“What difference does it make? I can already guess what you want from a man like that even if I don't know what he wants from you." He replied. " Ah, I sometimes forget that I trained you, Lucien. You can read your sister's mind which I'm very proud of.” Eva flashed him a smile but he only rolled his eyes at her. Lucien's skepticism towards Eva's relationship stemmed from his concern for her well-being. He wanted his sister to find genuine love and happiness, not a transactional arrangement driven by mutual interests. Lucien couldn't help but worry that Eva might be getting herself into a complicated and potentially dangerous situation with Damien Cross, a man known as a heartless man who lacks human emotions. However, he hoped for too much. “I know what you're thinking, boy." Eva interrupted his train of thought as she tapped his cheeks with her finger. “ Damien is a lot better and different from Mark in many ways. Unlike Mark, who was selfish and emotionally distant, Damien is s
"Awwn.... this is the first time you've hugged me in a very long time.” Eva remarked in a teasing tone. "Then you should be glad that I am." Lucien retorted and pulled away from the embrace. “I am. By the way, I have a special gift and surprise for you after you graduate from high school. So you have to do everything to make sure you graduate from high school with good grades.” Eva suddenly revealed. "Gift? What is it?” Lucien asked with a frown on his face. " Ouch!” He yelped and rubbed his forehead while glaring at Eva. “What is that for?" He asked again. " What is the point of calling it a surprise if I tell you now? Do you want me to flick your head again so that you can understand better?" Eva also glared back at Lucien. Lucien reflectively shifted backwards when he heard his sister's words. " No thanks. I understand now and will patiently wait for the surprise when I graduate.” He replied while shaking his head at her offer. “Good, now get out of my car before I kick you
"Didn't Dan also tell you that Lucien is with you? What's my concern if your mistress is worried? Besides, why should I tell you when I want to visit my younger brother?” Again she replied back with a question of her own. “Laura is Lucien's mother so she had every right to be worried about him. And he came back home with a treated wound on his face. What did you do to him?” Matthew remarked. As expected no one had noticed the wound on Lucien's face before he left home this morning because they all had their head stuck in their ass. "Did you hear how I addressed Lucien? He is my younger brother and I have every right to visit him. As for if Laura is his mother or not I don't give a shit about. She is Lucien's mother and I'm his older sister.” Eva calmly and casually replied. “Then what happened to his face?” He questioned again. "Why don't you ask his mother, since she is a good mother who was worried about her son's safety.” Eva coldly replied, not wanting to explain anything
“I know already. And you need to stop daxing off like that. What if someone else comes in and sees you letting your guards down?" Damien finally spoke, a small frown on his face. This wife of his has a lot of problems and habits she needs to fix.“Hehe, who else would come in apart from my husband which is you. I'm safe as long as I'm in the mansion." Eva nonchalantly replied.Damien just stared at this clueless woman. Even though his mansion has a top and tight security, that doesn't mean his enemies still don't try to breach it and there are countless times spies and assassins were caught in his mansion. Most of them even disguised themselves as his workers here.“I heard you used to refuse to let the bodyguards follow you when you go out?" Damien suddenly asked.“Yes, it makes me uncomfortable." She nodded her head.“But it's for protection. Besides, you're married to me and it would be easy for those after me to attack you if you don't have protection around you." He told her. He
****The next day******* Eva parked her car a few distance from a building as she stared at the reporters that had crowded outside the entrance. She picked up her phone and called Nathalia. “Nathy, where are you?" She asked. “Hehe, I'm outside our famous company and I can see your car. I never knew these ants would crowd the entrance like this.” Nathalia's playful voice rang out. It was obvious that she was really enjoying this show which made Eva roll her eyes at her. Eva raised her brow and looked in front of her and saw a dark gray BMW i8 parked on the other line very close to the building. “They are not here because they know I'm coming, right?" Eva inquired. It would be a boomer to her plan if all those reporters got a tip that she was coming. “Of course not, they are all here to see our uprising Christine Carter. Those fools are only here to hear some story to fabricate and earn money." Nathalia replied as she slurped her drink. " That's good. It's time to kick start my sh
************A few minutes earlier,Cross Enterprise. Both Shane and Eric walked into Damien's office with different reports they wanted to give their boss. And as expected, Damien was sitting behind his enormous desk while going through his work that had been brought to him. According to Shane, this work was the first badge as the second badge had yet to be prepared.“Report." Damien ordered, immediately he noticed his two most trusted men walking in.Both Shane and Eric glance at each other in confusion. He said ‘Report’ but who was he talking to? “Are you both going to just stand there?" The two of them turned their attention towards Damien when they heard him.“Um….. Boss, do you mind telling which one of us you are talking to?” As the oldest worker and the most closest to Damien. Eric nugged Shane to ask their boss what he meant.“Both of you." Damien curtly replied, still not raising his head up from the file on his desk.“I'll go first." Shane nodded his head and chose to sta
Dressed in a royal blue colored spaghetti string-strap dress with a slit in front which exposed one of her beautiful legs in a decent way, she had her long hair curled and let it cascade down her back. Eva paired her entire outfit with a long white colored fur coat and a pair of blue heels to match her dress. After stepping out of the car she adjusted her fur coat and let one side slide down her shoulder. She reached inside the car and grabbed her white purse and wore her sunglasses. Everyone was extremely surprised and shocked at the person they saw stepping out of the car. Although they all knew that she would eventually come to the company one day after the fashion show, they didn't expect her to be so bold to show up when the entire building was surrounded by paparazzi and reporters. “Is that…….?” " Oh my gosh! It's Evangeline Carter!” Before one of the reporters could call Eva's name, someone in their midst yelled upon seeing Eva. “It's really Evangeline Carter, the woman wh
Eva coldly ignored the reporters and smiled when she saw Nathalia. The two of them hugged and Nathalia released the embrace while checking her best friend out.“Woah, you look sexy and beautiful my dear." Nathalia complimented Eva, her eyes roaming on Eva's body.“Stop undressing with your eyes. You look like a pervert." Eva rolled her eyes at Nathalia who chuckled when she heard her.“I can't help it. If I were a man , I'm sure I wouldn't be able to control my urge. I would have dragged you away and rented a room only for the two of us.” Nathalia shamelessly replied. Sometimes she normally confused people into thinking that she was a lesbian with her actions and talking.“Hey, Miss ‘If I were a man' people are watching, let's go.” Eva ignored Nathalia's remark, already used to it, so there was no need to be shocked now that she was hearing it again.“Yes, Miss. Sexy looking. I must say that you really love making an entrance." Nathalia said as they walked towards the entrance of the
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