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
The next morning, Eva woke up feeling refreshed. She recalled what had happened last night and how Damien had stayed by her side. Standing up on the bed and taking a look out of the window, although the sky is a bit clear, the wind is very cold. With a thought suddenly popping into her mind, Eva quickly dashed into the bathroom and took her bath. She quickly changed into casual outfits and rushed to the second floor where the kitchen was. The head chef was surprised to see Eva in the kitchen so early when they were preparing breakfast. Eva told the Head chef that she would like to prepare something for Damien. A few minutes later, Damien raised a brow when he saw Eva sitting on a seat in the dining room when he entered. Now he knew where this woman was because he was unable to find her in the room. “You're here. Sit down." Eva turned to look at Damien who was dressed in his usual three-piece black suit, his dark hair neatly styled. Sometimes, she wondered how he never fails to
The sound of glass shattering echoed through the luxurious hotel suite as Christine hurled a vase across the room. Her chest heaved with rage, her nails digging into her palms as she glared at the headlines flashing on her phone screen. Her latest scheme to ruin Eva’s reputation had backfired, and instead of dragging her sister through the mud, she had only strengthened Eva’s position. Every carefully placed trap had been countered, every lie had been exposed. Christine had never felt so powerless. Sitting on the couch, Tanya crossed her legs and sighed, watching Christine throw another decorative piece to the floor. She had been working with Christine for years now, and while she had always known that Christine despised Eva, it was becoming clear that this wasn’t just about competition anymore. ‘It was an obsession’ she thought. Tanya remained silent as Christine raged, knowing full well that any attempt to calm her down would only make things worse. Instead, she waited for the
— That evening, Eva arrived at the mansion, feeling a strange sense of relief as she stepped inside. After staying in a hotel for so long, returning here felt like coming home—not just because of the place but because of who was waiting for her. She slipped off her heels and sighed, stretching her sore muscles. Just as she was about to call out, a deep, familiar voice came from the living room. “Took you long enough.” She turned and found Damien leaning against the doorway, watching her with that quiet intensity that always made her heart skip a beat. His sleeves were rolled up, his tie loosened, and despite the exhaustion she knew he must have felt from his long day, there was a softness in his gaze reserved only for her. A slow smile spread across her lips. “Miss me?” she teased, walking toward him. Instead of answering, Damien reached out and gently pulled her into his arms. His embrace was warm, steady—like an anchor. Eva let out a soft breath as she melted into his hold, re
—-- Meanwhile, at Cross Enterprise, Damien was already aware of the situation. Sitting in his office, he scanned the online articles, his expression darkening. Christine had dared to attack Eva through the media, hoping to cause irreparable damage. Big mistake. Damien didn’t tolerate anyone trying to harm what was his. Without hesitation, he placed the tablet down and looked at Eric. “Tell the PR team to shut it down,” he ordered. “And make sure every major outlet retracts the story and destroys whatever companies are involved in this scandal.” Eric frowned slightly when he heard his boss. Again he was trying to protect Eva all again. However, he couldn’t voice out his displeasure so he quietly nodded his head. “Yes, sir.” Within an hour, the suspicious articles started disappearing. Gossip blogs that had been flooded with scandalous headlines were suddenly quiet. Comments under posts were being flooded with contradictions. The narrative was crumbling before Christine’s eyes.
For the past few days, Christine had kept a low profile, following Tanya’s advice to wait for the right opportunity. Her previous schemes had failed miserably—each attempt to sabotage Eva had only backfired, making Eva look even more poised and untouchable. But Christine wasn’t the type to accept defeat.If she couldn’t surpass Eva professionally, then she would tear her down personally.Her mother, Laura, had been the one to plant the idea in her mind. "If you can’t win on the battlefield they’ve chosen," Laura had told her, "then change the game. Make them play on your terms."And that was exactly what Christine intended to do. This time, she wouldn’t just aim for petty sabotage—she was going to destroy Eva’s reputation completely.…………Early in the morning, Eva’s phone buzzed non-stop.Gossip sites, entertainment blogs, and even major media outlets were exploding with headlines:"Supermodel Eva Caught in Scandalous Affair with HB Industry CEO!""Is Eva Using Her Influence to Secure
Meanwhile, Eric, who had been silently watching the interaction, let out a small scoff. “So this is what I wasted my time for?” he muttered under his breath.Gwen immediately shot him a glare. “Excuse me?”Eric smirked slightly, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You barged in here like it was urgent, but all you’re doing is dragging her out for a photoshoot?”“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Gwen said mockingly. “I forgot you were Mr.Cross's bodyguard and not his secretary. If it bothers you so much, maybe you should have stayed outside instead of following me in.” she said, though she knew that he was Damien's secretary but still said that to irk him.Eric chuckled darkly.’This crazy human being.’ “Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if someone didn’t insist I help her get past the receptionist.”“I did not beg—” Gwen started before cutting herself off, clenching her fists. “You know what? Forget it. I don’t have time to argue with an overgrown ice cube.”Eva, who had been watching the entire exch
Eva leaned back against the couch, patting her stomach in satisfaction. "I have to say, I really outdid myself picking that restaurant," she mused.Damien, who was already sitting behind his desk, raised a brow. “You outdid yourself? All you did was order the food. I don’t remember you being the one who actually cooked it.”Eva scoffed, sitting up straighter. “Excuse you, do you know how much effort it took to pick the best dishes from that menu?”Damien smirked. “Oh, I’m sure scrolling through a menu and pointing at things was exhausting.”Eva gasped, placing a hand over her chest dramatically. “Wow, Damien. I put all this effort into making sure my husband doesn’t starve, and this is the appreciation I get?”Damien let out a chuckle, the warmth in his gaze betraying his otherwise teasing expression. “Your husband could have easily ordered lunch himself, you know.”Eva narrowed her eyes. “Really? Because from the looks of it, you were buried under so many files that you probably woul
Gwen strode into Cross Enterprise’s grand lobby, her heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor. She just got back from where she had told Eva she was going and had tried calling Eva multiple times, but as expected, Eva was too busy flirting or whatever she was doing with Damien to answer her phone.Glancing at the time, Gwen muttered under her breath. “If she doesn’t come out now, Victoria’s going to have my head.”With no other choice, she let out an exasperated sigh, and approached the receptionist’s desk.“I’m here to see Mr. Cross,” she said, adjusting the strap of her handbag. “Let me through to the top floor.”The receptionist, a young woman with perfectly styled hair and an unbothered expression, simply smiled. “I’m sorry, miss, but you don’t have an appointment. I can’t let you in.”Gwen blinked, momentarily taken aback. “What?”The receptionist gave her a polite but firm look. “Without an appointment, I can’t let you through. Company policy.”Gwen narrowed her
As Damien led her to the couch, Eva suddenly halted, making him turn with a questioning brow.“You know,” she mused, tilting her head with mock seriousness, “before you interrupted me, I was actually offering a very expensive consultation service.”Damien crossed his arms, amusement twinkling in his dark eyes. “Oh?”Eva nodded, tapping her chin as if in deep thought. “Yes, I used to charge companies millions for my insights. So technically… you owe me.”Damien let out a low chuckle, stepping closer. “Let me get this straight,” he said, his voice rich with teasing authority. “You walked into my office, sat in my chair, went through my documents without permission—and now you’re asking me to pay you?”Eva grinned. “That’s business, Mr. Cross. Nothing is free.”Damien smirked. “And what if I refuse to pay?”Eva pretended to think, then shrugged. “Then I guess I’ll take my brilliant mind elsewhere.”Damien’s eyes darkened slightly, but he played along. “That would be a shame. Tell me, Mrs
Minutes passed, and Eva quickly grew bored.She had been in Damien’s office many times, but she still found herself looking around. It was immaculate and organized, but it lacked anything personal. Nothing in this room screamed Damien—except for the towering stacks of documents and reports on his desk.Her eyes narrowed as she walked over, running her fingers lightly over the ridiculous amount of paperwork.“No wonder he barely has time to eat.” She muttered, shaking her head.The sight of his overwhelming workload triggered a familiar ache in her chest. She remembered her past—being buried in work, managing her father’s company alongside Mark. She had spent countless nights drowning in documents, starving herself to meet deadlines, and yet… no one had cared. Neither her father nor Mark had ever asked if she had eaten.Her fingers clenched slightly against the papers.She had left that life behind, yet here Damien was, doing the same thing to himself.Determined to help him, Eva sat i