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.âGrandfatherâĶâ Her voice was small, almost drowned out by the tension in the room.âEva.â Her grandfatherâs 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, Damienâs arm instinctively tightened around her, keeping her where she was. He cast a look toward George standing up fully and shielding her from view. âI stayed the night here. It was my choice to do so.â His voice was as unyielding as steel. Despite his current appearance, his aura was still as fright
George's face turned ashen, his eyes darkening with fury at Damien's smug declaration! His granddaughter is his treasured jewel, his prized star. She is the child he personally nurtured! Her business potential was fully developed because of him! She belonged to no one except herself. âBelongs to?â he spat. âMy granddaughter doesnât âbelongâ to anyone. She is her own person, and I will not let her reputation be dragged through mud for the sake of your ego.â His gaze flicked coldly over Damien, his expression disgusted.âYou claim that she is your lover, right?â George went on, his voice gaining a sharper edge. âThen tell me, who is the secretary that so boldly hovering around you? Or did you think I wouldn't know what is happening back there in Miami just because I'm not there? Don't think because you're from the Cross family, I wouldn't dig into your background.â George felt his face redden with anger. How dare he keep a mistress while staking a claim on his granddaughter?! Did he t
Damienâs expression softened instantly and gave her a nod. For her, he would do anything. This stubborn woman refused to ask him for anything, and now that she did, he instantly agreed. He then turned to George with a more measured voice. âI understand, sir. But know that I am here to protect her, too.âGeorge lips pursed, âEva, don't hide behind this birdbrain brute. You don't need a protector like him." Even in his rage, he noticed how protective this man was of his granddaughter. While it was a good and notable trait, having another woman in his life claiming to be his future wife negates all that.Julian nearly cried tears of blood when he heard the insult. B-birdbrain brute?! His anxiety was skyrocketing out the rooftop with his boss's stubborn temperament and rude behavior!Damienâs response was swift. âI plan to do more than protect her, Elder Black.â Damien tried to soften his voice to make it sound more polite, but it didn't make a lot of difference. His grandfather had hars
Evaâs heart raced at the sight of Damien speaking so fervently. For a man who kept his cards close, sheâd never seen him look so passionate, so resolute about something. He wasnât just saying this to appease her grandfather; he meant every word.George paused for a while as if weighing Damienâs words before his mouth curved in a faint, approving smile. âWell, if youâre truly that devoted, Iâll trust you with my granddaughterâĶâĶ.for now.âEvaâs eyes darted between the two of them, confusion taking over her expression. Had they forgotten she was right there? She opened her mouth, about to protest, but the men were already nodding as though theyâd settled a contract. Marriage? Family? Leaving his precious granddaughter in Damienâs care?!They were practically planning their wedding as if she werenât even in the room!âWhere do I get a say in all this?âEva cleared her throat, trying to insert some logic. âExcuse meâmarriage? Can we take a step back? We havenât even officially established
The edge of Damien's lips twitched. He finally saw where she got her daring behavior. So it was from none other than her grandfatherâĶ..âMy wounds are fine,â Eva replied, holding her grandfatherâs gaze. She lightly touched the bandages on her forehead, her mind wandering off to what had happened to cause these bandages.Noticing the change in his granddaughter's face, George knew she was daydreaming about unnecessary things. âCall the nurse in to help you change the bandage. I'm surprised they haven't come and woke you up yet by this hour." George said, diverting her attention to something else.Eva paused when she heard her grandfather, she recalled a small commotion in her sleep that immediately stopped when she mumbled something. She was barely awake when she heard the shuffling of footsteps before it went back to dead silence. âIt seems like they left immediately after they cameâĶ. I'm not sure.â she replied not sure if she was right."Is that soâĶ" George tilted his head to Dami
Damien waited for the sound of George's retreating footsteps to completely fade before turning his attention back to Eva. She looked like she was on the verge of losing her sanity, her face flushed with frustration and embarrassment as she glanced at him. The sight was enough to bring a devilish grin to his face. He found her absolutely adorable like this.âMy love,â He began in a teasing tone, his smirk widening, âitâs okay to admit you couldnât resist touching me all night long.ââI did no such thing!â she snapped, her voice rising.âI worked really hard for this body. Iâm glad my effort hasnât gone unnoticedâââShut up!ââTouch me as much as you like, darling. I quite enjoyed your fingers running all over meâââShut up! Shut up!â she screamed, her hands clenched into fists at her sides as her face turned a deeper shade of crimson. The thought of what he was implying made her want to crawl under the nearest rock and stay there forever. It would be better than dealing with this incr
With a low growl, Damien surged forward, sweeping her into his arms and laying her down on the bed. Before she could process what was happening, his lips crashed onto hers in a searing kiss.His kiss was anything but gentle. It was intense, hungry, and completely consuming. His hand cradled the back of her head, angling it just right as he deepened the kiss. His other hand roamed, exploring the curve of her waist and hips, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake.âD-Damienââ she gasped, trying to catch her breath.He silenced her with another kiss, his teeth gently tugging on her bottom lip before soothing it with his tongue. The sound of her soft moan sent a shiver down his spine, and he pulled her closer, his grip tightening possessively.Her hands instinctively found their way to his chest, her fingers trembling as they brushed over the hard planes of muscle. She felt the steady beat of his heart beneath her palm, the rhythm mirroring the erratic pounding of her own.âEva,â h
âI... Iâm 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 sheâs trying to push me out of the competition,â 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.Markâs voice was low, filled with annoyance. âWhat do you mean, sabotage you? Sheâs already got the public on her side. What else does she want?ââI donât know, Mark. But I canât shake the feeling that sheâs behind some of the things happening to me lately,â Christine continued, carefully planting the seed of doubt. âSheâs been getting more endorsements, more media attention... Sheâs always one step ahead, and I feel like sheâs using me to boost her own career. Maybe sheâs trying to push me out of the spotlight, making sure I donât have a chance to win.âMark was silent for a moment, processing the information. Chr
Eva didnât respond immediately. She could feel the seriousness in Everettâs words, and for a brief moment, the playful rivalry between them was pushed aside.Everettâs eyes softened slightly as she looked at Eva, a rare glimpse of concern flickering in her gaze. âWhat are you going to do about her? Sheâs 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 sheâs been pulling strings, trying to break you down.âEva's expression hardened, her grip tightening on her wine glass. âIâm not sure yet. But Christineâs time is running out.â She gave a slight, bitter laugh. âI wonât let her destroy me.âEverett studied Eva for a moment, her face unreadable. âBe careful, Eva,â she said quietly, her tone more serious than Eva had ever heard. âChristineâs dangerous. And sheâs got a way of making everyone believe her sweet little act.âEva took a deep breath, looking away briefly as she processed Everettâs 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.Christineâs smile faltered. âWhat is she doing here?âBefore she could react, the event host stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand.âLadies and gentlemen, we have a special surprise. While there were some scheduling changes, weâre honored to have Eva here tonight.âChristine stiffened. âWhat? Thatâs impossible!âEva merely smiled, making her way toward the front.Kai had pulled the right strings behind the scenes. Even if she wasnât an official speaker anymore, she was still one of the biggest names in the roomâand 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 donât care what it takesâpull every string, bribe whoever you need to, but make sure Eva does not attend the upcoming fashion event. I want her out, completely.âTanya hesitated. âChristine, are you sure about this? Maybe you shouldâââDonât question me!â Christine snapped, her frustration boiling over. âDo you think I have the luxury of waiting? Eva is already taking the spotlight. If this continues, I wonât even be considered for the Top Ten Models Award!âTanya sighed. âFine. Iâll see what I can do. But Christine, be careful. Youâre playing a dangerous game. If this backfires, it could cost you everything.âChristine scoffed. âPlease. Eva wonât 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 Evaâs reputation, she had only fueled the publicâs 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.âChristine?âShe turned her head slightly, finding Tanya standing near the entrance, a curious look on her face.Tanya was one of the few people Christine trustedâor rather, toleratedâbecause she was useful. Smart, cunning, and always willing to play dirty, Tanya had been by Christineâs side long enough to know exactly how far she was willing to go to get what she wanted.âWh
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 everythingâsabotage, whispers in the right ears, carefully placed rumorsâyet 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 didnât work, she had to change her approach. This time, she wouldnât hide behind shadows. She wouldnât 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 mediaâs 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 thisâhis 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 didnât even glance at the romantic dinner she had prepared. Instead, he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.âChristine, what is this?â His voice was cold.Christine swallowed and stepped toward him. âA dinner. For us.âMark scoffed, shaking his head. âA dinner? Christine, do you have any idea what Iâve been dealing with? My fatherâs furious. Investors are backing out after the Harper Luxuries. I've lost of funds.â His voice grew sharper, filled with exhaustion. âAnd do you know what people are whispering? That my own fiancÃĐe might
The silence between them was thick with unspoken thoughts, but Damien wasnât one to leave things unresolved. He turned slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on her.âWhy didnât you ask for my help?â His voice was calm but held an edge of something deeperâsomething 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 didnât quite reach her eyes.âBecause it was something I could handle,â she said simply. âLike always.âDamienâs expression remained unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly against his knee. âAnd if you couldnât?âEva shrugged. âThen I would have asked. But it wasnât time for that yet.âThat answer didnât satisfy him. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. âEvaâââI know what youâre going to say,â she interrupted, meeting his gaze head-on. âYou think I should have let you take care of it. But Damien, I donât 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 homeâwhere the paparazzi were undoubtedly lurkingâwas 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. âEva.âJust her name. Nothing more. But there was something in the way he said itâlow, controlled, yet sharp with attentionâthat made her exhale slowly.âHey,â she murmured, leaning against the plush headboard.Silence. Then, âWhatâs wrong?âShe almost smiled. He always saw through her.âI canât go home,â she admitted, rubbing her temple. âThe reporters are camped outside. And after todayâs interviewâĶ theyâll only get worse.âDamien didnât answer immediately. She could hear the faint rustling of papers, the click of a pen, before he finally spoke. âWhere are you?ââPenthouse suite at the Grand Royale,â she repli