********Eva stared out of the car window, well dressed guests strutted in and out of the exquisite and luxurious hotel where a beautiful water fountain greeted the cars of the guests and a golden carpet was laid out on the ground.“Miss, we are there.” The driver announced them arriving at her destination.Eva nodded slightly and paid the driver his money before she opened the car and placed one foot out gently, then the other and climbed out of the car. At this point, it has always been a habit for Eva to always elegantly exit. The minute she exited the car, Eva was forced to remember her roots. No matter how far she runs, no matter how she changes for the better, no matter her current lifestyle, she will never be able to run and hide away from the fact that she would always be the eldest daughter of the Carter family.Stepping out of the taxi, Eva was beginning to garner the attention of a few onlookers. Because the hotel was really popular and famous among the socialites, the peo
Eva's head immediately snapped up and she peered at him innocently, like a naive dove. Seeing her reaction, Damien suddenly felt tense which stimulated him far too much.“Are you stalking me?” Eva gawked at him. This was the second time she was running into him, anytime she was outside.Damien rubbed his thumb across his watch, releasing a haunty breath. Eva stomach knotted at the sound, her heart skipping a beat when his lips curled up in slight amusement. “And what prospect do you have for me to stalk you?” Damien taunted, his voice smooth as silk but extremely cold as ice.The corner of her eyes twitched uncontrollably when she heard Damien's response. “Don't you have any other nice and creative lines?” Eva mumbled.Damien narrowed his gaze, sending chills down Eva's spine. Yet, her face went red when he tucked his hand inside the front pocket of his trouser, observing her.He stared intently at her outfit and he couldn't help but wonder what she was doing in a hotel, all alone, a
Finally, Eva saw a small sign that pointed towards the hotel restaurant, she hurried down the corridor and skipped through the long line ignoring the stares that were thrown at her.“Good afternoon, Ma'am. Do you have a reservation?” The hostess at the front counter asked, offering the guest a professional warm smile. She had briefly skimmed through Eva's outfit, she has been working here for a while and could instantly smell money from afar. Right now, Eva seems to be made of it.“I don't.” Eva curtly replied. She had no idea who made the reservation, Laura didn't tell her anything about making a reservation. Her words immediately caused the women by the entrance to giggle and gossip. “Hah, I thought she was some big shot seeing her dress so expensively but she can't get in.” “The reservation wait-list here is two months, there is no way she can get in. Did she think this place is just some regular restaurant?” The women laughed to themselves, clearly not knowing who Eva was and he
“Sir, please let go of my hand.” Eva frowned and glared up at him.“Why should I? You always look like you're about to pounce me like a wild cat?” Damien mused. Eva unconsciously touched her face. ‘I plan on doing that if I don't get your hands on me!’ she thought when she realized that she had a scowl on her face.“Am I so handsome that you don't want to stay close to me?” Damien asked, his words were supposed to sound like a tease but he appeared as serious as a statue. Damien was not the kind to tease or crack jokes for someone, so everything that came out of his mouth was always serious.Eva blinked up at him. This arrogance he possessed was really starting to infuriate Eva. “Sorry to disappoint you, but you're so ugly and it hurts my eyes so much that's why I want to get away from you.” Eva replied bluntly as she stared directly at him, hoping that he would be discouraged by her words. Too bad for her, his eyes flashed with amusement. Damien was intrigued by her, not because of
“Evangeline, right?” The man remarked, revealing a gently friendly smile. Eva was a little bit surprised, because she was expecting the man Laura would set her up with would be bad tempered. However, this man seemed harmless, with his soft eyes, well-kept hair and handsome features. “My apologies, I should have waited for you by the door, instead of sitting down first.” Her blind date explained, placing a hand on his chest. “I’m sorry for the late introduction, my name is Lucas.” “Eva. Evangeline is too long.” Lucas smiled immediately widened when he heard Eva.“Is the restaurant not to your liking? How about we go to another place which you might find comfortable.” Lucas suggested, he had no idea why Eva wanted to leave the restaurant.Eva was appreciative that he didn't judge or get annoyed by the fact that she denied him earlier. She liked his manners and decided to humor Laura who had set the date. After all, she had a mission to come here . Besides, she was yet to bring out th
“So I heard you were a model from your stepmother?” Lucas suddenly asked, finally deciding to make small talk and change the awkward atmosphere when noticed that Eva was barely saying anything about herself. He tried to ask her questions about herself instead.“That was a long time ago.” Eva replied with a dry tone.She secretly hates the idea that Laura had to cast about her before her to Lucas. ‘Is that bitch trying to even annoy me from afar?’ “Is that so,” Lucas lightly laughed. “Honestly, I expected you to be part of the prestigious business women in the country considering how influential the Carter family are.”Eva paused her lips into a thin line, trying her best to hide her disgust at his words. It seems like he had no idea about her business skill she had to learn after she quit modeling.“Not everyone wants to be an uninspired, unimaginative, ready-made heir.” Eva retorted back bluntly as she pushed the strand of her hair behind her ear.Lucas was taken aback in surprise b
“Ah, yes?” Eva muttered, snapping out of her thought. “I'm afraid I would not be able to entertain you on another date.” She remarked as she looked at Lucas.“Then how about you let me entertain you on the date instead.” Lucas insisted. “I don't think either can work.” Despite that it was a tempting offer, Eva had to decline realizing that this blind date could eventually lead to an unfortunate marriage which would definitely ruin all of her plans.“I'm sorry-” “Please, I totally understand so you don't have to apologize.” Lucas cut off Eva and reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, stretching his hand over the table handing it to her. “Incase you ever change your mind, Miss Carter. You will know where to find me.” Lucas said amicably.Eva stared at the card, his name was branded on the card as the CEO of his father's law firm. She wasn't a fool, she knew who Lucas was, knew that he was among the most obtainable, eligible bachelors and she knew how many young femal
The waiter's face suddenly lights up in relief at Eva's response, he could eventually save his life and job. Without bothering to delay any further, so that Eva doesn't change her mind. The waiter immediately turned and walked into the direction of the restaurant where Damien was waiting for her while Eva just silently followed behind him.The waiter led Eva to the third restaurant which was considered as the restaurant only top elite families in the country visit. Only the highest class and most influential families!Once inside, she was immediately welcomed with a soft and soothing melody played on a piano. She suddenly felt like she was indeed out-of-place in her clothes when she saw the long dresses that people wore inside. She knew that she can't turn back now and so, she sighed internally and continued to follow the waiter who went upstairs where the private room was located.After walking for a few meters, the attendants finally stopped and turned to face Eva. He bowed respect
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
Turning back to the bodyguards, she picked up the IV pole and tested its weight in her hands. It was lighter than she expected, perfect for swift strikes. She had a lot of experience fighting with wooden sticks in her days in the military.Her gaze landed back to the men, a dark scowl on her face.“I’m sure everyone of you all heard the conversation,” she said coolly, her voice steady. “If you value your limbs, step aside.”The men stood their ground, but the unease in their expressions was clear.When reinforcements arrived to block the entrance entirely, Eva's lips curled into a dark smile. They’ve made a mistake.Gripping the pole tightly, her eyes blazing with determination as she scanned the men creating a barrier at the entrance.“Fine, you've all made your choices. Let's see who’s leaving with bruises.”Eva's grip on the metal IV pole tightened as she positioned herself to strike. Her eyes locked on the bodyguards standing in her way, each one ready to brace for her next move
She sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. If they were working for Damien, they wouldn’t stand insults against him. She smirked, deciding to bait them.“Fine. Is it your unbelievably stubborn, hideously jealous, and completely insufferable boss, Damien Cross?”One of the guards instinctively stiffened, muttering, “Our boss is not—” and immediately cut himself off, his face paling. He can't believe he just fell for that trick.“Aha!” Eva said triumphantly. “We have our catch. So it is Damien.”Smirking, she stalked back to her bed, grabbing her phone. She dialed Damien’s number, and unsurprisingly, he answered on the first ring.“Evs, you should be resting—”“Young man, tell your men to step aside,” she interrupted, her tone sharp.Damien frowned when he heard her. Asking him to order his men to step aside meant that she had gotten out of bed!His voice hardened. “What are you doing out of bed? Get back to bed right-”“You’re not the Boss of me. I’m not goi
**********The soft rustle of fabric accompanied the nurse as she finished adjusting Eva's bandages. Moments later, a team of doctors shuffled into the room, meticulously checking her vitals and updating her chart. Their scrutiny felt endless, but Eva's irritation wasn’t aimed at them—it was at the glaring absence of Gabriel.Upon inquiring, she discovered he’d been reassigned and replaced with another doctor, a woman.Her lips twisted in a knowing smile. Damien. Of course, it was him.She sighed at the thought. Gabriel was probably one the best doctors in his department at Solace Hospital. Replacing him with someone else, especially out of jealousy, was as unnecessary as it was predictable. Damien's overprotectiveness knew no bounds, even though her blind date with Gabriel had been a complete dead end.‘Typical overbearing Damien Cross.’After the doctors left, Eva found herself sinking into boredom. The day dragged on, and as the sun set, casting long shadows across the pristine roo
“Who is the person? Is it someone I know?" “No, you don't." Oliver's eyes narrowed. “You said the person is important? Like… a woman?”Damien was surprised by Oliver's question as he turned to look at the boy. She? It suddenly hit Damien at the moment that he probably still had some of Eva's floral feminine scent on him and Oliver's dog nose already smelled it.“It is a woman, right? Why is she at the hospital?” Oliver continues to question.Damien sighed. “Yes.”“Why was she hurt?” “Because she’s clumsy,” Damien replied, his patience wearing thin.Oliver's questions continued unabated until Damien zhot him a sharp glare. “Enough, Oliver. Go back inside. I have work and can't answer all your questions.”“But-" Oliver was about to protest but he couldn't anymore when Damien shot him another glare.“Alright, Big Boss...I'll stop asking questions…" There was no other expression on Oliver's face than the expression that made him look like a neglected child yearning for his mother's lov
A faint smirk played at the corner of Damien's lips. The answer didn’t surprise him in the slightest. Velvet Vipers was infamous for managing low-level gangs to handle their dirty work—robbery, intimidation, and petty abductions. While they weren’t a significant threat to someone like Damien, their audacity to target his woman made them a problem that needed eliminating.Eric, already anticipating his boss’s next move, pulled out his phone to contact the necessary people. Damien stood, slipping on his coat as he prepared to leave. His work here was done for now.Just as he turned toward the exit, he noticed Oliver sulking in the corner, his hands gripping the knife tightly as he muttered under his breath.Damien approached the young man and rested a hand on his head. “You did well,” he said simply before walking towards the room exit. He didn't need to see the expression on his face for he already knew Oliver would be brimming with joy.As expected, Oliver's face lit up instantly, his
Eric immediately set up a chair for his boss, and Damien sat down, crossing one leg over the other. He leaned back, his expression a cold mask of control.“Then let’s begin.”“Why did you and your men target my woman?” Damien asked, his voice calm but laced with deadly intent.The man’s trembling intensified as he stuttered, “W-we were hired… Just told to rough her up, n-not kill her!”“Who hired you?” Damien’s tone darkened. He wasn't sure if the person behind what happened to Eva was one of his enemies and rivals. Maybe they found out about Eva and tried to use her against him.“I-I don’t know…” the man sammered, his words faltering under Damien's piercing glare.Wrong answer.Damien frowned, the subtle movement sending a ripple of terror through the room. Oliver’s grin faded, replaced by a cold, sinister expression. He turned his sharp gaze toward the prisoner, who whimpered at the realization that he had failed.The dim, flickering light overhead cast sinister shadows across the ro