He looked exhausted—dark circles under his eyes, unshaven, and worn to the bone.The moment he saw Chloe’s bloodied face, he rushed over in a panic. "Chloe, what happened?"Chloe glanced at me, then collapsed into his arms, sobbing pitifully.She cried like the picture of heartbreak, and the people around us began casting strange, judgmental looks at Dolly and me.Dolly was about to snap back, but I grabbed her arm, holding her back.Julian gently soothed Chloe, then pressed, "Tell me, what really happened?"Chloe sniffled and spoke in a small, timid voice. "It’s nothing. I just wanted to buy something for the baby... and then I ran into Miss White and Miss Jones."They cornered me in the restroom and started questioning me... then one of them pushed me by accident."Dolly couldn’t take it anymore. "Julian, you seriously believe that crap?!"His expression darkened. "It doesn’t matter what the story is. She’s hurt. And you two…"He turned to me, disappointment written all over his face
I turned and walked away without another word."Evelyn, wait!" Julian called after me and started to follow, but Chloe suddenly cried out in pain.I glanced back.He was holding onto her, watching my retreating figure. There was something in his expression, like he wanted to run after me and explain everything. But beside him was Chloe, bloodied and whimpering, demanding his attention.I turned away, expression flat, and pulled Dolly along with me.Back home, Dolly was still fuming. "What the hell is wrong with Julian? Is he brain-dead? Whatever Chloe says, he just swallows it whole!"I answered calmly, "In a moment like that, Chloe was the more believable one. Not every woman has the guts to bash her own head on a marble countertop."Dolly was furious. "Then why did you say you pushed her? She only did that because she knew she was cornered!"I kept my voice steady. "Would it have made a difference if I explained? In Julian’s eyes, I’ve always been the one bullying Chloe."Dolly op
Miles set down his utensils and looked at me seriously. “Eve, what exactly are you trying to do?”I shook my head. “Nothing much. I just want my money back and it’s even better if he ends up miserable.”Miles smiled gently. “Don’t worry. James is one of the best lawyers out there. He’ll fight for your rights. I just don’t want to see you trapped in all this.”I reached out and took his hand. He turned his palm over and found the black card lying there.His brows drew together. “What’s this?”I smiled. “I don’t want to use your card.”His expression darkened a little. “Why not?”“Because I have my own money,” I said. “And I want us to date like normal people.”Miles tucked the card right back into my hand.He looked at me, steady and sincere. “We are dating like normal people. Giving you this card is just part of being a man.”I hesitated. “But I already have money in my account.”Miles laughed. “That’s your money. This is your boyfriend giving you allowance. They’re totally two differ
When faced with such a handsome, gentleman saying such earnest words, any woman would’ve melted. I was no exception.My heart started pounding like it had grown an extra one, thumping wildly. "Eve..." Miles leaned closer, his deep eyes narrowing, becoming even more striking and captivating. The air felt laced with sweetness. I stammered, "Just... a... kiss..." Before I could even finish saying "one," his kiss came crashing down like a tidal wave. My breath was swept away. All I could see was his ridiculously good-looking face and the slightly open collar of his shirt... The kiss lasted a long time. When we finally pulled apart, both of us were a little out of breath. I mumbled, "We agreed on just one kiss..." Miles gave a teasing smile. "So that one didn’t count, huh?" He leaned in again. I quickly stopped him. "No more kissing or we’ll be late." He let out a soft laugh and gently ruffled my hair. "Alright, no more kissing." Suddenly, I grabbed him and pla
Miles let out a helpless sigh. "On my way back, I did get stopped, but not by someone asking for my contact. Two sweet little girls cornered me to buy roses." I stared at him. "Huh? How much did you spend?" He pointed at the bouquet. "Two dollars each, so I paid forty dollars for twenty roses.”I let out a dramatic gasp. "What? These flowers aren’t even worth a dollar each! You totally got ripped off!" I unwrapped the bouquet while speaking. Sure enough, the roses were wilted, some uneven in length. They looked like someone had fished them out of a dumpster and threw them together. Forty dollars for this? That was highway robbery! I didn’t know how I should react at that moment. "I should’ve warned you—there are usually little girls around here selling flowers. Did they cling to you and tell you to buy some for your girlfriend?" Miles nodded. I sighed in pain. "Forty dollars for this, and they’re not even decent flowers..." But he didn’t seem to mind. "It’s fine. I ac
I studied the bracelet carefully under the soft beam of the phone’s flashlight, examining every inch until my eyes turned red and sore. Only then did I gently place it back in the box. Miles asked, "Why not wear it?" I shook my head. "I’m afraid I’ll break it." As I said that, my cheeks flushed because I remembered exactly what my grandmother told me when she gave me those bracelets. "Sweetheart, this is Grandma’s gift to you for your wedding. It’s been in the family for generations. When the time comes, wear it—it’ll bring you happiness, and a home filled with love and laughter."...Miles watched me tuck the satin-lined box carefully into my bag. He let out a soft chuckle. "I didn’t know you and your grandma were that close. Nicholas never seemed to have that kind of bond with her."I scoffed. "Of course not. He wasn’t my grandma’s sweetheart—I was. He was always a rebellious one. Our parents moved to the city with him really early on." As soon as I finished, I froze, low
Miles didn’t answer, just smiled quietly and asked again, "Do you like it?" Tears welled up in my eyes again, ridiculous and uncontrollable. I nodded quickly, maybe a little too eagerly.He stood calmly beside me, shoulders brushing mine as we both watched the fireworks burst across the sky. Our hands stayed tightly clasped, like two people who had been lost for years and suddenly found their way back to each other. Images flashed through my mind—vague, fleeting, impossible to hold onto. I thought I saw a boy in a white shirt standing in a haze of bright light, looking at me with a gentle smile. He asked, "Eve, what do you like?" The little girl replied, "I like flowers." "Oh?" he said lightly. "What kind of flowers?" "Fireworks!" He blinked, then let out a quiet laugh. "Silly girl, fireworks aren’t flowers." She pouted. "Who says they’re not? I want lots and lots of fireworks on my birthday." The boy stood there in the glow, a trace of regret in his voice. "But
I couldn’t remember if I ever actually saw the meteor shower that night.All I knew was that I fell asleep watching the fireworks, wrapped in happiness.In my dream, the boy in the white shirt stepped out from the light again, just like before.I looked at him with surprise and joy.Then, slowly, his face became Miles’.He smiled. "The fireworks you love..."...When I woke up in bed the next morning, there was still a smile on my face.I rubbed my cheeks, and they were sore.The sparkle on my finger snapped me fully awake.The ring.I hadn’t dreamed it.Miles really had fireworks set off all night to celebrate my birthday. He really gave me that gift.I blinked a few times, then carefully polished the diamond ring.It had to be around three carats, but the way it sparkled, it could easily pass for four or five.When I flipped it over for a closer look, I nearly gasped.It was from Cartier and custom-made.I quickly snapped a photo and sent it to Dolly. “Look what I got!”She was at wo
The hostess paused for a second, then quickly adjusted with a smile. "Of course, Miss White. Miss Jones, please follow me. Our founder and a few directors are over this way."“Well, well, no longer Mrs. Moore? That was fast. Wasn’t it just a while ago someone couldn’t stop flaunting the fact that she was Mrs. Moore?”A mocking voice rang out.I turned around sharply, my expression darkening.Chloe stood there in a loose-fitting dress, carefully shielding her baby bump. Her arm was looped through Julian’s.And the one who’d made the snide comment was Rossie.Rossie stood beside Chloe, eyeing me from head to toe with thinly veiled smugness.Chloe’s eyes flickered the moment she saw me. She quickly leaned into Julian’s chest, all delicate and helpless."Julian, why didn’t you tell me Miss White would be here?" she asked sweetly.Julian clearly hadn’t expected me either. His brows furrowed. "What are you doing here?"I frowned. "The better question is—what are you doing here? I don’t rec
“Yes, I’m stupid! But what else can I do?” I said helplessly.Dolly went quiet for a moment on the other end of the line. “Forget it. That Pierse isn’t too bad. I’ll help this time. But Evelyn, don’t get involved with the Moore family again.”I nodded eagerly. “I know. I won’t touch anything else.”After getting my promise, Dolly asked, “By the way, tomorrow’s the second brand show for Elmwood. They contacted me asking for your number. They said they couldn’t reach you.”“What brand show?” I asked.Dolly smacked her head on the other end. “Ah, I forgot you lost your memory. You used to sponsor this niche brand. Now they’re doing better and better, and you’ve been their show sponsor every year. I remember you paid the sponsorship fees annually.”I had no memory of that, but Dolly sounded quite certain.A thought struck me. “Did I sponsor them under Moore Group’s name?”Dolly thought for a moment. “Probably. Back then you wanted to build some name recognition for Julian, so you sponsored
He cleared his throat. "But Miss White, are you sure you want to help Pierse? He’s still under eighteen, and custody and guardianship legally belong to the Moore family. This kind of thing rarely ends well for the person trying to help."I gave an awkward smile. "I know. My plan is to pick a school, then have him go back and talk it over with his family. “He’s in a rebellious phase right now. I really can’t just leave him to fend for himself. If I do, he’s going to spiral."The more I spoke, the heavier my heart felt.Ian looked at me with a complicated expression. "You really are a kind person, Miss White. If Julian failed to keep you, that’s entirely his loss."I managed a tight smile.Skipping the small talk, we quickly settled on a school thanks to Ian’s help.It was an international school that was established for twenty years. It had an excellent reputation, and after graduation, students could transition smoothly into overseas programs with direct guidance for studying abroad.
With things spiraling the way they had, both of us were a little dazed.Once Pierse snapped out of it, he grinned and grabbed my hand. "Eve, from now on, I’m sticking with you."Sticking with me?I let out a helpless smile. "You’re not even eighteen. Your mom and brother are still around. It’s really not my place to take care of you."Pierse waved it off like it meant nothing. "They don’t care about me anyway. Whether I live or die, it’s all the same to them. So, I might as well stay with you."He seemed to have found a new sense of purpose, full of enthusiasm. "Eve, I can work. I’ll find a job and earn my own money. You don’t need to give me anything."I sighed. "Don’t talk nonsense. Just remember, you’re still a minor. Your mom or your brother can come take you away anytime."He didn’t seem the least bit concerned.Seeing that I couldn’t reason with him, I decided to take him for a meal first.A teenage boy really had big appetite.I brought Pierse to a restaurant and watched him dev
I pretended not to care. "He was just a kid who didn’t know any better. Now that he understands, I don’t mind treating him like my brother again."Julian looked moved.He took a step forward. "Eve, you’ve changed. You’re more understanding now, more mature."I took a step back in disgust. "Mr. Moore, if you have something to say, say it. Don’t come any closer."The light in Julian’s eyes dimmed slightly at my words. "Eve, I just wanted to explain what happened with Chloe and the baby...""Stop!" I covered my ears. "I don’t want to hear it."I glared at him, unable to hold back anymore. "Mr. Moore, don’t assume I’m so generous that I’ll accept any kind of garbage or that I care to hear about your filthy mess in detail, alright?"I’ve told you so many times. I don’t love you anymore. You mean nothing to me now. I want a divorce! I don’t want to know anything about you and Chloe!"Julian looked stunned by my outburst.He stared at me strangely. "Eve, you really don’t love me anymore? If y
I stared at the teacher, shocked. "He already has a strike on his record? Since when?" The teacher glanced at Julian. "You didn’t know? That’s strange. Your family should’ve been notified. His mother came in last time…" Julian’s expression darkened. "No. My mother doesn’t know. It must’ve been..." Realization hit me like a slap. Pierse must’ve paid someone else to show up and pose as his guardian to cover for him. That little troublemaker. I didn’t care that Julian was standing right there.I turned to the teacher. "Let me talk to him again. In the meantime, could you please speak with the student’s parents? Let them know we’re willing to cover all the medical expenses and any other losses." Before the teacher could answer, Julian suddenly cut in, frowning. "Who said you get to make that decision for him?" I froze, taken aback. After a beat, I bit back my frustration. "Are you saying I’m overstepping, Mr. Moore?" Julian stared at me. "You’re his sister-in-law. It’s n
After a long while, Pierse finally stopped crying. I quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his face, then cleaned up his wounds.I disinfected them, reapplied the ointment, and pressed on fresh band-aids.Once he calmed down, he looked a little embarrassed. "Eve, what should I do about all this?" I thought for a moment. "There’s really no option besides apologizing and paying for the damages.”He turned his head away. "I’m not apologizing." I stayed calm, just like I always did with him. "Alright. Then I’ll apologize for you. Hopefully the other party is understanding. If not, we might have to involve your mom and your brother. And if that happens, I won’t be able to protect you." His brows drew together. "I don’t want them to know." I sighed. "Then our only option is to talk to your teacher and ask for leniency. I’ll do my best." I stood to go find the teacher. Behind me, Pierse asked in a low voice, "Does it really have to be an apology?" I nodded. "It might help cool thin
I walked over to the corner of the office and found the first aid kit. Then I sat down beside Pierse and quietly began disinfecting the cuts on his face before placing a few band-aids over the worst of them. He didn’t flinch or fight me off.He just sat there and let me patch him up. Seeing that he was still simmering with anger, I poured him a glass of water. "Here. Drink this," I said gently. "And tell me what happened." It took a while before he finally spoke. It turned out that he and the other kid he fought with had never been on good terms. Pierse was good-looking, constantly skipping class to play basketball, and had that kind of bad-boy energy that made half the girls in school swoon. The other boy had a crush on a popular girl from another class, only to find out, after a lot of effort, that she actually liked Pierse. And so, that was how the fight broke out.I sighed. "So, you got into a fight over a girl you don’t even like, just because her admirer couldn’t h
To be honest, I wasn’t surprised Pierse had gotten into a fight. What did surprise me was that, at his age, neither his mother, Abby, nor Julian seemed to be doing anything about it. There wasn’t time to dwell on that. I arrived at the school and was quickly escorted by security to the disciplinary office. As soon as the door opened, I saw him. Pierse sat in the back of the room, his face bruised and dark with frustration. "Pierse?" I called softly. He looked up, shocked to see me, and stood up abruptly. "Eve? What are you doing here?" Then immediately groaned, "I forgot to turn off my phone." I rushed over and examined his injuries. There were two gashes on his cheek, and the corner of his mouth was badly swollen and bruised. Feeling my heart aching, I pulled out a tissue to dab at the dried blood. "What happened? Your face is a mess." Pierse winced and pulled away. "I’m really fine. You shouldn’t have come. Go home, I’m okay." Before I could say more, his home