Miles didn’t say anything and continued massaging my neck. I had to admit that his technique was really good. With just a few presses, the tightness in my muscles eased considerably. Lowering my voice, I murmured, "You don’t have to keep going. It’s fine now." But I had spoken too softly, and he didn’t hear me. He kept pressing, slow and focused, as if making sure every knot was worked out. I found myself staring at our shadows on the wall. His side profile was stunning. The sunlight cast a glow on his features, outlining his silhouette like a perfect sketch against the wall. Even the strands of hair that fell over his forehead had a graceful arc to them. I tilted my head slightly, and in the shadow, my forehead aligned right beneath his chin. It looked… strangely beautiful. A warmth spread through my chest, a sweetness that made me feel like I was eighteen again—young, carefree, untouched by heartbreak. For a fleeting moment, I thought that if only Miles had bee
He asked, "What did you say?" Clearing my throat, my face burning, I mumbled, "I mean… it’s not exactly… forbidden… Can we… hold hands?" Miles visibly froze for a moment before a slow smile spread across his lips. I stole a glance at him and muttered, "We… we already kissed just now…" This time, he heard me loud and clear. After a brief pause, he said slowly, "That’s true. We’ve already kissed… Acting reserved now would be a bit hypocritical, wouldn’t it?" My face turned even redder. "That’s not what I meant—" Before I could finish, he suddenly pulled me in and kissed me again. This time, my mind wasn’t as much of a blur. I began to respond slowly and clumsily. Something about that must have ignited something in Miles, because I could feel the heat radiating from him, his body pressing closer, his embrace tightening. Sensing danger, I quickly gathered the last bit of my rationality and pushed him away. We separated, catching our breaths, both trying to calm down.
Dolly chirped excitedly beside me."I knew Miles liked you! Eve, be honest, compared to that classless scumbag Julian, Miles is practically royalty."Character, family background, power—which one of these doesn’t put him leagues ahead?"Eve, don’t overthink it. You and Julian have been a mess for a long time now. This isn’t anything new—it’s just things finally falling into place."…In the end, I chose an elegant ivory midi dress, embroidered with delicate floral patterns. I had never worn it before and had no recollection of why I even bought it. But judging by the craftsmanship, it was likely custom-made.Holding it against myself, I smiled in satisfaction.Seeing how quiet I was, Dolly immediately started picking out accessories for me.After some deliberation, we settled on a set of pearl jewelry, and I swept my hair into a full, elegant bun.With an exaggerated flourish, Dolly spun me toward the mirror. "Ta-da!"She beamed with pride. "See? Didn’t I tell you? You’re stunning,
Inside a spacious and elegantly decorated private dining room, I immediately recognized a few familiar faces. I had seen these people on TV before! My mind short-circuited again, struggling to process the moment. Fortunately, I still remembered Miles’ instructions. Forcing an awkward smile, I clung tightly to his arm. The people at the table turned toward us, all smiling with interest. Someone teased, "Well, well, this is the first time I’ve ever seen young Miles bring a date. Come here, let me take a look at you properly." The man speaking, Edmund Stanton, was dressed in a sharp, well-tailored three-piece suit, clearly custom-made. Miles led me forward with effortless composure and greeted him respectfully. "Good evening, Mr. Stanton. This is my girlfriend, Evelyn White." For a moment, the entire room fell into complete silence. Even the server pouring tea paused, glancing over in shock. As for me, I had gone completely stiff, unsure of where to put my hands or fee
I rose from the bench and walked toward Miles. My palms were damp, my heart clenched with tension, but in this setting, I knew one thing for certain—I could not lose my composure. If I faltered, it wouldn’t just be my own dignity at stake; it would reflect poorly on Miles as well. The moment Julian entered, Miles acknowledged him with a casual lift of his wine glass, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips. Then, he turned to me and called softly, "Eve, come here." Julian’s expression instantly darkened. His disbelief was plain as he turned his sharp gaze on me. But by then, I had already reached Miles' side. Without hesitation, Miles had me take his arm, his expression calm yet filled with amusement as he glanced at Julian, who was clearly reeling. He spoke in an easy, reassuring tone. "Eve, don’t worry." I forced down the unease in my chest and instinctively nodded. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t shaken. But deep down, I trusted Miles. I knew he was
"The injustice she suffered in the past was my fault. From now on, she is my girlfriend, and one day, she will be Mrs. Wynn."A tremor ran through my entire body, and my eyes burned with unshed tears.I fought to hold them back, but my vision still blurred with moisture.I couldn’t see the expressions of those around me, nor did I want to look at Julian’s darkened face.All I knew was that Miles was standing up for me.He was reclaiming my name and defending me in front of everyone.He was using his status, his very name, to erase the disgrace of my past.He was pulling me out of the mud.Julian looked as though he wanted to lash out, but Chloe tugged at his arm before he could speak.With a soft, honeyed voice, she smiled. "Congratulations, Mr. Wynn! And to you as well, Miss White!"There was a barely perceptible flicker of jealousy and envy behind her delicate expression.She turned to Julian, who stood there fuming, and said sweetly, "Julian, look at Mr. Wynn, he’s so bold in pursui
Everyone was speechless.The room fell into a brief silence. Julian's expression darkened even further, while Chloe's wasn't much better. I tugged lightly at Miles' sleeve. He glanced at me with a smile. "Now that I've said my piece, shall we take our seats?" With that, he led me to the table. Julian and Chloe remained standing, frozen in place. He came here expecting one thing but ended up completely humiliated instead. From the way his jaw clenched, I could tell he was debating whether to turn around and leave. But nearly everyone at this table was a heavyweight in the city’s business world. If he left now, it would undoubtedly damage his reputation. In the end, he forced himself to take a seat, his face as dark as ever, with Chloe following beside him. I caught the look she gave me—complicated, layered with jealousy, resentment, and deep-seated bitterness. Lowering my gaze, I chose to ignore the two of them entirely. I still didn’t fully understand why Miles
Oh, so Julian thought I was bullying Chloe again.But then why hadn’t he been willing to publicly claim her just moments ago?Maybe my head still wasn’t fully right—because no matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t understand what went on in these men’s minds.After failing to get a reaction from me, Chloe immediately turned her attention to Miles.Her voice remained soft and delicate, the kind that would stir pity in any normal man.That was Chloe’s talent—shameless persistence and the ability to play the victim at any given moment.I heard her say, "Mr. Wynn, I’ve admired you for a long time. I never expected you to be even more handsome and charismatic in person than the rumors suggest."Miles responded with a simple, indifferent "Mm."Not discouraged, Chloe continued, "Mr. Wynn, you’ve accomplished so much at such a young age. I truly envy Miss White… She always seems to have a way of finding men like you."I nearly choked on my tea.Barely restraining my disgust, I lowered my eyes.
Ian personally escorted Dolly to the HR department, while I was asked to wait in the adjacent guest lounge.Once alone, I took the opportunity to look around.Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 22nd floor, I gazed down at the bustling streets below. The constant stream of cars and tiny figures of pedestrians moving like ants made the city feel even grander.I couldn’t help but sigh. Even at its peak, White Corporation had never operated from a building this high up. The Wynn family was truly on another level.As I was lost in thought, the door suddenly swung open.“Who are you?”A sharp, demanding voice cut through the air.I turned around to find another tall, striking woman standing there.Seriously. Was there some kind of beauty quota for this district?She had her auburn-brown hair elegantly pinned up, stood around 5’5”, and had the kind of perfectly toned figure that came from strict self-discipline.I gave her a polite nod. “Hello, I’m… here to see Mr. Wynn.”The
Realizing she had overdone her teasing, Dolly quickly focused on preparing her resume.By the afternoon, she was all set. Without hesitation, she grabbed my arm and dragged me straight to Wynn Group’s headquarters.It had been seven years since I last walked through Riverdale’s downtown, and the transformation was staggering. The entire business district had been rebuilt, turning into a sleek, high-end CBD.The A-grade office towers gleamed under the sun, their glass exteriors reflecting the cityscape like polished mirrors. Standing beneath them, there was really only one word that came to mind—imposing.Dolly and I stopped in front of Wynn Group’s towering skyscraper, both feeling a little nervous.For her, it was about the job interview.For me, it was about seeing Miles again.The moment we stepped inside, a receptionist greeted us with a polite smile. “Good afternoon, ladies. How may I assist you?”I hesitated. “I’m here to see…”I trailed off, struggling to say his name outrigh
Some people sided with Chloe, claiming that I was the one clinging to Julian, which was the only reason I became Mrs. Moore in the first place. According to them, Chloe was deceived because I interfered in their relationship.Others supported me, arguing that since Julian chose to marry me, he should have taken responsibility. Cheating during marriage was an act of betrayal—plain and simple.Then, there were the so-called “rational” ones, saying, “Sure, Julian cheated, but does that mean Evelyn was completely blameless?”That one really made me laugh.Right. I must still be stuck in an eighteen-year-old mindset, unable to grasp why victims were expected to reflect on their own faults, as if being wronged wasn’t enough.This world had turned into something I no longer recognized.I pushed my phone aside, not wanting to see any more of it.But Dolly? She was thriving in the chaos.“Look at this! Ever since Trey exposed Julian’s dirt, people have started turning on Chloe, calling her ou
My voice came out shaky, almost stuttering. “T-Trey… what… what are you trying to do?”He gave me a lazy smile. “Not trying to do anything.”I swallowed. “Then… then what do you want to say?”Trey didn’t answer right away. He just studied me, his gaze unreadable, like he was trying to see straight through me.Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “Do you really like my brother?”Heat rushed to my face. “Uh… well, he’s a good person…”Trey chuckled. “So am I.”I felt my cheeks burn hotter. “You… you’re not the same as your brother.”He arched a perfect brow. “Oh? And how exactly are we different? Have you experienced both of us?”I choked.Was he flirting or was I just imagining things?My face was on fire, and I quickly pushed against his chest. “I… I don’t know! Just move back, I can’t breathe.”Trey didn’t budge. Instead, he leaned in even closer.My heart nearly stopped.He was too handsome, too damn charming, and way too close.This was dangerous.I stammered, “T-this isn’t okay. What
My phone buzzed twice.I quickly unlocked it and found a flood of photos and videos.A quick glance was all I needed before I grimaced and looked away."Here, there’s more where that came from," Trey said, watching me with an amused smirk. "So, tell me, do you really want to take down Julian? What happened? You finally got your head on straight? Or did you take the wrong meds recently?"Of course, someone as well-connected as him would have heard all about my black history.I hesitated. "I… I just don’t want to keep embarrassing myself."Trey chuckled, unconvinced. "Liar."His eyes narrowed, studying me with unsettling sharpness. "Tell me the truth, and I’ll give you something even juicier."I hesitated, James’ warning from earlier still fresh in my mind.Seeing my internal struggle, Trey’s smirk deepened. "No truth? Hmm?"I had no choice but to admit, "I… I lost my memory. And I don’t love Julian anymore."Trey blinked.Then, after a brief pause—he burst into laughter.Loud, unabashe
The three of us walked out together.Waiting outside were three flashy Ferraris, belonging to Trey’s poker buddies.They strolled over, grinning. “Trey, Evelyn, where to?”Trey casually rattled off a location, and the guys whooped as they jumped into their cars—each one, of course, with a stunning young woman already waiting in the passenger seat.Dolly tugged at my sleeve, whispering, “This is a full-blown rich boys’ club.”I nodded. “I just need to stick around long enough to get the evidence.”My gaze drifted to the bag she was clutching tightly—stuffed to the brim with cash.“And, well… there’s a lot of money involved, too.”At the mention of money, Dolly’s entire attitude shifted. Her back straightened, her legs no longer ached, and suddenly, she had zero complaints about hanging out with a group of spoiled playboys.Instead of taking one of the Ferraris, Trey ditched the idea and grabbed a convertible that could fit all three of us.And so, we sped off.Four cars tore through th
Trey smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. "Oh? Is that so? I thought it was your beloved Chloe who started spilling the tea. I’m just helping the public see the truth, nothing more."Laughter rippled through the room again.I watched as Trey danced all over Julian’s last nerve, and yet, Julian had no way of shutting him down.I couldn’t help it and laughed.Julian’s eyes darkened the moment he saw me smile. "Evelyn, you—"I cut him off. "What does this have to do with me? Chloe accused you of deceiving her. Maybe you should go explain things to her instead of embarrassing yourself here."His expression grew even more menacing. "You... what are you doing with him?"I let out a cold, dismissive laugh. "Julian, I’m divorcing you. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. If I want to hang out with friends, I will. If I want to go out and have fun, I will. What right do you have to control me?"His face darkened with rage. He stepped forward like he was about to drag me away.Bu
Something stirred inside me, and for a moment, I forgot to push him away.“Hurry up, play your hand!”The guys who had just lost were already urging me to make a move.I hesitantly placed a card down—the Queen of Spades.Trey smirked. “Not bad. Playing the Queen—might just turn things in your favor.”With a cigarette between his lips, he leaned over again, casually adjusting the cards in my hand.The truth was, I did know how to play poker—at least in theory. I had spent enough time as a child watching my mother and her socialite friends play at fancy cocktail parties.But watching and playing were two very different things.At first, I was stiff, unsure of the strategy. Then, as the game went on, I started picking up the rhythm.And then… I won.I stared down at my hand in disbelief, double-checking my cards. I glanced at Trey for confirmation.Just then, he flicked away his cigarette and leaned back with a lazy grin.“Straight flush. Damn, you actually won. Alright, pay up, boys!”
A strange shiver ran through me, and I quickly averted my gaze.Trey seemed to catch onto my thoughts. He smirked, deliberately exhaling a puff of smoke in my direction before turning to the others. “Alright, let’s play a few rounds.”I shot Dolly a pleading look, but she only shrugged helplessly.The game began. Trey’s long fingers toyed with the custom poker cards, his every movement exuding an effortless sense of wealth and refinement.“Three rounds.”He casually discarded a card, then leaned back, eyes half-lidded as he took a slow drag from his cigarette.“Hah! Gotcha! I win!” one of the guys across the table cheered, rubbing his hands together excitedly.Trey rolled his eyes, laughing. “That’s all it takes to get you excited? Fine, take it.”The game moved on—counting cards, reshuffling the deck. I watched as Trey casually tossed a thick stack of cash onto the table.My brows furrowed and thought, “They’re playing for that much?”He glanced at me. “Starting to get it?”I shook