"… But he's not my son~"
Hearing Eva's sudden words after she interrupted her, and seeing how she gently tilted her body to the side, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear with a playful smile, Annabelle felt her rage swell even more intensely.
But was Eva done with her speech?
… Unfortunately for her, that was a no. Eva still had more to say, and so, she continued.
The words that left Eva's lips in that moment were filled with her overwhelming feelings, and her affection… was palpable, like an all-consuming fire.
Her infatuation, stronger than ever, even seemed to radiate from her eyes, from the curve of her mouth, and from the way her voice softened and sharpened all at once, as she continued.
"What he says goes… be it something wrong, or something right."
"I have never cared… all that matters is what he wishes."
Seemingly realizing that her words were hitting where it hurt for Annabelle, Eva asked, "… Why are you making that kind of expression?"
"Have I inadvertently touched a sore spot?"
She tilted her head slightly, as if genuinely trying to recall her own words, humming softly, looking thoughtful, seriously considering which part might have hit too deep, until suddenly, her eyes lit up. As if she'd found the answer.
"Is it because nothing much has happened during these five months between you and Christian?"
"Okay, to be fair, I know it's not like NOTHING has happened."
"But it's no more than trivial things, considering you wanted a lot more than what actually happened… right?"
Eva didn't even wait for Annabelle's response. Instead, she kept going.
"… But you're the one responsible for that."
"You know that, right?"
"After all, you don't really think Christian would suddenly change and go all the way with you on his own… like you hoped… right?"
Smirking, as she watched Annabelle slowly lower her head, already seeming to accept defeat, Eva, still unsatisfied, kept going.
"You know that's just not who he is."
"Moreover, you were the one who started everything."
"So why did you suddenly grow more feminine and now want him to push you down and have his way with you?"
Seeing how Annabelle suddenly took a powerful step forward, her clenched fist trembling with emotion, Eva stepped back in kind, trying keeping the distance equal, as she said, "Did I hit a nerve once again with my remarks?"
But one of them was retreating while still teasing, and the other was advancing with all her might… so, how could Annabelle not catch her in the end?
And in the end, Annabelle did throw a punch at Eva's face.
… But was she able to land it?
… Unfortunately, she was not.
Annabelle, usually the stronger of the two, even if only slightly, now found herself easily overpowered. In moments, she was lying flat on her stomach, one arm pinned and the other trapped between Eva's thighs. Her twisted posture was both helpless and shameful, and as Eva's grappling hold pressed them close, it made her just the more angrier.
Eva, who was breathing heavily, with drops of sweat accumulating on her brow, even if she won, it was not easy, after all, took a deep breath before suddenly smiling radiantly, leaning her head toward Annabelle's ear, and saying, "Normally, I wouldn't be able to defeat you this easily… even if I was able in the first place, you know that, right?"
Then, ignoring Annabelle who was glaring at her, Eva, who didn't seem to have grown tired of talking, once again started speaking.
"Anyway, where was I?"
"So, you know that Christian loves to take everything slowly. Right?"
"When I say everything, I mean literally everything."
At that moment, Eva couldn't help but remember how she first met Christian, how, while at first he tried to get her attention, things had changed later.
Thinking that maybe she was being too sentimental at this moment, she shook her head and continued, "Had the situation, me, and the circumstances not pushed everything together, I doubt we would've gone through all that during such a short period of time."
Raising the tone of her voice slightly, and even blushing a little, she said, "He was interested in me from the start."
"HE was the ONE who was pursuing me from the start, unlike your situation."
While emphasizing the point she tried to make, Eva's proud expression suddenly softened into a sad one as she said, "So… I'm unable to sympathize with you much. Or understand your situation."
"I'm really sorry." She sounded almost sincere as she apologized.
"For being loved, I'm sorry."
Annabelle seethed at all the bullshit Eva was spewing, ground her teeth together, and started once again trying to move her back and untangle herself from Eva.
Sophia, some distance away, was also having the shock of her life.
… She was watching a scene she had never imagined she'd ever see Eva in. And she even thought that maybe she should interfere.
She didn't know. But even for Eva, it was something unexpected. Something she hadn't expected of herself.
Something she really did for the first time, and probably the last.
Something like getting on someone's nerves… and even hurting them.
… But she was just that angry at Annabelle.
The closest woman to Christian, the man she loved.
… And she still felt some jealousy toward her, no matter how much she tried to hide it or even deny it.
So seeing Annabelle, his sister, in doubt…
Someone who should have known how to appreciate his feelings better than anyone else in this kind of situation…
And still, doing all of this, made her furious.
… Was she too distracted?
Eva, who had unknowingly let down her guard, suddenly felt her hair being pulled by Annabelle.
She instantly snapped back to reality, and returned in kind.
And just like that, they started fighting… or more like pulling each other's hair?
Without any shred of elegance. Let alone any of the technique from before.
And Sophia unable to continue watching any longer, finally decided to interfere.
With the door opening, and Christian suddenly stepping inside, she stopped in her track.
Christian, who had entered with a smile on his face, with Nina walking in behind him, froze.
Be it Eva or Annabelle, both paused mid-motion too.
And Christian took a moment to process the sight in front of him, before suddenly saying.
"What the fuck is going on here?"