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
She attempted to lift her knee, but a stabbing pain shot through her abdomen, and she immediately doubled over, clutching her stomach as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. The pain was sharp and lingering, a reminder of her vulnerability.She let out a frustrated breath, even though it really hurt for her to climb up the bed that didn't stop her stubborn persistence in doing so without any help. ‘I can do this on my own,’ she told herself, adjusting the bed controls in an attempt to lower it. She jabbed at random buttons, muttering irritably under her breath as the bed’s position only worsened."Stupid bed!" She grumbled, her brows furrowing in frustration.She was too busy in attempting to shift the bed to hear the sound of the door opening and closing.Suddenly, arms wrapped around her from behind just a few inches above her abdomen, carefully avoiding the tender area near her injury Eva gasped, her body stiffening, instinctively preparing to elbow the living daylight out of
---As the banquet neared its end, Damien escorted Eva to his car. He fully intended to take her home—to their home—hoping to spend the night by her side. But his plans were thwarted by an all-too-familiar figure: her meddling grandfather.The moment Eva settled into the car, her phone rang. Damien, still holding the door open for her, frowned at the sound. When he saw the caller ID, his expression darkened further. Of course, it was him.While Eva answered the call, Damien’s sharp eyes scanned the area. Hidden in the shadows near the back entrance, a figure lurked—one of George’s men, undoubtedly there to keep tabs on her. His presence only worsened Damien’s mood.“Yes, Grandfather, I’m leaving the banquet now,” Eva said into the phone, her tone polite but weary. “Yes, I’ve made a few connections… I’m heading home? No, not to Damien’s. I know, I know, there will be more rumors if—”Before she could finish, Damien snatched the phone from her hand.“She’ll be perfectly safe with me,”
Eva turned to him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Did you do this?" She lifted her gaze to meet his, realizing he had been watching her the entire time, his piercing eyes fixed solely on her. She had heard whispers, unconfirmed reports that Lydia was behind the replica of the blue dress that was sent to her. But to see her now, reduced to this state, it seemed the consequences of her actions were almost... excessive. "Yes," Damien replied without hesitation, his tone calm but firm. He tried to guide her out of the banquet, his hand lightly pressing against her back, but Eva stood her ground, refusing to move. "Why?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. Damien’s sharp eyes narrowed at her question, his jaw tightening. What did she mean, why? That woman had orchestrated her public disgrace, and now Eva was hesitating, questioning the justice served? Did she not understand that showing mercy to enemies was akin to betraying herself? "She was responsible for your humiliati
Christine’s nails dug into her palm, her anger simmering beneath a mask of civility. She longed to lash out, but Damien’s presence reminded her of her place. Any wrong move could lead to her downfall.“It’s unbecoming to insult others so publicly…” Christine’s voice was a deliberate attempt at calm, but it lacked conviction.“The truth often stings, get over it.” Eva replied coldly, her unapologetic tone reinforcing her dominance. The crowd e were not even surprised by her response because they were used to this behavior of hers, but they were taken back by Christine's sudden desire to argue with Eva.Wasn't Wasn’t Christine supposed to be the passive type, the one who ended arguments rather than starting or joining them? The sudden shift in her behavior was beginning to alter everyone’s perception of her, casting doubt on the image she had so carefully cultivated.Dusti standing nearby with a glass of wine, observed the scene with quiet amusement. Eva’s sharp wit was refreshing, a st
Damien’s sharp eyes caught a pair of hostile ones fixed on Eva. His expression darkened when he realized it was Christine. His gaze turned icy, delivering a silent warning that made her falter. Christine’s confidence wavered when Damien’s piercing eyes met hers. His aura was suffocating, his authority undeniable. With a single move, he could dismantle her fragile plans. She swallowed hard, regretting the brief moment she dared to linger. “G-good evening, Mr. Cross,” she stammered, attempting a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She felt unsteady, as if the ground beneath her might crumble. Was he upset because she hadn’t acknowledged him earlier? Or because she had looked at Eva with disdain? Damien’s lip curled in disgust. “Did I give you permission to address me?” Christine froze, feeling the weight of his words crash over her. Her carefully built composure shattered. Without the protection of Mark, she stood alone, exposed to his scrutiny. Even if Mark was here, she knew there w
Countless women wished to be the one to draw a smile from him, a rare expression meant solely for them. He was an untamed force, but the way he treated Eva—his unwavering attention and subtle tenderness—hinted at the kind of man he was. Rough and formidable, yes, but also capable of being an extraordinary lover.Arabelle grinned triumphantly. "You better keep that promise about tomorrow's cake!"Her parents never seemed to care about her enough to even order her favorite cake. She wondered if they even knew what her favorite food was…… Speaking of them, her mood shifted as her gaze returned to Eva. "What you told me back in the hos-" she cleared her throat. “In the room worked so well!" She carefully avoided mentioning her hospitalization in front of the watchful eyes of socialites, knowing how ruthless they could be."That’s good to hear," Eva replied, though her focus momentarily shifted to Dustin, who had been silently observing her. She was trying her hardest to not glare dagger
"Why do you like the speech?" Arabelle asked, her gaze steady as she tested Eva, searching for any signs of bluffing like Christine often attempted."Because it addresses a topic on everyone's mind but is rarely spoken about because not many people have the courage to speak against it. It's controversial in a society obsessed with creating perfect, high-achieving children for parents to parade around like trophies." Eva’s voice carried a note of conviction, her own experience with demanding parents lending weight to her words.She knew too well the consequences of overwhelming pressure on a child. While it might produce seemingly "exceptional" individuals, it could also wreak havoc on their mental health, potentially leading to conditions like depression. Instead of addressing the root causes, society often dismissed these issues as mere weaknesses.For Arabelle, a gifted child herself, to stand on stage and critique this system, it brought credibility and provoked deep reflection. It
Eva, on the other hand, had no choice but to become proficient in several languages. Having been secretly involved in assisting her father and Mark with their business ventures, she often found hherself traveling to meet international clients and secure deals. For For her, mastering foreign languages had been a necessity, not an option. Meanwhile, Christine dismissed it as irrelevant to her, believing she’d never need such skills.Now, Eva found herself in an awkward position. She couldn’t admit to Arabelle that she hadn’t actually listened to her speech. The truth was, she hadn’t understood a word of it—it was in Chinese, a language Christine had deemed unnecessary to learn. Admitting this would only make her look unprepared and unrefined, two things she couldn’t afford in this setting.Floundering for an answer, Christine searched her mind for something to say, but the silence stretched too long. Arabelle's excitement dimmed, her expression hardening.“You didn’t actually hear it, d
After his speech, Dustin mingled effortlessly with the crowd, his demeanor warm yet subtly calculating. His relaxed smile and approachable air made him an instant favorite among the attendees. He carried himself with a calm charm that made people feel at ease, though there was a sharp intelligence in his eyes that hinted at his true nature. It was hard to believe this was the same hotheaded man Eva remembered from years ago.Eva observed him from a distance, her thoughts clouded with intrigue. Dustin's transformation was nothing short of remarkable. He had once been easily provoked and impulsive, a man ruled by his emotions. Now, he was calm and composed, exuding an aura of quiet confidence. She couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted such a dramatic change. Personal growth? A harsh lesson from life? Whatever it was, it had left a lasting mark.Her gaze shifted to Damien, standing a few feet away. He was engaged in a deep conversation with another man, his hand still lightly restin
The hum of the crowd hushed as someone emerged at the top of the grand staircase. A tall, striking man descended with the confidence of a king. His laidback smile masked the guarded expression in his eyes. Symmetrical features, high cheekbones, and an aristocratic nose gave him a commanding presence.Eva’s jaw tightened as disdain swirled in her chest upon laying eyes on the man.Dustin Banks. The start of tonight's show. The reason why she was forced to be here at this damned party, one way or the other.The new CEO of Dust Flex Conglomerate and the sworn enemy of her second best friend, Kaiser.He looked so carefree, completely oblivious to all the lives he had disrupted in his adolescent years when tormenting others was merely a game—a game where he calculated how quickly his chess pieces would break.She could still vividly recall the pain-stricken face of Kai when he barely managed to escape a brutal beating instigated by Dustin’s underlings. Though Dustin wasn’t there to witness