Chapter 2: Return to the Manor

In Eva's last moment of fading consciousness, she heard them screaming.

"Eva!"

"Oh no——!"

"Oh God! Eva!"

Their voices were full of panic and regret. Liam's cry especially — it was almost like something tearing apart.

How pathetic.

Why did they only start regretting things when she was dying?

……

A familiar scent of expensive perfume hit Eva's nose, and her head was splitting with pain.

She snapped her eyes open.

Crystal chandelier. Spiral staircase.

Whitlock Estate. She was back?

"What is your problem, Eva?"

Julian's voice. Her damned second brother. He stood in front of her with his arms crossed, arrogant as ever, not a trace of guilt on his face.

"……What?" Eva's voice came out rough, her throat still carrying that burning sensation from death.

"I said," he repeated, "you need to give Ivy your spot on The Estate."

Memories came flooding back. The Estate. That reality show from a year ago.

In her past life, Eva had let Julian talk her into giving up her spot for Ivy.

Then Ivy rode that show straight to stardom and became everyone's sweetheart. And Eva? Nobody cared about her — until she got kidnapped, abandoned, and shot through the stomach.

So she'd come back. Back to a year ago.

Eva could feel a phantom pain in her abdomen — the burning sensation of that bullet tearing through her flesh felt like it had happened just seconds ago.

"No," she said.

Julian froze. He clearly hadn't expected that answer. "What did you say?"

"I said no." Eva looked him straight in the eyes, calmer than she'd ever been. "That spot is mine."

"Are you out of your mind?" Julian's brow furrowed, anger starting to burn in his eyes. "Eva, don't push me. Ivy needs this chance!"

"She needs it?" Eva let out a cold laugh, and there was something almost bloody about it.

"She stole my life, and now she wants to steal my career too? She's been the Whitlock family's little princess for eighteen years. And me? I was only found a year ago, living in a room barely better than a guest bedroom. Now I earn something on my own, and you want me to hand it over? On what grounds?"

"So what?" Julian's voice rose. "Because you're a Whitlock! You should be thinking about Ivy!"

He pointed at Eva like he was scolding a dog that wouldn't behave.

"I should think about Ivy?" Eva's voice rose too, and all the rage and hatred she'd been holding back exploded out of her. "Then who the hell thinks about me? When you were in that abandoned factory and you chose to save her — who was thinking about me?!"

She'd said too much.

Julian's face was full of confusion.

"Factory? What are you talking about?"

Eva realized — that hadn't happened yet. But for her, it already had. It was carved into her bones.

"Oh, Julian, don't be so hard on Eva……" Ivy walked over. She was wearing a white dress, looking like a goddamn angel.

She hooked her arm through Julian's and said in that soft, fragile voice of hers, "Eva, don't be upset. This opportunity was yours to begin with. I don't need it, really."

Look at that. What a performance.

With just a few words, she'd painted Eva as someone who'd blow up her family over a career opportunity.

Sure enough, Julian's expression went even colder.

"Ivy's being so considerate. Why can't you do the same for her? I'm not asking you. You will give up that spot. Otherwise, get out of this house!"

Get out?

The Eva from her past life would have probably trembled at those words. She might have even dropped to her knees and begged for forgiveness.

Because she'd wanted this family so desperately — desperately enough to give up everything.

But now, she just wanted to laugh.

"Fine," she said, looking straight at him.

Julian froze again.

He thought he was threatening her. He had no idea he was handing her exactly what she wanted most.

Freedom.

Eva turned around, pulled a bank card the Whitlocks had given her from her pocket, and slammed it onto the polished marble floor.

"That card is from you people. I haven't touched a single cent." She said each word clearly. "Take it back. Starting now, I'm done with the Whitlock family. For good. You self-righteous idiots can keep living in your little fantasy!"

"You——!" Julian's face went red with rage.

"How dare you talk to Julian like that! How dare you be so disrespectful!" Ivy suddenly rushed forward, her pretty face twisted with outrage.

She raised her hand and swung a slap at Eva's face.

But in the split second before it landed, Eva caught her wrist.

And with every ounce of strength she had, she slapped Ivy hard across the face.

The crack of it was loud enough to silence the entire hall.

Ivy pressed her hand to her cheek, staring at Eva in disbelief.

Eva leaned in close and said in a voice cold enough that only the two of them could hear: "Drop the act, Ivy. I know exactly what you are. Better than anyone."

Ivy didn't move. Eva could feel her trembling.

She didn't understand. The old Eva — the one who always backed down — how had she suddenly become this?

Eva let go of her and walked toward the front door. Julian's roar followed her from behind.

"Eva! If you walk out that door, I'll make sure you never work in Hollywood again! I swear it!"

Eva didn't look back. She just opened the door and walked out into the sunlight.

To hell with his blacklist. To hell with the Whitlock family.

Eva went back to her apartment. She'd rented it with money she'd earned doing bit parts — it was her safe place.

She threw herself onto the couch. Her phone buzzed. Liam's name lit up the screen.

Her chest tightened. The image flashed in her mind again — him looking at her in that abandoned factory, then saying the words: Let Ivy go.

She answered.

"Eva, baby, where are you?" Liam's voice was as warm and gentle as always, full of concern. "Julian told me what happened. It's just a reality show spot — can you let Ivy have it? You know how she is……"

"Liam," Eva cut him off, her voice flat and still as standing water.

"Yeah?"

"You tell me you love me, and in the same breath you ask me to hand my career to Ivy. Doesn't that disgust you?"

Silence on the other end.

"Remember last night, Liam?" Eva said quietly, and every word was like a blade dipped in poison. "Were you fucking me and thinking about how to give my opportunity to your little princess at the same time?"

"Eva! How can you say something like that!" His voice was loud, and underneath it, unmistakably guilty.

"Because that's what you did." Eva's fingers traced across her abdomen. The phantom pain was burning again. "We're done, Liam. Don't contact me again."

She didn't give him a chance to respond. She hung up and blocked his number.

When it was done, Eva felt like the last bit of strength had been drained out of her.

She turned on the TV. A sports news segment was playing.

A man appeared on screen. He'd just climbed out of an F1 car, and when he pulled off his helmet, he revealed a face that was almost painfully handsome.

Sweat ran down his sharp jawline. His eyes were hawk-like — fierce, full of raw intensity.

Sebastian Vance, a legendary race car driver, also serves as CEO of the Vance Group. He holds enormous power and has all that women could possibly wish for.

Eva remembered him. He was the mystery male guest on "The Estate".

And suddenly, she understood. Ivy hadn't been desperate for that spot because she wanted fame.

She wanted this man.