, the way she froze at the thought of living here.And, though he’d never admit it, that small reaction of hers hit him harder than Callum’s suggestion.
The dining hall was nothing like the Walter home.
At her grandparents’ place, dinner meant everyone crammed around a warm wooden table, dishes passed hand-to-hand, laughter echoing as Ria told stories and Grandpa made corny jokes. There, food was eaten hot and messy, second helpings were pushed on plates whether you asked for them or not.
Here, at the Morris estate, the table was long—far too long.
Servants in pristine uniforms moved in silence, setting down courses with surgical precision.
The food itself looked like art, placed on fine porcelain, each detail polished to perfection.
But the air carried no warmth. Instead, it was heavy—structured, formal, with a suffocating sense of hierarchy woven into every chair’s placement.
Eva sat stiffly, her fork poised, trying not to look overwhelmed. Neil, of course, looked at ease, like the grand coldness of the estate belonged to him.
Just as she began to wonder if she could breathe in this silence, the doors opened again.
Two figures entered.
Mr. Morris walked in first—broad-shouldered, sharp-eyed, his presence commanding instant respect.
He didn’t need to speak; the very air shifted to accommodate him.
Behind him came Denver, his steps quieter, calmer, but no less noticeable—his observant gaze scanning the table before finally softening as it landed on Eva.
Everyone, almost instinctively, rose slightly from their chairs. Eva scrambled to follow, the movement foreign to her. Neil, however, did not budge. He leaned back casually, acknowledging his fathers presence.
“Neil.” Mr. Morris’s reply was just as curt. Then his piercing gaze slid to Eva. He studied her a long moment, as if stripping past her smile to weigh her worth. Finally, the corners of his lips turned ever so slightly upward. “And you must be Eva. A Walter girl. Your grandparents raised you well.”
Eva forced a polite smile, her fingers tightening around the napkin in her lap.
Denver stepped forward smoothly, breaking the tension. “Eva—it’s good to meet you again. Hearing quite a lot about you these days”
Neil choked on his food pointing fork towards Denver.
She let out a small, nervous laugh. “Hopefully not too much.”
“Definitely too much,” he teased lightly, making Ryle snort.
"No worries ,Eva I am on your side." Cynthia mocked the guys in the room.
"Me too." Ryle added.
Cynthia laughed softly, agreeing, while Ryle leaned back with a grin. “See, Neil? Your wife’s making allies faster than you ever could.”
Neil shot him a glare, but Eva was already smiling, grateful for the momentary crack in the suffocating atmosphere.
Dinner had barely begun when Mr. Morris set down his fork, as though the food itself was irrelevant. His sharp eyes swept across the table once more, lingering on Neil before flicking back to Eva.
“I’ll eat in my room,” he said flatly, not bothering to explain.
Immediately, three servants stepped forward to collect his plate, bowing as he rose from the table. His footsteps echoed against the marble floor as he left, and with his departure, it felt as though the very walls exhaled.
The suffocating weight lifted.
The dining hall had grown brighter—less formal, more playful.
Only, Eva was the center of it all.
“So, Eva,” Denver leaned forward, chin resting on his hand, “what was Neil like at the hospital before… you know, all this?”
“Grumpy,” Eva said instantly, without hesitation. The table erupted.
Cynthia clapped her hands in delight. “Finally! Someone who dares to say it aloud.”
Even Callum chuckled, his arm resting lazily around Cynthia’s chair.
Ryle’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Come on, sis-in-law. Give us details. Did he make you cry on the first day? He looks like he would.”
Eva’s lips twitched. “Almost.”
More laughter. Neil’s jaw tightened, his fork stabbing into the table a little too sharply, but no one noticed.
“So,” callum said casually, though his eyes were sharper than his tone, “do you two… love each other? The marriage happened quite suddenly, didn’t it?”
The table stilled. All eyes turned to Eva. Her breath hitched, words tangling in her throat.
Before she could even attempt an answer, Cynthia leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Oh, let them blush! Newlyweds don’t have to confess it in front of us. We can see it.”
Eva’s cheeks flamed, heat crawling up her neck out of embarrassment.Neil was utterly still beside her, his silence louder than anything else—until his voice cut clean across the table.
“Enough.”
Every head turned. His tone wasn’t loud, but it carried the kind of authority that silenced a room. His gaze moved slowly across his family. “Stop scaring my wife. It’s her first time here. Don’t make it her last.”
Dead silence. Forks paused midair. Even Callum’s smile faltered for a beat.
Then Ryle whistled low. “Well, well, well. Neil Morris defending his wife? That’s history in the making.” He leaned back in his chair with a grin. “Guess the cold surgeon has a soft spot.”
Cynthia giggled. “It's all About time ryle.”
The tension broke, and laughter spilled back into the air, though Eva sat frozen, eyes wide. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest—not from his defense, but from the way his words had sounded so real. Too real.
The teasing rolled on, softer now, gentler. After the plates were cleared, callum stretched and yawned, tugging Cynthia's arm. “We’re not going back tonight, right? Stay over. You too, Neil. Let Eva breathe in this house a little longer.”
Neil opened his mouth to refuse, but Denver smirked. “Yeah, stay. It’s been too long since we’ve had all here.”
Eva wanted to protest, but Cynthia’s warm smile disarmed her. And so, the decision was made.
"Sure , brother." Neil made a statement.
Eva shoot a death glare which pierced neil like a lazer.