Evelyn's thoughts were a tangled mess of fear, anger, and sadness as she walked toward the exit and headed home. She had nothing left to do at work while awaiting the verdict from her superiors, and the weight of it was crushing. The day had been a blur of emotions, and her heart felt heavy with uncertainty. Although her office was only a ten-minute drive from her apartment, she chose to walk, needing to clear her head. Each step felt labored, as if she were dragging her feet through a swamp of her thoughts.
Evelyn's mind replayed everything since Sunday morning. Now, with the added threat of losing her job, she felt her world crumbling. When she finally reached her modest apartment, she unlocked the door, stepped inside, and slumped against the doorframe with exhaustion. She closed the door with a soft click, the sound resonating in the quiet space.
"Mama!" a small voice called, full of excitement and warmth. Evelyn barely had time to set down her bag before Samantha rushed toward her, throwing herself into her mother's arms. Her giggles filled the room. "You're back so early!" Samantha exclaimed, hugging Evelyn tightly.
Samantha's enthusiasm was contagious, and for a moment, the weight on Evelyn's chest lightened as she held her daughter close. Evelyn hugged Samantha tightly, her face buried in her daughter's soft curls. She inhaled deeply, the scent of innocence and love surrounding her. The tears she'd been holding back since leaving the office threatened to spill, but she blinked them away, not wanting to alarm her daughter.
"Are you sick, Mommy?" Samantha asked, concern lacing her voice as she pulled back slightly to look at Evelyn's face. Evelyn forced a smile, her heart aching at her daughter's worried expression. "No, sweetheart. I'm just a little tired," she lied, brushing a hand through Samantha's hair.
Samantha's big blue eyes searched her mother's face, unconvinced. However, she didn't press further. Instead, she took Evelyn's hand, tugging gently. "Come on, Mommy. Let's go to your room. You can rest, and I'll keep you company."
"You're welcome, ma'am," Maya greeted from the side. Evelyn nodded and let Samantha lead her, their footsteps quiet on the floor as they walked down the hallway.
In her room, Evelyn sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard. Samantha immediately climbed beside her, snuggling close. The warmth of her daughter's body brought a small measure of comfort, but it wasn't enough to dispel the storm of emotions swirling within her. Samantha nestled into her mother's side, resting her head on Evelyn's shoulder. The child's presence was a balm to Evelyn's frayed nerves, and she held her daughter tighter, drawing strength from their connection.
As she lay on the bed, Evelyn's mind raced with thoughts of the future. How would she provide for Samantha if she lost her job? The prospect of starting anew was daunting, especially with Samantha starting school the following week. She had moved back to Ludus hoping to rebuild her life, but now, everything seemed uncertain. The question gnawed at her: had she made a mistake leaving Husla? Maybe she should have stayed, where she had friends and was far from people like Sandra and Michael.
She sighed, reminding herself that there was no point looking back; that chapter was closed. She had made her choice and must live with the consequences.
Lost in thought, Evelyn didn't notice the time until her phone's sharp ring broke her reverie. She sat up abruptly, her heart pounding as she reached for her phone on the nightstand. Seeing Susan's name flashing, her breath hitched. Samantha, who had dozed off, looked up curiously as Evelyn stood.
"Sweetheart, can you go play in the living room for a bit?" Evelyn asked, her voice slightly strained. Samantha hesitated, then nodded, slipping off the bed and padding out of the room, casting a concerned glance over her shoulder. Evelyn waited until the door clicked shut before answering the call, her hand trembling slightly. "Hello, Susan," she greeted, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Evelyn, I just spoke with the board," Susan began, her tone careful. Evelyn's heart sank at the ominous pause. "They decided to let you go."
Evelyn's world seemed to tilt. For a moment, she couldn't breathe. The words hit her like a physical blow, and she gripped the nightstand to steady herself.
"But," Susan continued, "Mr. Stone intervened. He convinced the board to reconsider, and you're not being let go. I thought you should know."
Relief washed over Evelyn, so intense her knees nearly buckled. She closed her eyes, a shaky breath escaping as the tension eased. "Thank you, Susan. I—I don't know what to say," she stammered, her voice thick with emotion.
"You should thank Mr. Stone," Susan added before ending the call.
Evelyn stared at her phone, the relief slowly giving way to gratitude and frustration. She was grateful to keep her job, but the thought of Derek's intervention left her with conflicting emotions. She wasn't sure how to feel, considering everything between them. She was still angry and disappointed in him, and embarrassed to face him.
Just as she was about to sit down, her phone rang again. Seeing Derek's name, her heart skipped a beat. Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitant, but after a moment, she answered.
"Evelyn," Derek's voice, calm yet insistent, filled the line. "I'm outside your house. I need to see you."