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
Eva frowned at his words. Her eyebrows came together in confusion, forming creases between it. "Why can’t you tell me over the phone—" "No." Lawrence cut her off before she could complete her words."But—""You will know when you get here." He told her. Her frown deepened when she heard him. Now she was getting suspicious of what he wanted to tell her. She had a feeling she wouldn't like it.“Wipe that frown off your face and come here quickly.x Lawrence commented again, already knowing that Eva was frowning."You think I should when you won't give me a tip of what you want to tell me?” Eva asked, her voice laced with a bit of sarcasm."I will be waiting for you." Lawrence ignored her and hung up the call before she could argue about not coming again. “Tsk. Sly old man!” Eva clicked her tongue. She would have refused coming but he wouldn't even give her a chance to refuse.Left with no other choice, she walked to the walk-in closet to change into something else. Since she was going
The three men could tell that she was grumpy because Lawrence had dragged her here without telling her what she was here to do. “Young Eva, you’ve become very lazy." Dylan commented. “I agree with you Brother Dylan. And I wouldn't mind you lending me a hand over here as well since you seem less busy." Eva shamelessly agreed with Dylan who chuckled at her. “It's your work to do, not mine." He replied with a smile still on his face. She ignored Dylan who was obviously making fun of her and flipped through the reports, grabbing the pen on the table as she began to thoroughly scan the pages. She marked the paper whenever she noticed any errors and wrote tiny notes all over the reports. After what felt like a long time, she placed her pen down and let out a tired sigh. Today’s reports were boring as usual. Even though there weren't a lot of glaring errors, she was still diligently focused on them. She pried through every number and sentence to make sure nothing was amiss. “I'm done.
Eva flinched as if expecting him to hit her, but he surprised her by gently patting the top of her head. He used to pat her head when she was still a child clinging onto his leg anytime he visited. She had always had eyes for big men who have out terrifying aura ever since she was a kid and that was why Lawrence liked her because of how fearless she was. His expression became gentle and the glacier within his eyes melted. His cool facade was dropped to reveal a doting grandfather he was. “My dear, Eva." His voice was ripe with old age, reminding her that he wasn’t as powerful as she thought he was. He knew she hated it, but he needed to expose her back to these banquets. She can’t stay as his consultant forever. She would need to network and build connections within the business world. He was not her biological grandfather but he knew these were the things his friend would do if he was alive so he was trying to do better. "Be a good girl and attend the banquet." He affectionately pa
" Are you stupid, Dylan? We are supposed to convince her to work in the company and not tell her she belongs on the runway.” Lawrence snapped at Dylan. “I was only complimenting her and giving her courage." Dylan tried to defend himself. “What stupid courage is that!" Lawrence replied and glared at Dylan. " And you, who told you I'd admit something outrageous as that? You're just going to expose yourself to their criticism again.” He turned to look at her. Eva smiled because she knew that Lawrence was worried that she'd get hurt by the harsh criticism from people again. However, if she didn't do it there is no way she'd get back to get feet. “You have nothing to worry about, grandpa. I have to finish what I started. Even if I'm a model again, I can still be a part-time consultant for you if you need my help." Eva smiled at Lawrence. " My time is up. I will see you another time again, grandpa.” She added, grabbing her purse and standing up from the couch. “There is still five mi
“Anyways, I called normally to tell you that my lawyer has handled everything for Olivia. Though her contract with BTG Industry has already been terminated.” Nathalia finally reported what she had called Eva for after insulting Damien to her heart's content.“Olivia already called and told me. She was the person I was speaking to earlier before you called." Eva also told Nathalia.“So what's your next move?" She suddenly asked Eva who paused for a while as she glanced at the school entrance and saw students pouring out of the school.“Where is that sound coming from?" Nathalia asked when she heard the loud noise in the background.“I'm outside Lucien's school to pick him up." A response came from Eva who still had her gaze locked at the entrance.“What a filial sister you are. I wish you'd come and pick me up from work just like the way you do for Lucien." Nathalia remarked while pouting her face. She didn't have any work to do today since she had taken a day off, so she was just lazi
“Just how long do you plan to sleep and keep me waiting for you?" Eva suddenly remarked in a questioning voice as she crossed one leg over the other and rested her chin on the table. Lucien, who had been pretending to not hear his friends that were telling him to go home, raised his head up instantly when he heard Eva's voice. His eyes widened when he saw Eva sitting in front of him. “Y-you…..” he stammered while looking at Eva's face. A smirk appeared on her face as she raised her head up from the table and looked at him. "Yes, it's me.” She nodded her head but a small appeared on her face as she glanced at the black facemask he was wearing and the hoodie sweater as well. She gets that autumn is here and the wind might be cold, but why does he wear a facemask? “What are you here, sister?" He asked and some of the students opened their mouths in surprise. Who knew Lucien had a beautiful sister like this one. “Obviously, big sister came here for you. However, you kept me waiting ou
"If you are not going to tell me what happened, don't interrupt what I'm going to do." She added turning back to look at the road.“Even if you knew, what would you do?" Lucien suddenly asked, noticing how the grip around the wheel was harder than normal.“What should be done shouldn't be your worry as long as someone dared to touch you. Was it our father or Laura that did it?" Eva replied, still looking at the road."No. It was Christine.” Lucien finally revealed, making Eva turn her head instantly."Christine? When did this happen?" She inquired, surprised to hear that Christine dared to hurt Lucien.“Yesterday, after what happened at the fashion show. She came home with that pea head to get some sympathy from our parents." Lucien gave a short briefing and explanation that contained all the things that happened yesterday. After what happened with Christine, he hadn't come downstairs to eat and asked the maid to prepare some snacks to eat later when he was hungry.“Christine, huh? Sh
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