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. “Belongs to?” he spat. “My granddaughter doesn’t ‘belong’ to anyone. She is her own person, and I will not let her reputation be dragged through mud for the sake of your ego.” His gaze flicked coldly over Damien, his expression disgusted.“You claim that she is your lover, right?” George went on, his voice gaining a sharper edge. “Then 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.” George felt his face redden with anger. How dare he keep a mistress while staking a claim on his granddaughter?! Did he t
Damien’s 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. “I understand, sir. But know that I am here to protect her, too.”George lips pursed, “Eva, 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!Damien’s response was swift. “I plan to do more than protect her, Elder Black.” 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
Eva’s heart raced at the sight of Damien speaking so fervently. For a man who kept his cards close, she’d never seen him look so passionate, so resolute about something. He wasn’t just saying this to appease her grandfather; he meant every word.George paused for a while as if weighing Damien’s words before his mouth curved in a faint, approving smile. “Well, if you’re truly that devoted, I’ll trust you with my granddaughter…….for now.”Eva’s 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 they’d settled a contract. Marriage? Family? Leaving his precious granddaughter in Damien’s care?!They were practically planning their wedding as if she weren’t even in the room!‘Where do I get a say in all this?’Eva cleared her throat, trying to insert some logic. “Excuse me—marriage? Can we take a step back? We haven’t 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 grandfather…..“My wounds are fine,” Eva replied, holding her grandfather’s 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. “Call 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. “It seems like they left immediately after they came…. I'm not sure.” she replied not sure if she was right."Is that so…" 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.“My love,” He began in a teasing tone, his smirk widening, “it’s okay to admit you couldn’t resist touching me all night long.”“I did no such thing!” she snapped, her voice rising.“I worked really hard for this body. I’m glad my effort hasn’t gone unnoticed—”“Shut up!”“Touch me as much as you like, darling. I quite enjoyed your fingers running all over me—”“Shut up! Shut up!” 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.“D-Damien—” 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.“Eva,” h
“Damien, there’s someone outside,” Eva warned, attempting to pull herself free from his arms. But his grip only tightened, though he was careful not to press on her injured stomach.“I don’t care.” He buried his face into her neck, breathing in the soft, familiar blend of jasmine and lavender. Three weeks of forced distance had been intolerable, and even last night felt too short. He had waited for this closeness, and he wasn’t about to let go.“Mr. Cross, Ms. Carter we need to change your bandages as soon as possible,” came the hesitant voice of the nurse from outside, her voice almost trembling. In front of her, Damien's formidable guards stood watch, their sharp gazes discouraging any further insistence.“It wasn't changed last night, so it might become infected if it's not changed right now." She continued even though her voice shook and trembled, just like her hands that were holding the tray.‘Just why is it my duty to come here today?’ The nurse cried internally.Eva turned, p
The nurse, who’d been holding her breath, sighed in relief and approached. She cast a smug look at the guards, who reluctantly opened the door, and averted her gaze as she entered the room. Even in his calmness, Damien's aura was intense, the nurse shivered in fear when his expression became rigid and stony upon seeing her. His eyes, glaringly dark and filled with malice, scared her.“Mr. Cross, Miss Carter, I'm here to change the bandages." She stammered, even though she had already said her purpose of being here outside the door, she couldn't help but announce it again. It was quite unnerving to be in the same room as them, in particular, the man who is rumored to be a cold and ruthless person.Damien's scowl deepened when he heard the nurse. She interrupted his moment all because of that! It seems like he would have to make changes to that. Sensing his irritation, Eva squeezed his hand gently. The simple gesture softened his gaze, melting away the tension in his expression. He lo
Meanwhile Eva was busy panicking in her room. Every dress in her closet was stunning, crafted from the finest materials, yet none of them fit her properly! She hadn't gotten any sensible dress for the banquet when she went to the mall. There wasn’t enough time to reach out to a designer for a custom dress that fit her current size. She called the best tailors she knew, but all of them were fully booked. It wasn’t hard to figure out why—the socialites attending the banquet had monopolized their schedules.Eva considered skipping the event altogether but quickly dismissed the thought. Her grandpa Smith would never allow it. Letting out a frustrated groan, she collapsed onto her bed, staring at the ceiling in defeat.Suddenly her phone vibrated against the table, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen. Trix.She picked up, her voice composed despite the knot forming in her stomach. “Trix. What’s the news?”Trix hesitated briefly before speaking, her voice laced with concern. “E
Kai leaned back in his sleek office chair, sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Elite Entertainment’s Miami headquarters. His phone buzzed, and the name “Mr. Carl” flashed across the screen. Sighing, he answered the call, already bracing himself for what was to come.“Kai speaking,” he said curtly.“Good afternoon, Mr. Breaker,” Came Mr. Carl’s smooth and measured voice. “I appreciate you taking my call. I wanted to discuss a matter concerning Evangeline.”Kai’s posture straightened slightly, his instincts immediately alert. “What about her?”“Well,” Mr. Carl began, his tone calculated, “as you’re aware, Christine Carter has been facing some challenges following her recent scandal. While BTG industry has done its best to contain the fallout, her reputation has not fully recovered. This has raised concerns for us at HB Industry, given her collaboration contract with us.”Kai’s eyes narrowed. He said nothing, letting Mr. Carl dig his own grave.“To address this,” M
---The next morning, the media was ablaze with photos of their romantic outing. Paparazzi had captured them at the amusement park, painting them as the ultimate power couple. In every image, Damien’s protective nature was evident—his arm firmly around Eva, his gaze never straying far from her.The headlines praised their chemistry, their undeniable connection. While most media outlets dared not mention Eva’s past, a few foolishly brought up her previous engagement to Mark and unearthed unflattering photos from years ago.Damien was swift in his retaliation. The companies responsible were swiftly dismantled, their employees blacklisted, and the malicious articles erased from existence. His actions sent a clear message: any attack on Eva would be met with swift and merciless consequences.Unaware of the media frenzy, Eva woke up to a flood of messages. Most were from her estranged family, whose sudden interest in her life only deepened her disdain.[Mistress]: Ungrateful child! Why did
Her words seemed to shatter the last of his control. Damien’s movements became more deliberate, his hands exploring her body with a confidence that left her breathless. She felt the heat of his touch through the thin fabric of her dress, and when his lips found the sensitive spot at the base of her throat, a soft moan escaped her.The tension between them built with every touch, every kiss, until it was almost unbearable. Damien’s hands found the straps of her dress, and he slid them down her shoulders, his lips following the path they left behind. She felt vulnerable yet safe under his gaze, the intensity in his eyes making her feel like the most precious thing in the world.Just as they reached the point of no return, the shrill sound of Damien’s phone shattered the moment. He froze, his forehead resting against hers as he let out a frustrated groan. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, his voice filled with irritation.Eva couldn’t help but laugh softly, her cheeks flushed a
She trembled at his words, their certainty sending a ripple through her. He spoke with such confidence, so assured that she would stay by his side for the rest of their lives, and to her surprise, she found comfort in it. There was something deeply reassuring about his unwavering resolve, about knowing he was the kind of man who would cross oceans and move mountains to keep her close—even if it meant chasing her to the ends of the earth just to bring her back."I never intended to run," she whispered, her voice soft but resolute. Her words made his heart race. He tightened his arms around her, unwilling to let go.Eva remained nestled against Damien’s chest, her breath steadying as his strong arms cocooned her in warmth. For a moment, the world around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them in the magical ambiance he had created. The distant hum of the city and the lingering scent of roses faded into the background, replaced by the quiet, steady rhythm of his heartbeat
Okay, now remove your hands."Eva hesitated for a moment before doing as Damien instructed. When she opened her eyes, confusion flickered across her face. Darkness engulfed her entirely, so thick she could barely make out his silhouette ahead of her."What's going on—"Her words faltered as Damien pressed a button. In an instant, the oppressive darkness was replaced with a breathtaking display of shimmering lights.The scenery before her was magical, like something out of a dream. Majestic archways adorned with twinkling lights stretched as far as her eyes could see. Each arch was intricately designed with delicate white metalwork, interwoven with clusters of vibrant flowers. Fairy lights danced across the vivid blooms, their colors blending into a mesmerizing spectrum. String lights cascaded above them, adding to the enchantment.Her gaze drifted downward, and her breath caught. The ground was a carpet of roses—red, white, and pink—arranged in a heart-shaped pattern so intricate it s
Suspicious, Eva pulled out her phone and opened the camera. Her eyes widened in horror when she saw the glaring red marks on her neck—two perfectly visible hickeys."You!" she gasped, smacking Damien’s arm as he burst into laughter."You… you…!" she stammered, completely flustered. Her thoughts raced in a whirlwind of panic. ‘Oh my goodness! Has it been there this whole time? Is that why people kept staring at me?!’"It’s not funny!" she scolded, now using her purse to hit him, much to the amusement of his bodyguards."If it makes you feel better, you can leave some on me too," Damien teased, winking playfully. She retaliated by swatting at him repeatedly, but he was far too amused by her adorable expression to take her seriously. The mere thought of her leaving a mark on him filled him with excitement, his eyes glinting with anticipation and unspoken hopes."You wish!" she snapped, instantly crushing his hopes, though his smirk only deepened."Careful what you wish for," he murmured,
After the haunted house, Eva eagerly dragged Damien from one ride to another—towering roller coasters, spinning swings, and even a few kiddie rides. For her sake, Damien endured the sweltering heat and the endless lines. He’d thought a regular FastPass was fine, but Eva insisted they live like “normal” people for the day.He glanced at her flushed cheeks and noticed her eyes drooping slightly from the heat. With a sharp flick of his wrist, his bodyguards stepped forward. One handed him a hat while the other awaited further instructions."Get iced drinks," Damien ordered, placing the hat gently on Eva’s head.Her curious eyes peeked up at him, and she began to speak, but he cut her off with a sigh. "You're overexerting yourself, silly." Pulling out a pristine handkerchief, he wiped the beads of sweat forming on her forehead with surprising tenderness."But it’s so much fun…" Eva mumbled, reaching for his arm. To her dismay, he dodged her touch at first, only to surprise her by intertwi
Before she could respond, he kissed her with a fierce urgency, his lips claiming hers with an intensity that left her breathless. His mouth was rough and demanding, pulling her closer, but there was also an undeniable sweetness in the way he tasted her. Despite the forceful kiss, a warmth spread through her, igniting a growing heat within her body.A sharp gasp escaped her when he nipped at her bottom lip, the sudden sting quickly soothed by his tongue, the tenderness of his touch both punishing and soothing in equal measure. His kiss deepened, and as promised, her mind spiraled into blankness, consumed by the sensation of his lips on hers. His hand slid behind her, giving her a gentle but possessive squeeze that made her heart race.The soft sound of her breath hitched as he continued, kissing her mercilessly until her lips were tender and swollen. Her legs were barely holding her up, but he was there, steadying her, marking her with every kiss, every touch. When he finally pulled aw