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
Eva met his gaze, her breath catching as she took in the intense warmth in his dark eyes. His look held something deeper than admiration, there was a fierce devotion there, an affection so steady it made her heart skip a beat. She barely registered that her fingers had moved to gently smooth the dark circles beneath his eyes.“You’ve got dark circles,” she murmured, her tone softening as her fingers traced lightly over his cheek. The position was starting to strain, so she shifted to face him, but he released her the moment she turned.Eva frowned, surprised and a little stung by the sudden distance. Was he uncomfortable looking at her? Did he not want to be this close? But why? Was her hollow face too hard to look at? Was it because he didn't want to directly touch her hair or—Her thoughts spiraled until—“Ow!” She winced, clutching her forehead as he flicked her gently.“You’re overthinking again,” he teased, an amused smile tugging at his lips. “Stop being dramatic, I barely used 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