“I heard rumors in the past that the Johnson family heir is so quick to use his hand twice on a woman. However, I didn't want to believe it, but I do now, seeing how a prick like is trying to slap a woman in public. Where are you manners and respect that were taught to you as a child to always show some respect?” She added, as she angrily fling Mark's hand and brought out a handkerchief to wipe her hand like she had just touched something filthy. “How dare you speak to me like that Nathalia Evan? Did you what what would happen to you if you go against me-” " What would happen?” Nathalia asked, cutting Mark off. " You think I would be scared of a jerk like you because of that mere threat? I would advise you to not even think about it in the slightest.” she added again. “Are you going to pick that woman's side?" Mark asked. He know how powerful the Evan family are and he doesn't plan to go against at least not with the Johnson Corporations that is currently unstable. " Are you reall
“That guy really needs to be put in his place." Nathalia grumbled when she saw Mark glaring at Eva. “Calm down, Nathy. This is the first time he is seeing me like this in a long time. He's probably just worked up and pissed over something." Eva calmed Nathalia down. Kai didn't say anything and just led the two ladies to the private elevator which was only used by him, and some other important people which included both Eva and Nathalia. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ “I guess it was not only the lobby that got redesigned. You changed your office as well." Eva remarked when they walked into Kai's office. She remembers how it used to look before but now there were a lot of significant changes. “The lobby and the other part of the company's new design was not my idea. They are somebody's idea who was obviously jobless.” Kai replied while taking a sneak look at Nathalia. " Hey! Are you talking about me?” Nathalia yelled, quickly grabbing on to what he was talking about. " Is there anyone else tha
Out of curiosity, Eva asked for his home address from Kai's classmates since they were not in the same class. After school, both Eva and Nathalia decided to go to his home address after Eva got the address. They were completely surprised to see his house. Though it wasn't a mansion but a fine-looking bungalow with a big gate. They had always treated Kai like some poor kid, but seeing where he was living, it didn't look like he was completely poor. Kai's mother was no longer an actress because her reputation had been ruined due to the scandals about her, but she had used the money she earned and the money she received from Kai's grandparents very well. She started a small business with the money and bought a house for herself, that was how she was even able to send Kai to school. Seeing how nicely Kai's mother treated them when she saw them, thinking that they were her son's friend, she told them Kai had been sick for the past few days so he was unable to attend school. Both Eva and
“What does this have to do with me, Mister?" “You allow Eva to take this kind of step despite knowing what she wanted to do. She is obviously among the top list of hated people in the country and we are thankful that the hate rate has decreased a few months now. Right, you two plans had just pushed the rate back up because of what you did. I can't even blame you much since you're obviously the birds of the same feather.” Kai turned his attention to Nathalia and scolded her for not stopping Eva. “That……. I…..” Nathalia stuttered not knowing how to reply to defend herself from his words. She couldn't even look up at him seeing how he was glaring at her. " Kai, Nathy wasn't at fault in this case.” Eva suddenly said, making Kai turn his attention from Nathalia to her. "I knew you'd say that and don't think I was only going to scold her. You both always make rash decisions and always cause chaos in the end. You're really a pair made from heaven and sent down to earth by the devil. Do
“Mr. Breaker, I'm here because of Christine. I need to make sure that she is okay and wouldn't get bullied in a place like this. You can carry on with your meeting and don't mind me.” Mark was the one who spoke as just Lane was about to say something in response to Kai's question.“Bully? I don't understand what you mean by that?” Kai asked.“Since you didn't know what happened in the lobby, Mr. Breaker. I would like to let you know that two of your models tried to bully and harass my fiance." Mark confidently replied."Are you talking about my two models here?” Kai asked again while pointing towards Eva and Nathalia.“Yes." Mark nodded his head, making Nathalia scoff loudly at him.“I apologize for that, Mr. Johnson. I will make sure to talk to my models later after the meeting ends.” Kai modestly apologized to Mark who nodded his feeling pleased with the way Kai had handled the situation."However, it would also be wise if you could tell your fiance to stop going around looking for
Now she had just tabled a tangible explanation and reason as to why Elites Entertainment had no discussion with her and her appearance had to do with something else.“But just like Christine said, you obviously aren't working under any company right now, so why would you do something like that?” Mr. Owen, who had been shut up earlier by Nathalia, asked, but made sure to behave himself this time.“Who said I have no company I'm working under as a signed model?" Eva questioned back.“Evangeline, It would be wise for you not to play some stupid obvious tricks. Back when we were still together, you told me you quitted and all of your contracts had been terminated so you obviously don't work for a company. So all this discussion is just useless. There must have been a way someone told Elite Entertainment about Christine's injury and they had taken advantage of it and asked Evangeline, who is a former model and a friend to the CEO of this company, to help them take over Christine's spot.” M
“Even though I have the power, I wasn't the one that gave the permission, Everette got the permission from Nathalia and sent the contract to me. As a colleague and old friend, I have no choice but to help her since she was injured." Eva also added. "Is this true, Miss Nathalia?” Lane asked Nathalia who nodded her head. "Yes. Everette called me and I gave Everette the permission to find a substitute for herself, but she didn't tell who the model was.” Nathalia confirmed that she had given Everette the permission to do so and it was true. Everette had indeed called her to seek permission because she was scared that Kai wouldn't agree with her and Nathalia, who knew nothing, gave her the permission without thinking about it. Who knew that the model she would look for was Eva. Lane quietly stared at the contract and placed it down before turning to look at Kai. “Mr. Breaker, it seems like Miss Carter is right and this means that Elites Entertainment had kept and met up with the contra
“I understand then. Since everything has been settled now, I will take my leave. Please let me know if there is anything you need." Lane said as she stood up from her seat along with the people she had brought along with her. “I do hope you'll be around when the press conference is held to confirm what our model says is right." Kai suddenly said and Lane nodded in agreement and made her way out of the meeting room without waiting for Mr. Owen or Christine. Seeing that Lane was already leaving, Mr. Owen also got up from his seat and followed behind Lane in order to clear a little bit of the misunderstanding. Mark scowled seeing how Mr. Owen had left them and followed Lane out of the meeting room. He stole a glance at Kai, Eva and Nathalia before turning to look at Christine. “Christine let's go." Mark said to Christine in a gentle voice as he got up from his seat as well. He was seething in anger seeing how things had turned out, but maintained his composure. Christine glanced at
Just as Rex reached for his expensive wine again, the door to the room burst open with a thunderous crash, silencing the revelry in an instant. Crimson laser dots swarmed the room, targeting every man, freezing them in place.Rex barely blinked when he saw the commotion. It was not something new to have enemies barge into the place he was having fun. Probably, it would end with another threat conversation before the other party leaves. Calmly, he sipped his drink and set it down. But just as his fingers released the glass, a bullet shattered it, spilling the expensive liquor onto his custom Dior shoes."Bold little bastards," Rex muttered, his patience wearing thin. Reaching into his waistband, he pulled out a pistol.Upon seeing the lethal weapon in his hand, the women beside scattered like frightened mice, their shrieks piercing the tension-filled air. They weren't women who worked for the clan, instead, they were just simple escorts and prostitutes called in to please these big-sho
After switching the light on, her eyes landed on a set of bags near the couch. The scent of familiar dishes wafted through the air, and her heart twisted painfully. He had brought her favorite foods, likely intending to eat with her.He had wanted to eat with her. Her chest prickled with guilt and for a moment, she hesitated.But then she glanced at the shattered vase she had thrown in anger, and the guilt was replaced by frustration. Gathering the bags, she marched to the door and opened it to find Damien’s bodyguards standing stiffly outside.“You must be hungry standing out here all day,” she said, shoving the bags into their hands. “Take these. I’m not in the mood to eat.”The men exchanged bewildered glances.“Lady Boss, are you sure—”“If you don’t want them, throw them away,” she said curtly, shutting the door before they could protest further.“We can't really toss this away, can't we? This is too expensive." One of the bodyguards said, glancing at the bag while the others nod
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