She remembered that night clearly, stepping into the same familiar black helicopter on the top floor of the building, carrying nothing but the clothes on her back, the cold seat pressing into her shoulders. “I wasn’t thinking straight. I didn’t care where I was going, didn’t care what I would do—I just needed to get away. I wanted to leave Miami behind and never look back.”Her hand clenched, nails digging into her palm as she remembered the desperation in her decision. One day, she had looked into a mirror and barely recognized the woman staring back—haunted eyes, thin and gaunt, an almost feral determination to chase after Mark. She was a shadow of herself, driven mad by heartbreak and despair.“Grandpa Smith noticed my condition,” she continued, her voice steadier now. “He arranged for me to disappear, to heal somewhere where I wouldn’t be found.” She looked at each of them, her eyes darkening as memories resurfaced. “For the next few months, I went back again and lived within the
Eva closed her eyes, as though gathering the strength to reveal the rest. When she spoke, her voice was barely audible, laced with a heaviness that seemed to age her.“Grandpa Smith needed me back. He called me one night and gave me an order, really, that I couldn’t refuse. He said he wanted me to work as a consultant.” She swallowed, her throat tightening. “But that wasn’t all. He knew what staying there was doing to me. He knew that if I stayed hidden away, wrapped up in missions and buried under orders, I’d lose myself completely.” Her gaze softened, though she kept her eyes closed, lost in the recollection. Really she was just trying to avoid any kind of eye contact. That wasn't the only reason why she came back, but it was the most important one.Unlike both Nathalia and Edwin who did not pick up on this as they were both preoccupied in putting the pieces together in their minds.Damien watched her, his brow furrowing slightly, understanding dawning in his eyes. He could tell th
Eva let out a small, humorless laugh, shaking her head. “It’s not as impressive as it sounds, trust me,” she said, voice bitter. “Some days, it feels more like a burden than anything else. I still carry those memories, the things I did, the person I became… even now, it’s hard to separate myself from all of that.”Just as she said that finish, she felt Damien squeeze her hand, his grip gentle but unwavering. “But you came back,” he murmured, his tone carrying a quiet intensity that drew her gaze back to him. “You didn’t stay in that darkness. You returned, you’re here, and that matters. Whatever happened in the past, whatever choices you made… you’re here now.”She searched his face, trying to find the catch, the hint of judgment or doubt that she expected, but there was none. His gaze was as steady as ever, holding her together when she felt she might fall apart.“You’re stronger than you think, Eva,” he continued, his voice low. “No one would go through what you did and come back as
Though he had known her since childhood, Edwin wasn’t entirely convinced that Eva was fit to stand alongside his brother, Damien as Madam Cross. He wanted to know what other benefits she could bring to the family, beyond simply being Lawerence Smith “favored granddaughter.” in Miami. Though he was now able to confirm that she is also the beloved granddaughter of the Black family.The tension barely had a chance to settle before Nathalia, always quick to protect her best friend, whacked her brother sharply on the shoulder. “Are you implying that my Eva needs ‘connections’ to be worthy of joining this family?” she snapped, her voice heated. “She’s amazing as she is!”Eva merely raised an eyebrow, unsurprised by Edwin’s question but quietly amused by Nathalia's fierce defense. Her response, however, was clipped, emotionless. “I did.”Edwin's face flickered with a brief smirk, the hint of admiration barely concealed. ‘So she’s not as helpless as I thought.’ he mused, leaning forward wit
“Well?” Edwin leaned forward again, seizing the moment. “Would you reconsider helping us out in the future? It’s only fair, given what we’ve done for you. We’re family, after all,” he added, his tone almost a challenge.Eva sighed, her eyes softening as she realized the depths of their unspoken expectations. She thought back to the contacts she’d made, the alliances she’d formed. “Though I made quite a few useful ones now, most of my connections in the military aren’t powerful… yet. They’re acquaintances with the sons and daughters of high-ranking officials. In time, some of them will inherit positions that could be helpful.”Damien listened intently, his eyes never leaving her face, but he didn’t show any sign of concern. He seemed calm, almost indifferent to the information, as if her inability to pull strings didn’t matter. And yet, she thought she caught a flicker of something in his gaze—an uncertainty that sent a pang through her.She hesitated, swallowing the nervousness rising
But as the warmth of the moment settled, Edwin's sixth brain suddenly caught onto Damien's earlier words. His eyes narrowed as he processed them, his expression turning indignant. “Hey! Who are you calling a simple fool?!”Nathalia suddenly burst out laughing, unable to resist an opportunity to tease her brother. “Obviously, he means you, Eddy. ” she said, rolling her eyes with a mischievous grin.Edwin glared, unwilling to let her get away with the jab. “Last time I checked, Nathy, I wasn’t a mirror.”Nathalia shot back, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Thank goodness you’re not, or you’d have cracked from shock the moment you saw your reflection.” She made a dramatic relief expression on her face.Just as Edwin opened his mouth to snap back, a soft knock interrupted their bickering. Eric stepped forward, his expression professional as he announced, “The doctors are here to check on Miss Eva now that she’s awake.”Damien glanced toward the door, then gave a subtle nod. “Let them i
"Gabriel, it's been a while." Nathalia spoke up, nervously glancing at her older brother and Eva. She prayed the former wouldn't understand why she was so anxious. "Yes, indeed it has. We haven't seen each other since the blind date you've set up for me. I was really hoping and looking forward to meeting her but she actually…..." His eyes trailed to the woman on the bed. He was dazed to see Eva. When he had performed surgery on her, he was simply too worried about the almost fatal state of her head injury that he didn't realize her identity. He revealed an amiable smile. Of course, he wasn't a fool to not recognize Eva at first glance when he saw her. Although they haven't met yet, he recognizes her face and that was why he had accepted the blind date in the past. "About that, can we speak about it in private?" Nathalia hesitantly asked while praying that the stoic expression on her brother's face didn't mean he understood the situation. ‘Come on, I'm trying to save both of our li
Damien's jaw tightened. He absorbed every word with the intensity of a man prepared to enforce the doctors’ advice himself if it meant keeping her from harm. Eva, however, couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration, her independence tugging against the restrictions imposed on her. As the doctors finished their examination, they exchanged a few words among themselves before nodding at Damien and quietly excusing themselves from the room while pushing Gabriel out of the room as well. The door closed behind them, leaving a stillness that felt charged with unspoken thoughts. Nathalia, who had watched the examination with thinly veiled worry, let out a sigh of relief once the doctors left. In fact she was more relieved that Gabriel was gone for now. “Eva,” she whispered, her voice soft with an emotion that was usually hidden beneath her lively exterior, “please promise me you’ll listen to them. You scared me half to death…” Her voice trailed off, a faint tremor betraying her underlying
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
The sleek black car pulled up in front of Cross Enterprise, and Eva didn’t waste a second stepping out. Instead of the casual home-cooked meal she initially planned, she had opted for something more refined—a gourmet lunch from one of the most renowned restaurants in the city.“Wait here,” Eva told Gwen as she adjusted her coat.Gwen smirked knowingly. “Of course, take your time, lover girl.”Eva rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She knew exactly what she was doing. There was no need to hide anymore—not after the scandal had already made headlines, exposing her connection to Damien. So, she walked into the building with confidence, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor of the grand lobby.The moment she stepped inside, all eyes were on her.Employees, visitors, and executives alike paused in their conversations, their gazes snapping toward the stunning supermodel who had just entered the headquarters of one of the most powerful companies in the world.It wasn’t just her
--- After the Fitting As Eva stepped off the platform, Gwen handed her a bottle of water. “You handled that beautifully.” Eva took a sip and smirked. “Christine’s getting predictable.” Trix rolled her eyes. “What’s next? Tripping you on the runway?” Eva chuckled. “If she does, I’ll be ready for that too.” Christine might have thought she could sabotage Eva with clumsy tricks, but Eva wasn’t easily shaken. When they got to her room, Eva sighed in relief as she kicked off her heels, rolling her ankles to ease the tension. “What’s my schedule looking like today, Trix?” she asked, rubbing her temples. Trix scrolled through her tablet, barely glancing up. “You have a photoshoot with Victoria this afternoon after you wrap up here.” Eva groaned, sinking into the plush chair. “Can’t we reschedule? At this point, I can’t tell if she’s just dedicated to her work or if she’s obsessed with overworking me to death.” Gwen chuckled, settling onto the couch beside her. “She’s taken a real l
The fashion house hosting the campaign had scheduled a fitting session for all the models. The room buzzed with activity as assistants, designers, and stylists adjusted gowns and accessories. Eva arrived, poised and confident, dressed in a sleek black dress. Gwen and Trix trailed behind her, chatting about the campaign’s recent success. Christine was already there, surrounded by a few stylists, her laughter deliberately exaggerated as she chatted with a designer. Eva ignored her and focused on her fitting. A stylist handed her an elegant white gown, its fabric shimmering under the lights. It was one of the most anticipated pieces of the campaign, and Eva knew this photoshoot would be critical. As she stepped onto the fitting platform, Christine made her move. A designer approached Eva with a clipboard, giving her details about the shoot. Christine, pretending to walk past, "accidentally" tilted a cup of coffee in Eva’s direction. Time seemed to slow. The dark liquid splashed on