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
With a smirk, he looked up, watching her reaction as her expression shifted between irritation and something softer. “You seem a little more flustered than usual, Eva,” he teased, his fingers interlacing with hers.“Just—stop,” she mumbled, though her voice was softer, a trace of a smile tugging at her lips. He snickered, clearly enjoying her embarrassment as he brought her hand up to his chest, holding it over his heart as if to steady her.“You know,” he murmured, his voice low and steady, “the more you argue with me, the cuter you look.”Eva’s blush deepened, and she turned her head away, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of seeing how much he affected her. But Damien didn’t let her hide. With a gentle but insistent touch, he lifted her chin once more, forcing her to meet his gaze.“You’re definitely trying to seduce me, don’t deny it,” Eva retorted, her cheeks flushing as she caught the playful and alluring gleam in Damien’s eyes. His steady gaze drew her in, and the longer s
She tried to fight back the tension, but the words came out breathless, “That’s you, Damien. Don’t get it twisted and confused here.”He smirked, delighted by the effect he had on her. He let his hand trail up to cup her cheek, his thumb tracing delicate circles against her skin. She leaned into his touch, feeling herself soften against his hand. “At least I own up to it,” he said, his voice a soft murmur against her ear as he placed a quick kiss just below it.She shifted on the bed, her hand accidentally grazing his. Before she could pull it away, he caught it, holding her fingers gently. Not wanting to give her the chance to move it away, he quickly grabbed it, releasing her cheek and shifting his weight onto his other arm.“I'm denying it because it's not true hon—mmph!” Before she could deny anything else, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss.His hand slipped to the back of her neck, guiding her closer so that her lips fit against his perfectly, giving him
He had promised her he would wait, and he thought he would be able to stay away from her lips until she initiates things on her own. But having tasted those delectable lips once, how can he keep himself from coming back?He didn't think a woman would ever make him this crazy. The way her body reacted to him, her breathless moans, the way her lips molded perfectly against his, and how she tried to match his pace...Everything about her made it hard for him to think about anything else aside from her.Every part of him wanted her, yet, he knew that she might not be able to enjoy his intensity.He took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly as if to clear his thoughts. “What have you done to me?” he whispered, his voice a mix of wonder and exasperation as he searched her face. “I can’t think straight. The second I’m near you, everything else just… fades.”His words made her heart pound, and she felt herself soften as she raised a hand to rest it against his chest, feeling the fast, stea
A slow, beautiful smile graced her face. For once, she did not disagree with him.Seeing that tender smile on her face, he felt his heart swell with happiness. He suddenly let go of her face to wrap his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.He was scared this was just a dream and that he had made it all up in his head. The more their relationship improved, the more he was scared of losing her. He didn't think someone would be able to sway him this much.Since when did he start to feel like this? When did his irrational fear and emotions begin to develop for her? He thought back to their first encounter as a child, where she happily greeted him despite the displeased scowl that was always on his face and his eyes that illuminated a murderous chill.All the other kids were too scared to interact with him, but she was the first to present him with a smile as blinding as the sun and as pure as snow. He now knows...even after the years of separation, his feelings for her had a
From behind Damien, Eva peeked out, her heart leaping when she noticed her grandfather, George, standing near the doorway, his expression both cold and disappointed. A feeling of dread settled over her.“Grandfather…” Her voice was small, almost drowned out by the tension in the room.“Eva.” Her grandfather’s voice was as sharp as broken glass, his disapproval clear at the scene in front of him.She had rarely heard him sound so upset, and the sting of it pierced deeper than any horn. This is the first time she would be seeing her grandfather face-to-face in years and they end up in this situation. Realizing where she went wrong, she tried to scramble out of the bed.Seeing her unease, Damien’s arm instinctively tightened around her, keeping her where she was. He cast a look toward George standing up fully and shielding her from view. “I stayed the night here. It was my choice to do so.” His voice was as unyielding as steel. Despite his current appearance, his aura was still as fright
The sound of glass shattering echoed through the luxurious hotel suite as Christine hurled a vase across the room. Her chest heaved with rage, her nails digging into her palms as she glared at the headlines flashing on her phone screen. Her latest scheme to ruin Eva’s reputation had backfired, and instead of dragging her sister through the mud, she had only strengthened Eva’s position. Every carefully placed trap had been countered, every lie had been exposed. Christine had never felt so powerless. Sitting on the couch, Tanya crossed her legs and sighed, watching Christine throw another decorative piece to the floor. She had been working with Christine for years now, and while she had always known that Christine despised Eva, it was becoming clear that this wasn’t just about competition anymore. ‘It was an obsession’ she thought. Tanya remained silent as Christine raged, knowing full well that any attempt to calm her down would only make things worse. Instead, she waited for the
— That evening, Eva arrived at the mansion, feeling a strange sense of relief as she stepped inside. After staying in a hotel for so long, returning here felt like coming home—not just because of the place but because of who was waiting for her. She slipped off her heels and sighed, stretching her sore muscles. Just as she was about to call out, a deep, familiar voice came from the living room. “Took you long enough.” She turned and found Damien leaning against the doorway, watching her with that quiet intensity that always made her heart skip a beat. His sleeves were rolled up, his tie loosened, and despite the exhaustion she knew he must have felt from his long day, there was a softness in his gaze reserved only for her. A slow smile spread across her lips. “Miss me?” she teased, walking toward him. Instead of answering, Damien reached out and gently pulled her into his arms. His embrace was warm, steady—like an anchor. Eva let out a soft breath as she melted into his hold, re
—-- Meanwhile, at Cross Enterprise, Damien was already aware of the situation. Sitting in his office, he scanned the online articles, his expression darkening. Christine had dared to attack Eva through the media, hoping to cause irreparable damage. Big mistake. Damien didn’t tolerate anyone trying to harm what was his. Without hesitation, he placed the tablet down and looked at Eric. “Tell the PR team to shut it down,” he ordered. “And make sure every major outlet retracts the story and destroys whatever companies are involved in this scandal.” Eric frowned slightly when he heard his boss. Again he was trying to protect Eva all again. However, he couldn’t voice out his displeasure so he quietly nodded his head. “Yes, sir.” Within an hour, the suspicious articles started disappearing. Gossip blogs that had been flooded with scandalous headlines were suddenly quiet. Comments under posts were being flooded with contradictions. The narrative was crumbling before Christine’s eyes.
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