Gwen took a deep breath and cleared her throat. She can't possibly lie to them so she would tell them the truth. " Honestly speaking, Mr. Reeves. I'm surprised to receive a call from you but currently, Eva isn't with me.” She said, after calming down a bit. " I don't understand? What do you mean Miss Eva isn't with you? Then you can at least let her know that her grandfather called once she-” " Mr. Reeves, Eva went missing from my sight five hours ago. I don't know where she is and she is not returning my calls just as you have been calling her too. I have a feeling that she is probably kidnapped.” Gwen quickly interrupted Julian and told him. "Kidnapped?! The young miss is kidnapped?” Julian yelled in shock, however before he had the time to ask more questions the phone got snatched from his hand. "What do you mean my granddaughter was kidnapped?” George asked, his voice cold enough to freeze the entire study room. Julian froze when he heard his boss' voice and even the way the
“You should have been able to protect her before she got kidnapped then." Without waiting for a response, Damien hung up the call and boarded the plane.“That damned brat!" George furiously slammed his hand on the desk. It was true what Damien said even though he hated to admit it. How can his own granddaughter get kidnapped in his own territory and he wasn't aware of it?“Call Raphael and ask if there is any progress." George turned to look at Julian who immediately carried out his boss's order. ……..Back at the warehouse.The silence stretched in the entire warehouse, a palpable tension in the air as the man watched her. Eva kept her breathing shallow, she forced herself to not react or even flinch. She had to sell the act, convince them that she was knocked out.“See?” The man’s voice was smug now, as though her feigned surrender was all the confirmation he needed of his dominance. “They all fall in the end.”“Great, you overdid it again. Now we have to deal with this." The leader
“An exchange? What for?" Hugo asked.The leader shrugged. "How am I supposed to know that? But it's pretty obvious, she is a woman, so what else could it be for?" He walked over to her, his ominous footsteps getting louder and louder as he approached where Eva was lying.'An exchange?' Eva became worried as she overheard their conversation. The word echoed in her mind, gnawing at her thoughts. What kind of exchange? Why was she valuable enough to keep alive but still deserving of this brutal treatment? It seems she's the bargaining chip for something, but for what? She thought about possible scenarios but the only thing that she could think of was human-trafficking. But they would definitely not go to this extent in beating her up if it was for that purpose.“What do you think about the limb-cutter?” Hugo said again , the suggestion so nonchalant it made her stomach twist as she listened to the way they spoke. It was as if the acts of cruelty they were about to commit were nothing o
A core part of her training had been learning to sense her surroundings. Eva carefully counted twenty pairs of distinct footsteps fading away from the room. These footsteps were heavy, unlike the leader’s, which were deliberate and soft. She could tell these men were brawlers, the type who relied on brute strength and direct violence. But the leader? He was different. She could already tell his methods leaned more toward calculated, creative brutality. That was even more dangerous. From what she remembered, forty men had entered the warehouse earlier, meaning roughly twenty remained behind to guard her.Her instincts urged her to act, but she couldn’t afford to be reckless. She risked a tiny slit of vision, opening her eyes just a crack. No one was in her immediate vicinity. The men had left her lying on the cold floor, probably thinking she was still unconscious. Though exhaustion weighed heavy on her body and her vision blurred, Eva wasn’t out yet. The will to survive was a powerfu
However, she was in no position to move without drawing attention. She took a slow, controlled breath and cautiously opened her eyes just as the warehouse door swung open. Men hauled in a heavy green chair and a strange machine that looked like it could power it.Her pulse quickened as she heard the hum of the machine powering on. She had to act now or she would lose her last opportunity for escape. The thought of what awaited her if she failed sent a wave of nausea through her, but she couldn’t afford to dwell on it. There was no room for fear now. Only action.The leader entered behind them, clapping his hands in delight. “Perfect! It’s even better than I imagined,” he said, his voice dripping with sick enthusiasm. He ran his hand lovingly over the chair’s surface, like an artist admiring a masterpiece.The leader’s glee was palpable as he admired the electric chair, running his hand over the cold metal again as if it were some prized possession. It wasn’t just a tool for torture,
Despite being pinned to the ground, the man lashed out with the knife, but Eva was prepared. She dodged his wild swing, her attention shifting to the warehouse door. The rest of the men were still outside, preoccupied with unloading supplies.Her brief distraction gave him an opening. He grappled with her, nearly flipping her over his shoulder.‘Judo practitioner, huh.’ Eva realized. Since she already knew his fighting style, she instantly predicted his next move. She adjusted and quickly sidestepped his next move with precision.“Sorry, buddy. But I don’t have time for this kind of entertainment.” She muttered, slamming her hidden blade into his body. She didn’t hesitate. Each strike was calculated, aimed at vital points. The man struggled in her grip, but Eva didn’t relent.She knew she had only one shot at this. One chance to escape before they strapped her into that chair and unleashed a world of pain on her. Her survival depended on it. It was his life or hers.Blood soaked his
Eva stood poised, her body a coil of tension as the men advanced toward her. Her voice cut through the tense silence like a blade, mocking and unbothered. "Mercy? What kind?" She tilted her head slightly, as if seriously considering their offer, but her eyes were sharper than her words. Her brow creased into a frown when she realized the weird stance the men before her were in and the expression they were trying to hide. It was subtle, but the way their eyes shifted from her to the boxes stacked around her gave away their fear. Was that why they were so wary? They weren’t just after her, there was something in those crates, something valuable, maybe even dangerous. From her vantage point, Eva noticed the lids on the crates were barely secured, almost as if someone had hastily thrown them on and from where she was standing, she could easily reach out to whatever was inside. Probably she could find something inside one of the crates that could change the odds in her favor. “Woman, sho
The sharp whistle of a bullet tearing through the air broke her trance. Her senses, heightened by the adrenaline coursing through her veins, reacted faster than her conscious mind. At the last moment, Eva twisted enough for the bullet to graze her arm before embedding itself in the metal wall behind her with a hollow thud. Her body moved with a grace that didn't feel too foreign to her, instinct taking over as she dodged the next onslaught of bullets. The warehouse filled with chaos as her enemies fired relentlessly. However, Eva moved like a ghost, she felt as if her entire body was a machine in itself, dodging every bullet and weapons aimed at her. Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply before firing the first shot. BANG! Suddenly a scream split the air. One of the men fell, clutching his leg, his face contorted in agony while letting his guard down. It was a brief moment of suffering as a bullet flew to his head and ended him swiftly. It's a clean kill. Minutes passed in a
“I... I’m starting to think Eva might be trying to sabotage me. You know, with the awards coming up, and her growing popularity... I just have this feeling she’s trying to push me out of the competition,” Christine said, her voice trembling slightly as if she was on the verge of breaking down. She knew Mark would respond to weakness, to vulnerability, just as he always had.Mark’s voice was low, filled with annoyance. “What do you mean, sabotage you? She’s already got the public on her side. What else does she want?”“I don’t know, Mark. But I can’t shake the feeling that she’s behind some of the things happening to me lately,” Christine continued, carefully planting the seed of doubt. “She’s been getting more endorsements, more media attention... She’s always one step ahead, and I feel like she’s using me to boost her own career. Maybe she’s trying to push me out of the spotlight, making sure I don’t have a chance to win.”Mark was silent for a moment, processing the information. Chr
Eva didn’t respond immediately. She could feel the seriousness in Everett’s words, and for a brief moment, the playful rivalry between them was pushed aside.Everett’s eyes softened slightly as she looked at Eva, a rare glimpse of concern flickering in her gaze. “What are you going to do about her? She’s the one who caused my accident but had that person lie he was a fan, right? Also with the recent things happening, I can tell she’s been pulling strings, trying to break you down.”Eva's expression hardened, her grip tightening on her wine glass. “I’m not sure yet. But Christine’s time is running out.” She gave a slight, bitter laugh. “I won’t let her destroy me.”Everett studied Eva for a moment, her face unreadable. “Be careful, Eva,” she said quietly, her tone more serious than Eva had ever heard. “Christine’s dangerous. And she’s got a way of making everyone believe her sweet little act.”Eva took a deep breath, looking away briefly as she processed Everett’s words. The concern wa
The day of the event arrived, and Christine was glowing with victory. Dressed in an elegant gown, she enjoyed the attention as she mingled with industry elites, knowing she was now the headlining speaker.With Eva out of the picture, this was her moment.Then the doors opened.Gasps rippled through the crowd as Eva walked in, effortlessly poised, wearing a breathtaking designer dress. The cameras instantly shifted toward her, flashing in rapid succession.Christine’s smile faltered. “What is she doing here?”Before she could react, the event host stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand.“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special surprise. While there were some scheduling changes, we’re honored to have Eva here tonight.”Christine stiffened. “What? That’s impossible!”Eva merely smiled, making her way toward the front.Kai had pulled the right strings behind the scenes. Even if she wasn’t an official speaker anymore, she was still one of the biggest names in the room—and the audience
Christine was livid. Every attempt to ruin Eva had backfired, and now, the industry was beginning to suspect foul play.Her carefully crafted innocent image was slipping, and she refused to let that happen.Gripping her phone tightly, she dialed Tanya, her voice sharp the moment the call connected."Tanya, listen carefully. I don’t care what it takes—pull every string, bribe whoever you need to, but make sure Eva does not attend the upcoming fashion event. I want her out, completely.”Tanya hesitated. “Christine, are you sure about this? Maybe you should—”“Don’t question me!” Christine snapped, her frustration boiling over. “Do you think I have the luxury of waiting? Eva is already taking the spotlight. If this continues, I won’t even be considered for the Top Ten Models Award!”Tanya sighed. “Fine. I’ll see what I can do. But Christine, be careful. You’re playing a dangerous game. If this backfires, it could cost you everything.”Christine scoffed. “Please. Eva won’t be able to prov
Christine sat alone in the dimly lit hotel, her fingers lightly tapping against the side of her untouched wine glass. The usually confident and composed woman looked lost in thought, her expression unreadable as she stared at the city skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.Everything she had planned against Eva had backfired spectacularly. Instead of destroying Eva’s reputation, she had only fueled the public’s admiration for her. The industry was turning against Christine, and the narrative was slipping out of her control.A soft click of heels echoed through the room, breaking Christine from her thoughts.“Christine?”She turned her head slightly, finding Tanya standing near the entrance, a curious look on her face.Tanya was one of the few people Christine trusted—or rather, tolerated—because she was useful. Smart, cunning, and always willing to play dirty, Tanya had been by Christine’s side long enough to know exactly how far she was willing to go to get what she wanted.“Wh
A few days after Mark successfully cleared his name from the Harper Luxuries scandal, Christine sat alone in her dressing room, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping impatiently against the vanity table.She had tried everything—sabotage, whispers in the right ears, carefully placed rumors—yet Eva always came out unscathed. Every plan Christine devised had crumbled before her eyes, and it was beginning to drive her insane.If indirect tactics didn’t work, she had to change her approach. This time, she wouldn’t hide behind shadows. She wouldn’t need to.Instead, she would manipulate the situation so well that Eva would ruin herself.All she needed was the perfect stage.---An exclusive fashion gala was set to take place, attended by top designers, influencers, and media elites. Both Eva and Christine had been invited as brand ambassadors for their respective labels.Christine smirked to herself. This was it. The perfect opportunity.She had carefully arranged for the media’s attenti
The dim candlelight cast a golden glow over the elegantly set dining table. A soft melody played in the background, filling the room with warmth. Christine had spent hours preparing this—his favorite dishes, the finest wine. Tonight had to be perfect.She glanced at the clock anxiously. Mark would be home soon. And she had to fix this.The front door finally opened, and Mark stepped inside. His face was tired, his eyes dark with frustration. He didn’t even glance at the romantic dinner she had prepared. Instead, he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.“Christine, what is this?” His voice was cold.Christine swallowed and stepped toward him. “A dinner. For us.”Mark scoffed, shaking his head. “A dinner? Christine, do you have any idea what I’ve been dealing with? My father’s furious. Investors are backing out after the Harper Luxuries. I've lost of funds.” His voice grew sharper, filled with exhaustion. “And do you know what people are whispering? That my own fiancée might
The silence between them was thick with unspoken thoughts, but Damien wasn’t one to leave things unresolved. He turned slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on her.“Why didn’t you ask for my help?” His voice was calm but held an edge of something deeper—something close to frustration.Eva, who had been absentmindedly tracing the rim of her wine glass, glanced at him. A small smirk curled her lips, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Because it was something I could handle,” she said simply. “Like always.”Damien’s expression remained unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly against his knee. “And if you couldn’t?”Eva shrugged. “Then I would have asked. But it wasn’t time for that yet.”That answer didn’t satisfy him. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. “Eva—”“I know what you’re going to say,” she interrupted, meeting his gaze head-on. “You think I should have let you take care of it. But Damien, I don’t always need you to fight my battles. Sometimes, I want to win them on my own
Eva sat on the couch, feeling bored. The scandal had caused too much noise, and going home—where the paparazzi were undoubtedly lurking—was out of the question.With a sigh, Eva reached for her phone and scrolled through her contacts. Her finger hovered over Damien for a moment before she pressed the call button.The phone rang twice before his deep, smooth voice came through. “Eva.”Just her name. Nothing more. But there was something in the way he said it—low, controlled, yet sharp with attention—that made her exhale slowly.“Hey,” she murmured, leaning against the plush headboard.Silence. Then, “What’s wrong?”She almost smiled. He always saw through her.“I can’t go home,” she admitted, rubbing her temple. “The reporters are camped outside. And after today’s interview… they’ll only get worse.”Damien didn’t answer immediately. She could hear the faint rustling of papers, the click of a pen, before he finally spoke. “Where are you?”“Penthouse suite at the Grand Royale,” she repli