Chapter 6: Goodbye, Miles

The underground holding room was silent except for the faint hum of the ventilation system.

Miles sat on the narrow cot, staring blankly at the concrete floor.

Less than twenty-four hours ago, he had believed he could solve all his problems with one terrible decision.

Now he had lost everything.

The heavy steel door slowly opened.

Miles jumped to his feet.

"Eva!"

His face lit up with desperate hope the moment he saw her standing in the doorway.

Theo remained just outside the room, allowing his sister to decide how this conversation would end.

Eva stepped inside calmly.

She wore a simple cream-colored sweater instead of the elegant dress from Christmas Eve.

Her eyes were no longer filled with love.

They were calm.

Almost indifferent.

"Eva..." Miles whispered.

"Thank God you're here."

"Please tell your brother to let me go."

"I know I made a mistake, but I swear I can fix everything."

Eva quietly looked around the room before meeting his eyes.

"Fix it?"

"How?"

"I... I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

"I'll never gamble again."

"I'll work three jobs if I have to."

"I'll marry you just like I promised."

Eva gave him a sad smile.

"You still don't understand."

"This was never about the money."

Miles froze.

"It was about trust."

"I loved you enough to build my future around you."

"If you had simply told me you needed twenty thousand dollars... I would've transferred it before you even finished asking."

"I would've sold my piano if that wasn't enough."

"I would've stood beside you through every problem."

"Instead..."

She took a slow breath.

"You drugged me."

"You carried me into a casino."

"And you stood there while strangers discussed my body as if I were an object."

Miles lowered his head in shame.

"I know..."

"No."

Eva interrupted him gently.

"You don't know."

"Because if you did... you would've never done it."

Silence filled the room.

For the first time, Miles realized there were no excuses left.

"Eva..."

"Did you ever love me?"

She looked at him for several long seconds.

"With all my heart."

"Then..."

"That's exactly why this hurts so much."

Tears rolled down Miles' face.

"Please... don't leave me."

"I can't live without you."

Eva slowly reached into her coat pocket.

Miles' eyes brightened.

For one hopeful second, he believed she had forgiven him.

Instead...

She placed a small velvet box on the table between them.

The engagement ring.

"You bought this months ago," Eva said quietly.

"Theo found it in your pocket."

"Keep it."

"Because the woman you wanted to marry no longer exists."

"She died the moment you chose money over her life."

Miles broke down completely.

"I'm sorry!"

"I'm so, so sorry!"

"Please... I'll do anything!"

Eva shook her head.

"There are some apologies that arrive too late."

"This is one of them."

She turned toward the door.

"Eva!" Miles shouted desperately.

"One last question!"

She stopped but didn't look back.

"If I hadn't brought you to your brother's casino..."

"If I'd sold you somewhere else..."

"Would you still have forgiven me if I'd come back for you?"

The question hung in the air.

Eva slowly closed her eyes.

Then she answered without hesitation.

"No."

"Because love without respect is never love."

"And someone who truly loves you would never gamble with your life."

She walked out.

The steel door closed behind her.

Miles collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Outside, Theo was waiting.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

Eva nodded.

"I expected to feel angry."

"Instead... I feel free."

Theo smiled proudly.

"That's because you finally let go of someone who never deserved you."

As they walked toward the elevator, Theo's phone rang.

One of his investigators spoke urgently.

"Don... the police have everything."

"Snake has confessed to human trafficking, illegal gambling, bribery, and money laundering."

"Miles Carter has also confessed to selling Miss Eva in exchange for debt forgiveness."

"The prosecutor wants to move forward immediately."

"Good," Theo replied.

"Make sure every victim receives compensation from Snake's seized assets."

"And inform the authorities that the Crowe family will fully cooperate."

"Yes, Don."

Theo ended the call.

Eva looked at him.

"It's finally over."

"Almost," Theo replied.

"Justice is just beginning."

Three months later...

The courtroom was packed with reporters.

Snake stood in chains beside Miles.

The judge slowly opened the final case file before announcing the verdict.

Eva watched quietly from the gallery as Miles lifted his head one last time.

Their eyes met across the courtroom.

This time...

Neither of them smiled.