“Just my presence in one event is the one causing all this chaos. How much influence I have in this industry.” Eva muttered, completely proud of herself for what was going on.She grabbed her new cellphone that Damien had bought and given to her a day before the fashion show. She dialed a particular number and after the third ring the phone connected.“Hello." Eva was the one to speak first.“Miss Carter, it's been a very long time since I heard your voice. How are you doing, ma?" A male voice spoke through the phone." I'm very much fine as you already know.” Eva replied, indicating the news about her." Haha, you're as straightforward as ever. I wonder why you're suddenly calling me?” The man laughed upon the way Eva replied to him. He had known this woman for five years and even though they hadn't spoken in a while she was the same as ever. “Aren't you hungry for some stories? I'm sure you're already planning to call me even before I do. Isn't that right, Mr. Cox?” Eva dryly spoke
Meanwhile, at the Carter mansion.In the living room, Laura could be seen sitting on the couch and hugging her daughter Christine and consoling her while Mark sat beside Christine and slowly patted her back as well.Ever since the footage of Christine being at the hospital had been released, reporters from different broadcasting and news stations had started to flood the hospital. Left with no other choice, Mark had the doctors discharge Christine out of the hospital and thanks to his strong and security team, they were able to use.the garage of the hospital to leave the premises. On their way, Christine had told him to head to her family home instead of his mansion, so he had no choice other than to bring here to meet her mother.“Christine, you should have let Mark drive you home instead of bringing you here. You know how everything is in chaos now and Mark can protect you from the media better than you being here.” Matthew, who was sitting on another couch said as he looked at his
Taken aback by the new interrupting voice, everyone turned their attention towards the door and saw Lucien standing by the entrance with one hand tucked in his uniform pants and bag slung over one of his shoulders. He had a completely cold expression on his face as he stared at everyone in the living room. A few moments earlier when the four people were still engrossed in consoling Christine. They had failed to notice the new sound of a car driving in which was none other than Lucien's car. The moment he stepped out of the car and saw a familiar looking car parked outside the compound, he had a disgusted expression on his face. He didn't need to be told who the car belonged to and the owner was the last person he wished to see. “Now I understand why those suspicious looking cars were parked outside." He mumbled to himself, remembering the reporter's van he had caught sight of on his way to the mansion. They would have flooded out the mansion gate by now but because of the hefty l
“You don't deserve to say her name from your mouth, Mark Johnson. And for you Christine, I never see you as a sister other than a person I share the same blood with. You all can keep deceiving yourselves and putting the blame of your misfortune on my sister." Lucien coldly remarked as he made his way to the staircase. “How dare you, Lucien Carter! Do you know the person you are speaking to? Where are you god-damned manners?!" Matthew uncontrollably yelled furiously at Lucien who just reached the staircase. “Christine is your sister and not that wrench you call a sister. Where have I gone with training you and that stupid, useless, good-for-nothing sister of yours?!” He continued to rant angrily. “I guess I don't have one, because I never thought of one. And you've gone wrong in many places, father. If only you showed just ten percent of the attention you gave to Christine, my sister wouldn't be a demon that is out for your blood. You made her what she is, so it's your turn to em
“I came here thinking I can have a conversation with you but I won't stand you insolent brat insulting me. I'm your sister no matter how you try to pick that bitch over me." Christine muttered, her eyes flashing with anger. She was now a completely different Christine that everyone knew her to be. “Haha, so you finally decided to show your real self, huh? I knew you were just hiding behind your facade all along." Lucien let out a dry chuckle as he turned his head to look at Christine. Because Christine had manicured fingernails, her nails had scratched Lucien's face when she slapped him and blood dripped down the wound. “Get out of my room, Christine Carter." Lucien said in an extreme cold voice as he glared at Christine. The temperature in the room instantly dropped and Christine couldn't help but tremble at the cold gaze in Lucien's eyes. She slowly stood up from the bed and looked at Lucien completely stunned by his change in demeanor. “W-why are you being l-like this?" She
Eva who was still sitting in the living room and watching the news that Spectrum Broadcasting company had released couldn't help but commend Mr. Cox for his dutiful work. However, just as she was celebrating her time, her phone began to ring and it was none other than her father. Already knowing that he was calling because of the news, she decided to pick the call this time and hear what he had to say. “You crazy insolent-" " Come on, let's be civilized here. You don't have to scream like that since I can hear you perfectly. How about you tell me what you're calling me for?” Eva quickly interrupted Matthew before he could speak. Everyone on the other hand were shocked by how calm and collected she was, including Mark who was listening to her familiar enticing voice. He couldn't help but think she was really crazy. Eva was unaware that Christine and Mark were present, she was just having a good time annoying her father. “Are you the one behind the news that the Spectrum B
“Oh, really? I didn't notice your presence….” Eva trailed off and glanced at her cellphone to check the time and saw that it was still then he normally comes home. " It's early. Why are you at home so early?” She raised her head back to look at him. “I had less work to do." He replied gently before walking over and sat down beside Eva. “Less work?" Eva repeatedly, raising a suspicious brow at him. For a business tycoon like him to have less work to do. Who is he fooling? Plus why did he have that big suitcase if he had less work to do. “My wife seems to have a great day today, doesn't it?" Damien suddenly commented, looking at Eva. " I guess….I did." Eva quickly looked away from him. She knew that he was talking about all the chaos she had caused on the internet today. Damien was stupid to know that she was behind the information that was released by Spectrum Broadcasting company. “Since you're home early, let me help you with your bag." She quickly sprung up from the couch an
Eva hadn't utter a word ever since they had gotten to the hospital and Shenley was rushed inside. She had noticed the weak smile on her mother's face as she was rushed to the emergency room. For some reason Eva felt like that was the last time she'd ever see her mom smile but casted that thought aside and just quietly waited for the doctor to prove her wrong that her mom was fine. A few minutes later, the light in the emergency room switched off and doctors walked out of the room with a drained and gloomy expression on their face. “Doctor, what is going on? How is my Madam?" The nanny quickly stood up from her seat and approached the doctor. Eva didn't pay attention to the doctor and her nanny and just stood up from her seat and walked inside the room. She saw her mother lying on the bed, the nurse had yet to cover her cold dead body. “Mommy?" Eva slowly called but got no response from Shenley. She walked closer to the bed and reached to hold her mother's hand. Eva blinked when
His scowl deepened, and for a moment, she thought he might explode. But instead, he bit back whatever retort had been on the tip of his tongue. He knew that pushing her further would only backfire.“I understand you hate hospitals,” he said after a long pause, his voice gentler. “But staying here and resting is for your own good. You’re too stubborn to take care of yourself, so I have to do it for you.”Did he view her as a child? Why was he so persistent in keeping her here? She could recuperate somewhere else with a personal doctor — anything was fine, as long as it wasn't this chemical-filled location brimming with painful memories.Eva’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t need your intervention.”His eyes narrowed, his irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “Don’t be stubborn—”“You’re a hypocrite,” she shot back before she could stop herself. Well, to some extent, she was hypocritical."Ehm, ehm……you demand me to not be stubborn, but here you are again, also being st
Eva felt her heart ache at the tone of Damien's voice, so small and fragile, like that of a lost child. Her chest tightened with guilt for having pushed him to this point. Her logical mind chastised her for taking things too far, while her heart yearned to soothe and comfort him.“Will you do it again?” she asked softly, her fingers tracing gentle circles over his rough, calloused hands.Immediately, his hand shifted to clasp hers tightly, intertwining their fingers in a firm yet comforting grip. Her heart skipped a beat at the gesture, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips.“I can’t promise you a definite no,” he admitted, his deep voice muffled as he rested his head on her shoulder. He breathed her in—the intoxicating, calming scent of jasmine filling his senses and clouding his mind. “But I will try my hardest to be lenient.”She paused, unsure how to respond. Sensing her silence, Damien tightened his hold on her fingers, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.“Are you sti
Eva’s heart pounded as she searched for a way to diffuse his anger. She knew that escalating this tension would only make things worse. Desperate, she decided to play a different card—a gamble.“Tell me, how would you like to handle the consequences? Perhaps I should start with—" He was interrupted when she abruptly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. The suddenness of her action made him freeze in place.“What are you doing?" He blinked. "Damien," she murmured softly, her voice sweet and soothing. She pressed her face against his chest, rubbing her cheek against the silk of his shirt.His body stiffened, his clenched fists trembling at his sides. "This won't work," he said, though his voice had lost its sharp edge."I'm cold," she whispered, her words muffled against his chest."Eva," he warned, but his tone lacked conviction."Won’t you hug me?" She tilted her head up, gazing at him with wide, pleading eyes and a slight pout on her lips. Her heart ski
After bidding Belle goodbye and promising her one last time that she would return tomorrow, Eva walked down the hospital halls with a spring in her step. A soft hum escaped her lips, her arms filled with snacks Belle had insisted she take. The little girl had brightened her day and made her feel less alone in the dreariness of the hospital."You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you sayI'm talking loud, not saying muchI'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochetShoot me down, but I get up," Eva softly sang, her favorite song playing in her mind as she strolled back to her room. She smiled, wondering if her friend Nathalie would enjoy the snacks she was carrying.“I'm bulletproof, nothing to loseFire away, fire awayRicochet, you take your aimFire away, fire awayShe was in such a good mood that she even gently danced along the hallway to her. “You shoot me down, but I won't fallI am titanium………..”“You shoot me down, but I won't fallI am titanium” a low voice suddenly com
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