IMDD CHAPTER 223 [SEASON 4] (Patreon)

Ever since he'd stopped the search for Gage, George had taken it upon himself to push Eva back into the dating world, worried about her solitude and isolation. But Eva had stubbornly refused, until the elder began to get sick, leaving Eva without a choice but finally play along because she didn’t want to stress him anymore by refusing.

She offered a small smile, her tone light. "We’re still getting to know each other, grandpa."

“Still?” the elder sighed. “What do you think about him?”

“I think he’s a great man.”

George's eyes sparkled with mischief. "That's a first from you! Make sure you give him a fair chance, alright? You're thirty-five. It's about time you consider getting into a serious relationship, Eva."

"You should be nudging Hunter, not me."

George's expression soured, making Eva grin. "Don't even get me started on that punk."

Eva's phone chose that exact moment to vibrate. Speaking of the devil - it was Hunter calling. She rose, leaning over to plant a gentle kiss on George’s forehead. "Rest up, Grandpa. Gaia’s been asking about you nonstop."

A warm smile spread across George’s face at the mention of Gaia. "Tell her I’ll be up and running in no time. Now off you go. You need your rest too. And I’m serious child, you have my permission to settle down with someone else. Calix DeLuca seemed a perfect fit for you."

Eva simply smiled and nodded. “Goodnight, Grandpa.”

“Goodnight, child.”

Stepping out of the room, Eva swiped to answer the call.

"Sis, where are you?" Hunter's voice, filled with a mix of impatience and concern, greeted her.

"Just leaving the hospital," she replied.

"I saw the video from the airport," he said, his tone softening. "Are you alright?"

Leaning against the corridor wall, Eva let out a small, wistful smile. "Don't worry about me. Just ensure grandpa remains in the dark about all this."

A weighty sigh echoed through the line. "I'll handle this mess –"

"No," Eva interjected sharply.

A brief pause followed. "What do you mean?"

"I want to know who's behind these rumors first."

Another moment of silence passed before Hunter replied, his voice edged with concern. "This could spiral out of control if we don't stop all this as early as possible.”

"Life's been too quiet lately. A little drama won't hurt. Isn't it you who's always telling me to 'be crazy sometimes and have fun'?"

Hunter's suspicious tone was palpable. "What are you up to?"

Eva's laughter was light, but her voice held a hint of mischief. "Just worry about yourself, Mr. International Superstar. At this rate, you'll be alone in your golden years."

“Stop copying grandpa, you workaholic old hag.”

“Who are you calling old hag?”

Hunter’s chuckle vibrated through the phone. “If the shoe fits, Eva –”

“Hunter Acheron, I swear—”

“Come on, sis, admit it. You’re becoming a hermit, locked up in that corporate tower of yours.”

Eva rolled her eyes, though a soft chuckle escaped her. "Oh please, at least when I’m holed up, I'm building empires. You, on the other hand, can't even build a steady relationship."

“Oh, I actually saw you with DeLuca, sis. You looked like you needed a manual on how to interact with your date. Tragic.”

“Oh, low blow, Hunter.”

“Ugh, you’re getting really good at this!”

Eva pushed herself off the wall, the smile still lingering on her lips. The cold bite of the night air kissed her skin as she made her way towards her car. “But back to business, Hunter. Let me handle this.”

“I don’t like it, Eva,” Hunter’s tone turned serious again. “You digging into this could stir a hornet’s nest.”

“It’s already stirred, brother. And I need to know who’s holding the stick.”

Hunter was silent for a moment, and Eva could picture him, miles away, running a hand through his hair in that familiar gesture of frustration and concern.

Hunter sighed, a tone of both surrender and concern in his voice. “Just…be careful, okay?”

Eva’s smile softened. “Always am.”

“Yeah, right,” Hunter’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “You’re about to dive headfirst into a media storm.”

“I’ve got my umbrella ready,” Eva quipped.

Hunter was silent for a moment before he spoke again, his voice serious. “I mean it, Eva. Be careful.” His voice then softened, “I just want you to be happy, sis. You deserve that.”

“I am happy,” Eva replied, her voice resolute, yet there was an undercurrent of something unsaid, a silent echo of something that neither of them addressed. The silence stretched between them before they then exchanged goodbyes.