And it wasn't about the content of what she said… no, that was never the problem for him.
It was more about how she phrased her words… how she deliberately agitated his sister.
Because what she said could have been said differently, under different circumstances, with a softer tone, and no one would have been hurt.
But Eva had purposefully gotten on Annabelle's nerves.
That, Christian was sure of.
So, genuinely feeling like he wanted to understand the reason behind her actions, Christian asked, "So, tell me. Why did you do all of that?"
'Because you're not fucking her?' Eva held herself back from saying the first words that came to her mind.
Instead, she took a breath, pushed aside the bitterness that suddenly filled her, gathered her thoughts, and calmly said, "There are really too many reasons to count. But our quarrel five months ago is still on my mind. And I guess… I wanted to get back at her."
"Well… as for the other reasons, I don't want to mention them."
She had actually planned to say more at first… how, in a way, her actions were meant to help Annabelle.
That while she had been harsh, Annabelle needed that… so she could finally face her situation more directly, more head-on.
But Eva decided to leave that unsaid. Along with the jealousy she didn't want to admit had driven her.
Instead, she looked at Christian, and suddenly said—more sharply than she meant to:
"You know, that in the end, you are the reason the problem happened in the first place, right?"
Suddenly realizing she might have been too harsh, and feeling her heart soften after saying it, Eva lowered her voice and added, "I know that recently you have changed."
"And you're actually doing fine now. Just… whenever something involves Annabelle, it's like all that progress disappears."
Christian calmly listened as Eva went on and on.
He wasn't hurt, nor was he phased by how she said he was the reason the quarrel happened, because he naturally knew that already.
As for her comments about his behavior over the past five months? That too was something he could understand.
Instead, he found his thoughts drifting back to the conversation she'd had with his sister.
He replayed it in his mind. Again and again.
And eventually, he reached a quiet conclusion.
Maybe, just like his sister… he, too, was reacting too strongly to Eva's words.
Because at the end of the day… he was also hesitating.
Hesitating to take that final step with his sister.
Was it really right… to do that with her?
It wasn't a hesitation someone like him should've had. He, who had already played with his sister's body to his heart's content- touched her, held her, kissed her in ways no brother ever should.
But still… that last step just felt different.
And most importantly… was his sister really ready?
To him, it felt like she was too conscious of Eva.
That was why she wanted to hurry things.
When actually… the first time they talked about it, they had agreed they should take their time.
That they should cherish their feelings… and the moments they shared together.
While shaking his head, thinking about how tomorrow he should have a proper conversation with his sister anyway, with everything hopefully being solved, Eva finally ended her lecture with a few calm words.
"So, just do better… so that no problem happens again between us."
Looking at Eva, at her mature eyes, filled with affection, he couldn't help but suddenly smirk. Then, teasingly, he asked, "You mean I'm not loving you enough?"
"Even though it's to the extent that you're bragging about it?"
Feeling her finger pinch his stomach in retaliation, and catching the embarrassed expression that crossed her face, Christian couldn't help but start laughing.
He suddenly regretted not being there to see her expression in the moment she said all those things.
Because he could imagine it perfectly…
The kind of sexy, enticing expression she must have made as she spoke at that moment.
But that aside, he knew that he needed to say what should be said, so, wiping the smile from his face and looking at her seriously, he said, "Eva, look, I will not argue with you about your reasons, for what you said anymore. But don't do that again. Don't take advantage of my sister's moment of weakness again, shaking her even more than she already is. Regardless of the reason."
"If you want to give a helping hand, then, do it in a way that everyone involved is not getting hurt."
"You are more smart than me, and are able to get things done in better ways too."
"That, I'm sure about."
"So, how can what I thought about, be something hard for you?"
Observing Eva's various reaction, Christian paused slightly at that moment, but as he was already nearing the end, he still continued, "… So, I hope you handle this kind of situation better… in a different way the next time."
Still, locking his eyes with Eva's quivering ones, Christian suddenly felt suffocated.
Should he have phrased himself differently?
He couldn't help but wonder. Even when he knew that, in these situations, he has to be firm in his stances, so that this kind of problem will not happen again.
"… Okay." Eva's low voice, as she nodded, didn't let Christian think much.
"I will not do something again… but, you are not a-angry… right?" Eva, while lowering her head and hugging Christian, said in the same soft tone.
Was she always this weak?
Seeing so many sides of Eva today, Christian, felt his mood sour, and hugged her too, then in a low voice… like he was choking, said, "O-of course I'm not angry."
He wondered if he should have delayed saying all of this to her.
In the end, as he felt her body inside his arms, he stopped thinking about all of that, and just hugged her tighter.
Because right now, this was what mattered the most.