Ever since that day, Eva's childhood was tossed out the window, and she became the adult and provider she is even now. As she got older, she came to realize just how much she had signed away.
Two painful years slowly passed, and Eva turned eighteen, but she avoided him. She didn't call and didn't look for him, and he didn't look for her either.
Maybe he felt bad for their loss and was giving her more time, Eva had once thought that way, but years continued to pass, and she didn't even see his shadow, and she thought,
Maybe he forgot?
But that was only wishful thinking because three years ago, Ace appeared in their lives, livid and ready to kill someone.
Whatever good thoughts she had about the stranger who was willing to lend a minor money disappeared when his men took Liam hostage.
She was a minor, and such contracts shouldn't be binding. She had even said that to him and promised to work hard to pay off the debt she owed him.
"Do I look like I care how old you were? The contract terms were clear, and you signed it. Either honor the agreement or watch your only family die."
Ace had said those words to her while he made her watch a video footage on the screen of his phone as a man held Liam at a knife's end.
Her blood ran cold when blood dripped from Liam's neck with barely any contact with the knife as if to prove just how sharp it was.
"Don't hurt him…please," Eva pleaded, her hand gripping Ace's arm as she begged him to let go of her cousin. "Please, let him go."
"Will you honor your end of the deal?" He asked, both his voice and gaze cold and detached as if he was unable to feel any emotion.
"Y…yes," Eva whispered, her voice unable to come out clearly due to crying. "I will work for you, but please… keep Liam out of it. I was the one who signed myself away. He didn't. Please…."
Ace watched her with expressionless eyes. Then, after a while, he nodded. "A new condition has been added. The contract must be revised then."
Just like that, Eva got Liam back but was now staring at a new contract. One that promised to leave Liam alone as long as she was obedient. Any day she disobeyed or fought back, Liam would die.
Eva held the pen with a trembling hand, her eyes glassy, and every word she uttered was a stutter.
"N…no, please. Keep L… Liam out of this."
Ace grabbed her chin, his grip hard enough to hurt but she took it all. The slow smirk that formed on his lips was like a jab straight to her heart. Then, he said,
"There needs to be something to keep you obedient, Eva. He just happens to be that perfect thing." He said, pushing the document closer to her as he silently urged her to sign it. "As long as you behave, your dear cousin will not be harmed."
As she realized that her pleas would go into deaf ears no matter how long she begged, her gaze changed, turning sharp and daring and for the first time since she barged back into her life, she glared at him.
Feeling the intensity of her gaze, Ace smirked.
"That's more like it," he mused, placing a hand on her head like a proud and doting senior, he patted her. "Don't break easily, Eva."
She swatted the hand away with a smack that hurt even her own hand. "Bastard," she cursed.
He chuckled. "If you don't want to see me, sign it and I'll be out of your hair."
Eva gritted, her grip on the pen tightening.
She signed it, knowing that with Ace, there was negotiation.
As long as she did as he said, Liam will be out of harm's way, she thought, but another thought whispered in her mind, soft but loud,
Can his words really be trusted?
Since then, she had worked for him doing all sorts of things, starting from menial work at his house to working in bars and clubs.
Slowly, she came to know exactly what kind of man he was. He had no qualms about killing people and he made sure that she was aware of it. Sometimes, he made her watch him do it.
Back to the present,
As the memories of the past surfaced once more, her legs became weak, her knees gave out, and she stumbled, nearly falling face first on the floor when an arm reached her from behind.
"Careful," Liam said, his brows tightly knitted and eyes betraying his concern. "Are you alright?"
Eva met her cousin's gaze. She saw his worry and care for her, but she couldn't help but think, had her grandmother survived that day, maybe things would have been different.
"You are not sick, are you?" Liam's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "We need to get you checked, just in case…" he continued.
"Liam… I am fine," she replied, placing a hand on his arm. "I was just a bit dizzy. That's all."
He stared at her, his eyes searching her own for certainty. He blinked and let out a deep breath. "Alright," he said hesitantly before letting go of her. "You shouldn't push yourself too hard. It's not good for your health."
"..." Eva pressed her lips into a thin line when she heard what he said.
How was she going to tell him that she intends to get a day job now?
Her thoughts halted when she saw the laces of his sneakers and a leather jacket already worn.
"Where are you going this early?" she asked, stepping closer to him.
Liam briefly glanced over his shoulder before returning his focus to his shoes. "I have an interview this morning. I'll be late if I take even a minute longer."
"A job?"
"Mhm," he hummed. Standing up, he fixed his wrinkled pants.