“Mom, you were right. I eventually grew up to be just as you expected, I wish you were here to witness it." Eva softly muttered to herself, nearly breaking into tears.Eva watched her face one more time in order to compose herself back but it wasn't working as she was still filled with too much emotion. She decided to force herself out of the bathroom despite the fact that her gaze was hazy due to the water of the tears threatening to pour down her face.Just after Eva walked out of the bathroom and took a few steps further, she suddenly lost her balance. Eva was prepared to fall down when a strong hand caught her. Her head snapped up and saw Damien before her through her blurry vision.“.... Dam…ien…..?” Eva called out in order to confirm if it was him. Her legs gave out again but he caught her again.Damien steadied her against his chest, his arms wrapped around her trembling body. He pressed his palm against her lower back, pulling her small waist towards him.“Shh….. I've got you
Eva raised her head up and peered into his eyes. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the fire burning within them. He wasn't even touching her yet, but it already feels like he had undressed her.“This blazer belongs to my brother.” Eva finally admitted, not wanting to push her luck any further. Damien paused. His gaze flickered to the blazer and observed it carefully. It was a much smaller size than Lucas' body frame, but the blazer still hung loosely on her body and that was because Lucien was bigger and taller than Eva. Even though she was also tall, she didn't have a big body frame. So she was telling the truth. “From the same parents?" Damien beseech."Same father. But he is my blood.” Eva replied Damien relaxed a little bit when he heard her. “Good."“Good," Eva repeated.“Marvelous." Damien mused, trying to see if she would say anything else.“Fantastic…..” To his dismay, Eva did.Damien narrowed his eyes, did she think it was a game? Eva's eyelashes fluttered and she loo
“Did you seriously not remember me?" He asked but Eva frowned at him again.“I do and that is because you've been crossing my path constantly and I'm beginning to wonder if you have someone stalking me. Now does that answer your question?" Eva impatiently replied. " I see.” Damien muttered as he released her wrist. "Go.” He shoved her lightly towards Lucas.“Hey-" Eva stumbled at the movement, she was about to turn around and complain when Damien interrupted her.“Remember me well." He commanded. “You can have as many boy toys as you wish, but remember this… .you will always belong to me.” Damien remarks, before Eva could respond to him he stalked off. Despite the fact that Lucas was standing behind her, Eva's gaze was still focused on Damien. How could she not? Damien's long legs carried him down the hallway. He rested a hand in his pocket, revealing the white shirt that clung onto his broad shoulder, outlining his powerful muscles. Not once did he look back, not like he had a rea
The moment Eva stepped out, blinding lights flashed in front of her eyes. Soon enough, Lucas stood directly behind her. And together, they were captured by the paparazzi for everyone to see. Very soon, the entire country would know that Evangeline Carter and Lucas Sander were on a date.Eva froze, it felt like roots grew from the ground, tying and keeping her in place. The lights flashed before her eyes, enough to cause her a seizure.She tried to compose herself but couldn't. Eva just opened and closed her mouth as the paparazzi took pictures one after the other, until her vision turned white.“Miss Carter, look this way!"“Miss Carter, are you and Lucas Sander official?!” "Where have you been all this while, Miss Carter after your failed wedding day?”"Is this a date?”Questions after the other were thrown at Eva. Eva trembled slightly, her breath caught up in her throat and her mind went blank. She couldn't think, much less blink or even react at the moment.Eva felt like she was
“Of course, of course, you'll be the only man my step daughter ever meets.” Laura responded in an assuring tone. “Although, you might have noticed how stubborn and prude she is, but I can assure you that she's not the kind of person to have many men around-” Laura was unable to complete her words when she was interrupted by Lucas."Then why is Damien Cross always seen with her?” Lucas snapped. Laura blinked for a couple of seconds. “I don't-" Lucas hung up the call, before Laura could respond." What the?!” Laura glared at the phone screen.Meanwhile in the car, Lucas let out a huge sigh and slammed his hand on the steering wheel. He scowled at the memories of Eva and Damien. He hated to admit it, but they both looked good together. There was a spark between those two and it was electrifying and the sight of them kept people on their toes. He gritted his teeth together and leaned back on his car seat. “Be patient." Lucas mumbled as he breathed out.Whether she liked it or not, afte
The next morning, Eva woke up after having one of the terrible nightmares about the past. She was quite surprised that she was having a nightmare because for the past few days she hadn't had one which made her believe that she was cured from her terrible dreams.However, she realized that she had hoped too soon because she would always be haunted by the past. Evangeline hoped and wiped the sweats that formed on her forehead and let out a sigh.“This will never end, will it?" She muttered softly to herself, before shoving the blanket off her legs and placed her foot down wearing the white slippers that were placed on the side of the bed. She rose up from the bed and headed straight to the bathroom to shower.After a few minutes, Eva walked out of the bathroom and made a way to the wardrobe and picked out a new set of clothes. It didn't take much time before she was fully dressed in navy blue shorts, a white button hub shirt and a long navy blue blazer jacket that was just a few inches
“Why did you bring me here?” Lucien asked as he glanced at Eva who had brought him towards a room door.“I have something to get from here, so I wanted you to come along before you cause any more trouble with your mother. It's too early for that." Eva replied.“But you've never let me once enter this place so why did you suddenly want me to enter this room along with you?” Lucien questioned. Eva had never once let Lucien enter the room because only she had the keys to the room and the things behind the door were precious to her.The room belong to Shenley when she was still alive, and after she died Eva had kept all of her mother's belongings in this room and only she had the access to the room, not even Matthew had the access to the room because Eva have made the room with a security code and only Eva knew the password."I know that and that is why I am bringing you here.” Eva muttered without looking at Lucien and entered the password to the room and opened the door.“Come in," Eva
“You are never going to come back here, are you?” Lucien suddenly asked, making Eva turn her head at him with a small gentle smile on her face. After a few minutes of just staring at him, she finally opened her mouth.“I'm not sure." She curtly responded while shaking her head.“I wouldn't come back if I were you, not after what happened?” Lucian coldly voices out. Eva giggled at his words. “I came here because of you and what happened was a given, because those two would have come up with another way to make all of this happen.” she replied. She knew for a fact that both Matthew and Laura would come up with another plan just to get her to go on another date with Lucas.“Then, if I'm the only one you came here to visit, don't. I would be the one to come and visit you whenever you wish to see me.” Lucien uttered and you looked away.Eva paused for a few moments taking her aback by surprise at what Lucian said. She hasn't heard him make an offer to visit her for once ever since she mov
She paused, her mind flashing back to the countless fights, the shattered dishes, the cold silences that followed her every rebellion. "But I didn’t let their expectations control me. I chose my path, even when it meant walking away from them entirely." Eva let out a sigh, her gaze still focused outside the window. " I really loved it when I refused them, even though it would earn me being slapped senselessly. I always find pleasure somehow and I took pride in becoming the perfect, graceful black sheep of that damned family.” Belle hung on every word, her eyes wide with admiration and curiosity."But," She continued. “I only did it when I was a grown adult, legal enough to make my own choices. My plan wasn't perfect nor did it work in pleasing my family, but then again, why should I continue to please them when they were never family to me in the first place?" Eva gently moved her gaze back to Belle, leaning forward, "However, as someone who has gone through all that, you should k
"So, Belle," Eva began, pulling a chair close to the bed and sitting down. "Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself? What brought you here to this hospital room?" Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the overflowing flowers and gifts surrounding the small child."I caught a fever a few days ago," Belle replied glumly, her voice quiet. Though it was just a fever, she’d been stuck in this hospital for a week. She felt fine now, but her parents insisted she remain."I'm all better now. Nothing hurts anymore. I just want to go home, but they won’t let me." Belle’s lips turned down in a bitter frown as she recalled how her parents refused her calls and ignored her requests to leave. Deep down, she knew they preferred her absence."Why not?" Eva asked softly, though she already sensed the answer."Because they hate me."Eva’s heart clenched at the words, so full of pain and resignation. She studied the young girl, who stared back with guarded eyes that looked far older than her years.
Once the door shut, the girl turned her head slightly. "You can come out now."Eva pushed the gifts aside and slid out from under the bed. She straightened up, her gaze meeting the child’s lifeless, cold eyes. They lacked the innocent sparkle of youth."Why were those men chasing you? Who are you?" the girl asked, studying Eva intently. Despite her disheveled hair and rumpled gown, there was no mistaking the elegant air that surrounded her.Eva smiled faintly, deciding to test the girl’s intuition when she noticed how she was studying her. ‘Let’s see if you're smart. "Who do you think I am?"The child’s eyes narrowed. "You’re not a simple patient.""Oh? What makes you say that?""This is the VVIP floor, accessible only with a private keycard. Your gown is made of high-quality cotton, reserved for VVIP patients.""Well, I could’ve stolen the keycard and clothes," Eva countered.The girl’s gaze didn’t waver. "Despite your messy appearance, you carry yourself with grace. Your posture, ev
Eva jumped in alarm, spinning around to find a young girl sitting on a hospital bed. The room was filled with vases of flowers, their cloying fragrance filling the air. The child, no older than fourteen or fifteen years old, looked at her with wide, innocent eyes, her long hair framing her delicate face.Eva blinked in surprise, her anger momentarily forgotten as she stared at the young child. Somehow she felt something about this girl resembling a boy she used to know. “Hello.”“What's your name, child?" She asked, just as the footsteps outside became louder.The girl smiled faintly. “You’re running from people.” she said nugging at the door.Eva's brows furrowed. “Yes, I am.”. “Quick! Look for her before Boss gets upstairs!”The sound of the bodyguards’ voices rang in the hallway, getting closer. Panic flooded Eva's chest. She scanned the room frantically, looking for a way out, but the space was small, and the windows were sealed shut.She turned back to the girl, her pulse racing
Eva who was moments away from hitting him with the IV pole again when his pitiful plea caught her attention. “You can tell your boss to rot in hell—” she started, but the man cut her off.“Please, Lady Boss!” he cried, desperation in his voice. “I have a wife, kids, and a family to feed—”Eva's brow twitched at his words. Of course, he definitely wouldn't be a monk like his boss, however, she had a feeling he was saying this to make her feel guilty. “And you have a dog too, I bet?” she quipped sarcastically.His eyes widened in shock. “Y-yes! Exactly! His name is Chase!”She grit her teeth in annoyance, snatching the phone from his shaking hands. “What do you want?” she demanded, her patience wearing thin. She could guess that he was trying to stall time until he got here but she wasn't planning to let him meet her here.The bodyguards flinched in fear. They truly applauded her for her boldness, but they also feared for the poor woman's head! It would really fly if she continued talk
Turning back to the bodyguards, she picked up the IV pole and tested its weight in her hands. It was lighter than she expected, perfect for swift strikes. She had a lot of experience fighting with wooden sticks in her days in the military.Her gaze landed back to the men, a dark scowl on her face.“I’m sure everyone of you all heard the conversation,” she said coolly, her voice steady. “If you value your limbs, step aside.”The men stood their ground, but the unease in their expressions was clear.When reinforcements arrived to block the entrance entirely, Eva's lips curled into a dark smile. They’ve made a mistake.Gripping the pole tightly, her eyes blazing with determination as she scanned the men creating a barrier at the entrance.“Fine, you've all made your choices. Let's see who’s leaving with bruises.”Eva's grip on the metal IV pole tightened as she positioned herself to strike. Her eyes locked on the bodyguards standing in her way, each one ready to brace for her next move
She sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. If they were working for Damien, they wouldn’t stand insults against him. She smirked, deciding to bait them.“Fine. Is it your unbelievably stubborn, hideously jealous, and completely insufferable boss, Damien Cross?”One of the guards instinctively stiffened, muttering, “Our boss is not—” and immediately cut himself off, his face paling. He can't believe he just fell for that trick.“Aha!” Eva said triumphantly. “We have our catch. So it is Damien.”Smirking, she stalked back to her bed, grabbing her phone. She dialed Damien’s number, and unsurprisingly, he answered on the first ring.“Evs, you should be resting—”“Young man, tell your men to step aside,” she interrupted, her tone sharp.Damien frowned when he heard her. Asking him to order his men to step aside meant that she had gotten out of bed!His voice hardened. “What are you doing out of bed? Get back to bed right-”“You’re not the Boss of me. I’m not goi
**********The soft rustle of fabric accompanied the nurse as she finished adjusting Eva's bandages. Moments later, a team of doctors shuffled into the room, meticulously checking her vitals and updating her chart. Their scrutiny felt endless, but Eva's irritation wasn’t aimed at them—it was at the glaring absence of Gabriel.Upon inquiring, she discovered he’d been reassigned and replaced with another doctor, a woman.Her lips twisted in a knowing smile. Damien. Of course, it was him.She sighed at the thought. Gabriel was probably one the best doctors in his department at Solace Hospital. Replacing him with someone else, especially out of jealousy, was as unnecessary as it was predictable. Damien's overprotectiveness knew no bounds, even though her blind date with Gabriel had been a complete dead end.‘Typical overbearing Damien Cross.’After the doctors left, Eva found herself sinking into boredom. The day dragged on, and as the sun set, casting long shadows across the pristine roo
“Who is the person? Is it someone I know?" “No, you don't." Oliver's eyes narrowed. “You said the person is important? Like… a woman?”Damien was surprised by Oliver's question as he turned to look at the boy. She? It suddenly hit Damien at the moment that he probably still had some of Eva's floral feminine scent on him and Oliver's dog nose already smelled it.“It is a woman, right? Why is she at the hospital?” Oliver continues to question.Damien sighed. “Yes.”“Why was she hurt?” “Because she’s clumsy,” Damien replied, his patience wearing thin.Oliver's questions continued unabated until Damien zhot him a sharp glare. “Enough, Oliver. Go back inside. I have work and can't answer all your questions.”“But-" Oliver was about to protest but he couldn't anymore when Damien shot him another glare.“Alright, Big Boss...I'll stop asking questions…" There was no other expression on Oliver's face than the expression that made him look like a neglected child yearning for his mother's lov