“See, even Gwen agrees with me. Seriously, apart from my brother having his issues, I think you should work on yourself." Just as Nathalia was about to dive into more teasing, her phone buzzed. She glanced down, and her face fell as she saw the name on the screen.It was her manager.A look of realization crossed her face, and her shoulders sagged. She’d completely forgotten about rescheduling her appointments to help Eva with her work schedule and also spend time with Eva in the hospital. She glanced at the clock, her heart sinking. She had a major shoot in just under two hours—one she absolutely couldn’t cancel.Eva, noticing her friend’s stricken expression, leaned a bit and saw the caller name before letting out a soft chuckle. “Looks like you’re in for a real lecture. Go to the shoot, Nathalia. It’s only five. You’ll make it.”“Well, you're the one who caused it. Nathalia had to push back her own schedule to help you with your own schedule for the past three weeks you've been h
Eva nodded her head after she heard Gwen. It's no surprise if both Gwen and Ella ask each other for help since the two of them are dealing with two supermodels.Nathalia's phone started ringing again. “I hope I'm not in trouble this time." She muttered to herself.“Pick it up and let's start going." Gwen told her with a lazy expression on her face.Nathalia had barely pressed the call button when her manager’s voice erupted through the phone, scolding her loudly enough that Eva could hear it from across the room. Wincing, Nathalia held the phone away from her ear, grimacing as she listened to the endless tirade.With a resigned sigh, Nathalia casted Eva an apologetic look. “Eva I really want to stay but we have to leave now." " It's okay, I understand. You both stay safe.” She smiled reassuringly at Nathalia before turning her gaze to Gwen. " Take care of her.” She told her who rolled her eyes." You should take care of yourself more. Nathalia is in my care so don't worry. Apart from
She frowned, her lips pulling into a line. Great, she thought. He’s furious. A few minutes passed as she waited for some sign of a response to the quick text she sent, but nothing came.“Well, it’s official. He’s mad at me,” she muttered, shaking her head. She’d have to make it up to him, maybe by cooking his favorite dishes when she was well enough. Harry could rarely resist a home-cooked meal, and she hoped food might help soften his disappointment.Eva decided to call Lucien first before she called her two grandparents. “You'd better have a good reason why you have gone MIA.” Lucien's cold voice suddenly rang out immediately he answered his sister's call. Even though he sounded cold, he was actually relieved when he saw her call.A few weeks ago when he couldn't reach Eva, he had contacted Nathalia but she told him Eva was busy, that's why she wasn't able to answer his call. However, he felt something was off and didn't fully believe her.“Hoho, are you really that angry with me,
Her next call was to her grandfather, who picked up on the second ring. “Grandfather, I can explain—”“Eva, I already know everything,” Cutting her off, came the calm, no-nonsense reply from George. His voice held an edge of both relief and mild rebuke. Two weeks ago, when he heard of her abduction, he had barely begun mobilizing his resources to find out where his granddaughter was when Damien had reached out to and sent them the location of where Eva was being held. Before he knew it, Damien had her out of danger and safely in a hospital room. The young man’s efficiency had impressed even him.“Young lady, there is only one thing left for you to do as at this point.” George's serious voice made Eva raise her brow, wondering what he wanted to say.“Is there?" Eva asked. Who was she kidding? She knew there was going to be more with George.“You are no longer allowed to take public transportation, nor will you be returning to your previous apartment when you return back to Miami.” He s
For a moment, a quiet understanding passed between them. Though she hadn’t shared every gruesome detail, her grandfather’s calm reassured her that he understood more than she’d given him credit for. As she ended the call, a wave of gratitude filled her—both for the unwavering support of her family and for the quiet, steadfast presence of Damien, who had risked everything for her without a second thought.After a few seconds of comfortable silence, George's voice broke the silence.“Don't worry about anything unnecessary, Evangeline. Your Damon and I would have everything taken care of for you." He reassured her calmly, knowing fully well that his granddaughter might have been thinking of something useless again.Eva smiled when she noticed how he’d sidestepped saying Damien’s name correctly, a running habit of his that she was all too familiar with. “Will you ever stop calling him ‘Damon’?” she asked, bemused.“Not likely,” George replied without hesitation, a satisfied grin spreadin
Eva gulped. Goodness! She was a grown woman and she is still acting like this. She never felt this nervous when she was with Mark. Lord knows how she would have to tell her grandfather that she and Damien are married. The old man might actually tie her down.“Um….A friend?“A friend? Excellent!” He replied with feigned ignorance, savoring his granddaughter’s awkwardness. “Your friend will get the chance to meet a very influential and prominent figure like me. How is that a problem?”Eva sighed, shaking her head at his persistence. “It’s not exactly a ‘friend’… but, anyway, it’s not—”“Oh, in that case, there is no problem with going there. I’ll be sure to introduce myself.” He said smoothly, giving her no chance to refuse. He clearly understood who she meant, and the thought amused him more than anything else. It was so amusing to hear her panic and struggle, especially with her stoic and rigid personality. Who knew this granddaughter can also get flustered like other women her age?J
Just as Eva dropped the call with George, Eva planned to rest when her phone suddenly began to ring. A sigh escaped her mouth when saw that the person calling her was none other than Lawrence.Honestly, she planned to give him a call too after she rest but it seems not, since he was the one calling her by himself again. Damien must have informed him that she is awake too.“Grandpa Smith." Eva called after answering the call.“Evangeline, it's a relief to know that you're awake. How are you doing?" Lawrence calm old voice rang out through the phone.“Better than ever, Grandpa. I'm sorry if I had you worried about me.” Eva replied with a small smile.“As long as it's about your safety, worrying is not something you should apologize for. Besides, Damien told me about what happened to you and he informed me that he has handled everything." Lawrence replied."Yes,.......I guess he already handled everything…..” Eva trailed off. It seems like Damien has done more than she knew.‘I have to t
Eva swallowed, the memory of the last time they’d tried to drag her back surfacing in her mind. The invitation had begun as a polite request to “talk things over,” but gradually, the meeting had grown sinister, their words laced with veiled threats. Only the intervention of her grandpa’s guards had prevented it from escalating further.“Alright,” She replied softly. “I understand.”“If you see anything unusual, anything at all, no matter how minor it is, I want you to contact me or Brian immediately. Is that clear?”“Yes, Grandpa,” She answered, though her thoughts drifted. If they truly did come for her, she would have to face a dilemma. She could fight thugs and mercenaries, but attacking a soldier simply following orders was a line she couldn’t cross. She remembered the camaraderie she had shared with her fellow soldiers, they had been like family. Hurting one of them went against everything she believed in. And even if she tried, she knew that harming an officer was no small thin
Damien’s patience was wearing thin. He had no time for groveling and lies.Sensing his boss’s growing irritation, Eric opened his mouth to speed up the conversation, but before he could, Oliver burst into the room.“Hey, Mr. Piggy, could you shut up?” Oliver snapped, his bright yellow hoodie and ripped jeans contrasting with the grim atmosphere. He twirled a sleek switchblade in his hand, his boyish face betraying a sinister grin.Rex’s brows furrowed at the newcomer. Was this some kind of joke? Who let this disrespectful kid into the room? Besides, wasn't this one way too young to even be here? He was dressed naively young, like a baby chick with that bright clothes.“Hey, human garbage,” Oliver growled, his playful demeanor shifting in an instant. His eyes turned wild, and his grin morphed into something feral. “Don’t look at me like that.” He hurled his knife with terrifying precision, the blade grazing Rex’s neck and leaving a shallow cut. Blood trickled down, making Rex stumble b
Damien didn't speak, instead, he pulled out a gun, turning it around and examining it, a crude expression on his face.His right-hand man, Eric, stepped forward. Unlike his boss, Eric is also active and very talkative in this kind of moment when it comes to cleaning up filth like this."Take a guess," Eric said coolly, his tone sharp enough to cut glass.Rex’s eyes darted to Damien, who was calmly examining a sleek, custom-made gun. A shiver ran down his spine. He recognized the weapon—a modified Smith & Wesson, known for its devastating effects. The bullets it fired didn’t just kill, they tortured, leaving behind excruciatingly slow, acid-induced agony. It was an acid that burned through everything until the pearly white bone was exposed. That pain alone would have people begging for death over mercy.Mr. Damien, I-I’m not sure of the purpose of your visit. V-velvet vipers hasn’t interfered with the Cross’s business—”“Blood fist.” Damien’s icy voice cut through the tense atmosphere,
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