Eva's world had shifted in a matter of hours. That morning, she had woken up with a strange, nagging nausea and a heaviness she couldn't shake.
She'd brushed it off at first, thinking it was stress, or maybe just an odd dream she couldn't remember.
But the dizzy spells had only grown stronger, leaving her no choice but to grab one of the old pregnancy tests she'd found in the back of her drawer. She hadn't thought much of it, hadn't expected anything.
But when the test showed two faint lines her heart had skipped.
The realization settled over her like a weight. It had been over two months since her father had arranged that night, her night with the stranger.
She could still remember the stranger's red and intense eyes, his presence as unfamiliar as it was unforgettable. She hadn't thought about him since, not like this. And yet now…
She barely had time to process the truth. She had not even set down test strip when she heard her father on the phone, his voice taut and urgent.
"Yes. Yes, she's ready," he'd said, words echoing down the hall. "Now? Fine. Fine, send the car."
Eva's head swam, but before she could even question him, the doorbell rang, and she saw the sleek black limousine pull up outside.
Her father had quickly packed her things—her favorite dresses, her shoes, and the essentials he thought were enough for wherever she was being sent.
She'd watched in stunned silence as he loaded the suitcase into the trunk of the limo, handling her departure with a businesslike efficiency that left her feeling hollow. It was happening too fast.
"Dad," she'd tried to say, her voice barely a whisper. "Wait—please, can't we talk?"
But he'd shushed her with a wave of his hand, brushing off her words with practiced calm. And now, here she was, standing by the limo.
She lingered by the car, watching her father and sister approach her with all the warmth of a staged farewell.
Her father wore a look of forced sorrow, his eyes darting between her and the sleek black limousine idling nearby.
She could sense he was about to make a show of this, for the neighbors or anyone else who might be watching. Heaving a sigh, she braced herself.
"Eva," he said, his voice trembling just slightly, "you know I'll miss you, right?"
He pulled her into a tight hug, his hand pressing against the back of her head, and she could feel him shaking, though she knew it wasn't real.
She pulled back to look at him, trying to read his face, but he blinked and let a tear slip down his cheek, like it was rehearsed.
"Dad," she murmured, not sure what to say. The lump in her throat grew, though her heart resisted his display of emotion.
He sighed, shaking his head as though deeply pained. "This is just… It's all for the best, Eva. You'll be fine."
He held her shoulders and gave her a sad, resolute smile, like he was sending her off to some great, noble fate. "Your father only wants what's best for you, sweetheart."
Eva swallowed hard, but there were no words she could say that wouldn't come out in anger.
She glanced toward her older sister, Olivia, who was standing a few steps away, casually scrolling through her phone as if this whole moment was an inconvenience.
"Olivia," her father said, his voice stern. "Could you put that thing down and say goodbye to your sister?"
Olivia barely looked up, her gaze flickering briefly to Eva before she sighed and shoved her phone into her pocket. She stepped closer, though her posture screamed disinterest.
"Fine, whatever." She gave Eva a half-hearted wave. "Bye, I guess. Good luck, or… you know, whatever." Her tone was flat, her eyes already back on her phone as soon as she said the words.
"Olivia!" her father scolded. "Show your sister a bit more love. This is a big day for her."
She glanced up, annoyed. "I said bye, didn't I? What more do you want?"
Eva forced a weak smile, the familiar ache of resignation settling in her chest. "It's okay, Dad. I know she's busy," she murmured, feeling the hollowness of the words as they left her lips.
There was no point in dragging this out, no point in pretending it was a loving goodbye.
Her father pulled her back in for one last hug, patting her back as if he were comforting her.
"Take care of yourself, Eva," he said in a choked voice, though his eyes betrayed the slightest impatience. "Remember, this is all for the best. For the family.
Eva couldn't find her voice, so she simply nodded, breaking away from his grip and stepping back.
She could still feel Olivia's disinterested gaze on her, as if she were a mildly entertaining spectacle.
"Bye, Eva," Olivia said, looking down at her phone and tapping as she spoke. "Hope it's fun or whatever."
Her father shot Olivia a dark look, and she rolled her eyes, slipping the phone into her back pocket with a reluctant sigh.
She made a small attempt at a hug, her arms barely brushing Eva's sides before she pulled away.
"Try to make the best of it," Olivia added in an almost mocking tone, already turning back to her phone as if Eva were nothing more than a fleeting distraction.
Eva looked at both of them, her heart heavy with the realization that this parting, painful as it was, was little more than a formality.
She drew in a deep breath, holding back tears, and gave her father a final nod.
"Take care, Dad," she said softly, then turned and walked toward the waiting car.
Just as she was about to step inside, her father called out, his voice carrying a final note of false cheer.
"Remember, Eva, we're all counting on you!"