Episode 9

"Do you have another option?" Lara asks.

"No, I don't have another option, and this isn't one either."

"Listen, Eva, he's hot—how can you not want a night with him, especially since he's willing to pay for it?"

"I know he's hot, I've noticed. But I don't want to lose my virginity to someone like him. I want it to be with someone I love, someone I can give not just my body but my soul to. Is that too much to ask?"

"What should we do then?"

"I'll go back to dancing and hope to make the money."

"You know I'll help you out."

Three days later, Eva was discharged from the hospital, but the babies were still being monitored due to being premature.

Two weeks later, Eva was bringing the babies home with the help of her friend Lara.

"Where are we going to put the babies to sleep, friend?" Lara asks, holding Ava in her arms.

"Damn! We have nothing for the babies, just the clothes we took to the hospital. Lara, go to the store and buy whatever is necessary for them; here's the card."

Lara grabs it and heads to the store to do as her friend had asked. Eva heads to the bathroom to shower. She was in the shower when the doorbell rings. She wraps herself in a towel, assuming Lara forgot her keys.

"Just a moment," she says, approaching the door. "Lara, stop ringing the bell; you'll wake the kids," she says, opening the door.

"What do you want here?"

"I said I'd come back. Where's my daughter?" Margareth demands, pushing past and invading the house.

"You don't have a daughter, and you can't just barge into my house. Leave or I will call the police."

"Girl, you're just a poor whore. I have plenty of money; it'll be easy to buy the police. Now, I want my daughter." The woman insists while searching for the child.

Mathias begins to cry, leading the woman to the babies. She picks up little Ava, who is still sleeping, and starts to leave the house. Eva tries to stop her but is overpowered as Margareth has brought some security with her.

"Give me back my daughter," Eva screams.

The guards throw her to the ground and follow Margareth swiftly away by car.

Eva is left crumpled on the floor, her eyes red. She doesn't know what to do, not knowing many people in the city. Mathias is crying desperately in the bedroom. Eva goes to the room and takes Mathias in her arms, soothing his cries. She calls the only person she knows can help.

Riccardo doesn't like to be crossed. He was investigating a theft at one of his fake companies; his accountant was making small transfers to his account.

Upon discovery, Riccardo's second personality emerged. He ordered his henchmen to fetch the man who believed he could survive after stealing from Riccardo Ferrari.

The thief is hanging from his arms, his body covered in blood, having been beaten with a studded baseball bat by Riccardo.

"Where's my money, you son of a bitch?" Riccardo asks, twirling the bat in the air.

"Please, sir, I can return it—just let me live, I beg you," the man pleads in tears.

"There's no doubt you'll return it," Riccardo says, striking the man with the bat.

"Did you recover my money, Caleb?" Riccardo asks a man seated with a laptop on his lap, attempting to retrieve the stolen funds.

"Boss, I'm trying, but it's hard," he says without looking away from the laptop.

"You're an idiot to think I wouldn't find out," Riccardo says, beating the man further.

The man is covered in blood with multiple cuts, but Riccardo is unbothered by his pain; he wants his money back.

His cellphone rings in the dim torture room.

Call connected*

"I hope it's important, girl."

"Please help me," Eva cries, "Margareth took my daughter—Riccardo, please, I beg of you, help me."

"I'm on my way."

Call disconnected*

After the call, Riccardo looks at the man still tied up.

"When I return, I want all my money back in my account, or you die."

Riccardo gets into his car, heading toward Eva's place.

Eva is crying, holding Mathias when her friend walks in and sees her in tears.

"What happened, Eva? Why are you crying?" Lara asks, setting the bags on the floor.

"They took my daughter," she replies, wiping away tears.

"What should we do?" Lara asks.

"I don't know; she's going to take my girl away," Eva says, crying more.

Riccardo walks in through the open door, looks at Eva crying, and sits beside her.

"Stop crying and tell me what happened," he says, looking into the girl's green eyes.

Eva takes a deep breath and calms down, while Riccardo dries the last tear from her delicate face.

"Margareth broke into my house and took Ava. I couldn't stop her; there were two guards restraining me, and they drove away."

"That bitch," Riccardo growls, moving closer to her.

"Don't worry; I'll take care of this."

"Thank you, Riccardo."

"Girl, you know there's a price; I won't help without getting something in return," he says, standing up.

"Okay, whatever the cost, I'll pay to have my daughter back home."

"Be sure you know what you're saying, as I always collect on a promise."

"Please, bring back my daughter."

"Pack your bags; I'm taking you someplace safe."

"That's not necessary, I just want my daughter," she says, rising from the sofa, still in a towel.

"Girl, she knows where you live. It's better you go somewhere she can't find you."

"Eva, he's right; go with him."

"Okay, where will you take me?"

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