Damien stared at her quietly. He still found her beautiful despite the wine poured over her head and the red streaks on her face.“What is it?" Eva questioned, noticing his pressing stare on her.“Let's get you all cleaned up." He said, wrapping his arm around her to guide her towards the bathroom when his gaze landed on Lucien who was glaring at him not in hostility but in a way like he was trying to figure out something from Damien.“No, I just want to return to my home." Eva shook her head and quickly said. She doesn't wish to stay in this suffocating birthday banquet anymore.“I will take you home as soon as you get cleaned up.” Damien reassured her, upon seeing how soft and calm she had become. What happened to the strong, powerful, feisty and stubborn woman he had made a few days ago? Despite thinking that, he quite liked this side of her as well. He didn't have to argue too much with her before she agreed to one simple thing. However, her vulnerable and painful expression seeme
Damien ignored the people's nonstop gossip. Instead, his attention was more focused on the alluring woman in his arm.“Why are you not wearing the necklace that I gave you?” He suddenly inquired. Did she really not like it? He thought it would be a perfect pair of diamond earrings and necklace for her own dress. Eva stared at him with a perplexed expression and her mouth slightly agape. What is this? Why did he care about what she wore? Why is he caring about the kind of condition she was in? She touched her bare neck before looking away. "I told you the last time we met at the restaurant that I planned to return all the gifts you had sent to me and that includes the jewelries as well. “ She quickly replied, ready to step into the bathroom but he suddenly grabbed her wrist.“Hey! What are you doing -""Keep the necklace and the other gifts. I have no use for it. “ He said, his eyes dark with displeasure. Did she really not like the necklace? Was that the reason why she wanted to ret
When Christine raised her head up, she immediately took a step back, her lips parted In shock as if not believing that she was alone with Eva in the bathroom. Seeing this, Eva crossed her arm and raised her brow. Was there a monster behind her? Why was she pretending to be surprised to see her? She knew Christine wasn't deaf nor did she have a hearing problem. Damien had announced that he was going to take her to the bathroom, so Christine should have known that she was already in the bathroom.“Sister," Christine timidly called her, her head slightly tucked to portray a demure and wholesome woman.Eva took notice of the tears and her quivering lips. She didn't need to be told what had happened. As expected, Christine wasn't strong enough to handle the insults of the crowds after Damien had harshly pointed out how distasteful her dress was. She had probably gotten torn apart by the people and once again, the female lead couldn't handle the criticism of her peers .Unlike Eva who used
Eva thought she had finally moved on from this man, but it seemed a little part of her still loves him and that tiny part still gets hurt seeing him showing so much affection he never showed her to Christine. She also deserves to be loved just like Christine.“Y-yes, I'm fine. I-I just tripped over a tissue paper on the ground.” Christine quickly replied and let out a small nervous laugh, but the lie was very obvious. “Are you sure?" Mark worriedly asked again. He beckoned one of the female bodyguards forward in case he wanted her to go and check up Christine.“Yes, so don't worry. “ Christine immediately responded.Eva sighed in her head, she was sure that she would eventually sigh her soul out of her body if she didn't stop sighing. Not able to withstand the sickly, sentimental and painful scene anymore, Eva planned to leave. However, her dress was heavy and was beginning to weigh her down which was starting to piss her off. Speaking of the dress now, Eva already had a slight sneak
“Let me give you a piece of advice. The next time you want to pull out a gun in front of someone to threaten them, I'd recommend you to get the lastest Dan Wesson DWK Pistol. It would do more damage than the useless pistol in your hand, one bullet can take down a bear if you aim properly. Once you get your hand on a weapon like that, then you can think of pointing a gun at me.” Eva remarked, her voice laced with mockery at Mark. She chuckled and brushed past him like a crazy woman.Mark blinked his eyes in shock and surprise when he heard all that Eva had said. He was surprised at the fact of when did she get so skilled at wielding a knife and now he couldn't help but wonder when she became knowledgeable in guns as well? Just who the hell was this woman who had walked past him. “Stop, where did you think you're heading?" Mark stretched his hand out with the intention to roughly grab Eva, but he was met with an arrogant expression plastered on her face.How is this possible? How come
His eyes trailed towards Eva who was secured in his arms, the jackets served as a clear warning as to whose protection she was under. He stared at her snow white skin. The more he looked at her, the more he felt the urge to end her on the spot. How dare she strut her way back into his life and tried to ruin the relationship he was trying to build with Damien? This wentch was good at nothing but ruining lives! She was bug he couldn't get rid off!Upon noticing a hard stare on her, Eva raised her head up and saw the hateful glares from Mark. She creased her brows and fiercely glared back at him.In the midst of the glaring competition between Mark and Eva, a soft, doubtful voice was enough to cut off the tick and dark tension.“M-mark…….?” Christine gently called, her voice barely above a whisper. She stood by the doorway of the bathroom, nervously holding her dress. Her eyes instantly darted between the face off between Mark who was among the list of the country's powerful men and the
His boss may be overly demanding, but he paid his workers really well. “First, he made a ridiculous order for a dress. Now he wants information about someone tomorrow morning.” Shane grumbled putting his robe back on. He gingerly grabbed his laptop and debated on the idea of tossing it out of the window.After a few minutes of internally arguing with himself, Shane let out a sigh and finally turned on his laptop. While he pitied himself all night long, he had no idea that his fiance had long fallen asleep whilst she was waiting for him. Originally she wanted to have some fun with her fiance but he had taken an entire hour to get ready and she was waiting for him patiently she dozed off within the hour he took to prep his body. Regardless, if Damien had sent him the text or not , Shane wouldn't have gotten any steamy action tonight.Back at the banquet, the people were actually stunned at the scene that unfolded before them. They were shocked at the sudden appearance of Damien Cross w
Originally, he had planned to marry Christine to Mark but it was also at the moment Eva arrived back so he decided to arrange for her and Mark together. Matthew was about to lose it when Eva was blacklisted by Mark who had called off the wedding between him and Eva on the wedding day. But later hearing that Mark had chosen Christian, Matthew was the first to abandon his eldest daughter in front of many people, he deemed her as a useless and unfilial daughter who was doomed to bring bad luck into his family like her mother.As a very old-traditional man, Matthew believed women shouldn't work in fields that were previously dominated by men. Daughters were supposed to learn the art and not to trade of business. However he made an exception for Eva because he only saw her as a tool to elevate his family so he kept pushing her into the harsh world while protecting Christine from witnessing such cruelty. While Eva had lost her father's grace, Christine basked in it. She was a graceful flow
--- After the Fitting As Eva stepped off the platform, Gwen handed her a bottle of water. “You handled that beautifully.” Eva took a sip and smirked. “Christine’s getting predictable.” Trix rolled her eyes. “What’s next? Tripping you on the runway?” Eva chuckled. “If she does, I’ll be ready for that too.” Christine might have thought she could sabotage Eva with clumsy tricks, but Eva wasn’t easily shaken. When they got to her room, Eva sighed in relief as she kicked off her heels, rolling her ankles to ease the tension. “What’s my schedule looking like today, Trix?” she asked, rubbing her temples. Trix scrolled through her tablet, barely glancing up. “You have a photoshoot with Victoria this afternoon after you wrap up here.” Eva groaned, sinking into the plush chair. “Can’t we reschedule? At this point, I can’t tell if she’s just dedicated to her work or if she’s obsessed with overworking me to death.” Gwen chuckled, settling onto the couch beside her. “She’s taken a real l
The fashion house hosting the campaign had scheduled a fitting session for all the models. The room buzzed with activity as assistants, designers, and stylists adjusted gowns and accessories. Eva arrived, poised and confident, dressed in a sleek black dress. Gwen and Trix trailed behind her, chatting about the campaign’s recent success. Christine was already there, surrounded by a few stylists, her laughter deliberately exaggerated as she chatted with a designer. Eva ignored her and focused on her fitting. A stylist handed her an elegant white gown, its fabric shimmering under the lights. It was one of the most anticipated pieces of the campaign, and Eva knew this photoshoot would be critical. As she stepped onto the fitting platform, Christine made her move. A designer approached Eva with a clipboard, giving her details about the shoot. Christine, pretending to walk past, "accidentally" tilted a cup of coffee in Eva’s direction. Time seemed to slow. The dark liquid splashed on
Christine arrived at the elegant restaurant exactly on time, her usual sweet smile in place. Despite her outward composure, she couldn’t deny the slight unease settling in her stomach. Victoria had announced Eva as her chosen model two days ago, yet here she was, inviting Christine for lunch. It didn’t make sense. Christine had had done everything in her power to sway Victoria against Eva, planting doubts, twisting the truth, and playing the concerned friend. But it had failed. Eva hadstill won. So why am was. she here? Pushing aside her skepticism, Christine decided to play along. If Victoria wanted to meet, she would act as if nothing was wrong. “Victoria,” she greeted warmly as she reached the table. “It’s so good to see you. I was surprised by your invitation.” Victoria, sitting across from her, barely reacted. Her expression was unreadable, her fingers lightly tapping against her wine glass. Christine took a seat gracefully, keeping her smile in place. “I have to say, you
-- As soon as the meeting ended, Christine marched straight toward Eva, her heels clicking against the marble floor. “Sister,” she greeted with a bright, almost saccharine smile. “What you did back there was so impressive.” Eva remained expressionless, her arms crossed as she stared Christine down. Christine’s smile didn’t falter. “I didn’t realize you had such a creative spark. Tell me, when exactly did you see my idea and decide to… improve upon it? Did you happen to glance at it while I was working?” Her voice was sweet, but the accusation was unmistakable. Before Eva could respond, Trix stepped forward, her sharp gaze locked on Christine. “What exactly are you trying to imply, Christine?” Trix asked coldly. Christine feigned innocence, tilting her head. “Oh, nothing serious. I was just wondering how my idea—one I spent so much time refining—was suddenly overlooked in favor of something… so similar.” She cast Eva a knowing smirk. Eva arched an unimpressed eyebrow. “You mea
The collaborative campaign was one of the biggest projects of the season, featuring elite models, renowned designers, and a top creative team. Eva had spent days preparing for the brainstorming session, refining unique ideas that would make the campaign stand out. However, Christine had no intention of letting Eva shine. This time, she planned to steal the spotlight—by stealing Eva’s ideas. It's been a week after Victoria's incident and just like Tanya had advised her, Christine had piped down. However, it seems her patience is finally going to pay off now that she has seen an opportunity to use. --- The atmosphere in the conference room buzzed with anticipation. Top executives, marketing directors, and creative leads gathered, ready to hear proposals for the campaign’s direction. Eva had spent the past week crafting a concept that was both elegant and modern, something that would redefine high-fashion advertising. She sat at the table, confident but cautious. Christine was
Eva sighed, but she maintained her composure. “That’s not true,” she said firmly. “I have nothing but respect for your designs and what you’ve achieved in this industry.”Victoria raised an eyebrow. “And you expect me to take your word over hers?”Eva met her gaze, unflinching. “Yes. But I also believe actions speak louder than words. Let me prove my sincerity by working with you on something that reflects your vision entirely.”Victoria’s expression softened slightly. “So you’re proposing a collaboration—on my terms?”Eva nodded. “I want to respect your artistry, not overshadow it. Whatever you need, I’m here to deliver.”Victoria hummed thoughtfully, tapping her fingers against the table.Eva arched her brow. “What? You think I’m lying?”“No, I can tell you’re being sincere.” Victoria leaned back, crossing her arms. “I was just wondering how you managed to be such a bitch last night, and now here you are, offering me a deal. It’s like you’re two completely different people. My frien
After the dinner, Eva sat in her dressing room, her expression calm but her mind sharp with suspicion. Gwen and Trix stood nearby, sensing the shift in her mood.“Something’s off,” Eva finally said, leaning back on the couch. “Victoria was completely different tonight. I’m sure Christine is behind this.”Trix frowned, scrolling through her tablet. “Wouldn’t be the first time. Christine’s tricks are anything but subtle.”“She must have fed Victoria something damaging,” Gwen added. “Victoria isn’t the type to act on baseless rumors unless she was nudged in the right direction.”Eva scoffed. “I expected Victoria to be more rational than to fall for empty gossip.”“Well, think about it,” Gwen countered, crossing her arms. “Victoria has never met you before. If she treated you that way tonight, then someone must’ve gotten to her first. And given the way you reacted, it only reinforced whatever she was told.”Eva arched a brow. “What? You wanted me to play nice and kiss up to her? If she wa
Two days after Christine’s meeting with Victoria, the pre-collaboration dinner finally arrived.Victoria moved through the room with an air of grace, greeting the models with warm professionalism. Even Christine received a polite smile, which only fueled her satisfaction—Victoria had clearly taken the bait.“It looks like she believed everything you told her,” Tanya murmured under her breath as she stood beside Christine, observing Victoria’s interactions.Christine smirked, keeping her expression composed. “Patience. She may have bitten, but we need to see how deep the hook is.” Her gaze swept the room, searching for Eva. She had expected her sister to make an entrance by now, yet there was no sign of her.“Where is Evangeline?” Christine’s voice carried a hint of irritation.“That evil woman is over there,” Tanya scoffed, tilting her head toward the center of the room.Christine followed her line of sight and found Eva effortlessly commanding attention. She was surrounded by a group
The buzz of an elite designer collaboration filled the industry. Working with the renowned designer Victoria Byrd wasn’t just a career milestone; it was a privilege. Known for her impeccable artistry and influence, Victoria's approval could make or break a model's reputation.For Eva, the collaboration was an exciting opportunity, not that she needed it for any particular reason. She just wanted to get her hands on the opportunity so that Christine doesn't. Moreso, Victoria admired professionalism and authenticity, two traits Eva embodied. However, Christine saw it as yet another chance to undermine Eva.“Tanya, get me an appointment with Victoria Byrd,” Christine ordered as she set her phone down with a decisive click.Tanya blinked in surprise before furrowing her brows. “Victoria Byrd? Why do you suddenly want to meet with her?”Christine let out a scoff, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. “What do you think? To put my plan into motion, of course. I’m not about to let this gol