“Big Boss! Mr. Eric! You’re here!” Oliver exclaimed, bounding toward them with unrestrained glee. His high-pitched voice carried an unsettling enthusiasm, a jarring contrast to the gruesome scene.“Look, Big Boss, do you like it?” he gestured to the mangled man with the pride of an artist unveiling their masterpiece. His manic grin stretched wide, eyes gleaming with a deranged joy. “This one was fun to play with.”Oliver wasn't someone people could trifle with. He was insane and wouldn't hesitate at the idea of skinning a man alive or brutally mutilating them. As long as it made Damien happy, he would do it.Damien's expression remained unreadable as his gaze swept over the prisoner’s broken body. Skin flayed in neat squares, fingers severed, and nails torn off. Oliver's handiwork was as meticulous as it was horrific.Oliver’s grin widened as he gestured to the man. “See how cooperative he is now? I just had to give him the proper motivation. Isn’t it perfect, Boss? Do you like it?” h
Eric immediately set up a chair for his boss, and Damien sat down, crossing one leg over the other. He leaned back, his expression a cold mask of control.“Then let’s begin.”“Why did you and your men target my woman?” Damien asked, his voice calm but laced with deadly intent.The man’s trembling intensified as he stuttered, “W-we were hired… Just told to rough her up, n-not kill her!”“Who hired you?” Damien’s tone darkened. He wasn't sure if the person behind what happened to Eva was one of his enemies and rivals. Maybe they found out about Eva and tried to use her against him.“I-I don’t know…” the man sammered, his words faltering under Damien's piercing glare.Wrong answer.Damien frowned, the subtle movement sending a ripple of terror through the room. Oliver’s grin faded, replaced by a cold, sinister expression. He turned his sharp gaze toward the prisoner, who whimpered at the realization that he had failed.The dim, flickering light overhead cast sinister shadows across the ro
A faint smirk played at the corner of Damien's lips. The answer didn’t surprise him in the slightest. Velvet Vipers was infamous for managing low-level gangs to handle their dirty work—robbery, intimidation, and petty abductions. While they weren’t a significant threat to someone like Damien, their audacity to target his woman made them a problem that needed eliminating.Eric, already anticipating his boss’s next move, pulled out his phone to contact the necessary people. Damien stood, slipping on his coat as he prepared to leave. His work here was done for now.Just as he turned toward the exit, he noticed Oliver sulking in the corner, his hands gripping the knife tightly as he muttered under his breath.Damien approached the young man and rested a hand on his head. “You did well,” he said simply before walking towards the room exit. He didn't need to see the expression on his face for he already knew Oliver would be brimming with joy.As expected, Oliver's face lit up instantly, his
“Who is the person? Is it someone I know?" “No, you don't." Oliver's eyes narrowed. “You said the person is important? Like… a woman?”Damien was surprised by Oliver's question as he turned to look at the boy. She? It suddenly hit Damien at the moment that he probably still had some of Eva's floral feminine scent on him and Oliver's dog nose already smelled it.“It is a woman, right? Why is she at the hospital?” Oliver continues to question.Damien sighed. “Yes.”“Why was she hurt?” “Because she’s clumsy,” Damien replied, his patience wearing thin.Oliver's questions continued unabated until Damien zhot him a sharp glare. “Enough, Oliver. Go back inside. I have work and can't answer all your questions.”“But-" Oliver was about to protest but he couldn't anymore when Damien shot him another glare.“Alright, Big Boss...I'll stop asking questions…" There was no other expression on Oliver's face than the expression that made him look like a neglected child yearning for his mother's lov
**********The soft rustle of fabric accompanied the nurse as she finished adjusting Eva's bandages. Moments later, a team of doctors shuffled into the room, meticulously checking her vitals and updating her chart. Their scrutiny felt endless, but Eva's irritation wasn’t aimed at them—it was at the glaring absence of Gabriel.Upon inquiring, she discovered he’d been reassigned and replaced with another doctor, a woman.Her lips twisted in a knowing smile. Damien. Of course, it was him.She sighed at the thought. Gabriel was probably one the best doctors in his department at Solace Hospital. Replacing him with someone else, especially out of jealousy, was as unnecessary as it was predictable. Damien's overprotectiveness knew no bounds, even though her blind date with Gabriel had been a complete dead end.‘Typical overbearing Damien Cross.’After the doctors left, Eva found herself sinking into boredom. The day dragged on, and as the sun set, casting long shadows across the pristine roo
She sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. If they were working for Damien, they wouldn’t stand insults against him. She smirked, deciding to bait them.“Fine. Is it your unbelievably stubborn, hideously jealous, and completely insufferable boss, Damien Cross?”One of the guards instinctively stiffened, muttering, “Our boss is not—” and immediately cut himself off, his face paling. He can't believe he just fell for that trick.“Aha!” Eva said triumphantly. “We have our catch. So it is Damien.”Smirking, she stalked back to her bed, grabbing her phone. She dialed Damien’s number, and unsurprisingly, he answered on the first ring.“Evs, you should be resting—”“Young man, tell your men to step aside,” she interrupted, her tone sharp.Damien frowned when he heard her. Asking him to order his men to step aside meant that she had gotten out of bed!His voice hardened. “What are you doing out of bed? Get back to bed right-”“You’re not the Boss of me. I’m not goi
Turning back to the bodyguards, she picked up the IV pole and tested its weight in her hands. It was lighter than she expected, perfect for swift strikes. She had a lot of experience fighting with wooden sticks in her days in the military.Her gaze landed back to the men, a dark scowl on her face.“I’m sure everyone of you all heard the conversation,” she said coolly, her voice steady. “If you value your limbs, step aside.”The men stood their ground, but the unease in their expressions was clear.When reinforcements arrived to block the entrance entirely, Eva's lips curled into a dark smile. They’ve made a mistake.Gripping the pole tightly, her eyes blazing with determination as she scanned the men creating a barrier at the entrance.“Fine, you've all made your choices. Let's see who’s leaving with bruises.”Eva's grip on the metal IV pole tightened as she positioned herself to strike. Her eyes locked on the bodyguards standing in her way, each one ready to brace for her next move
Eva who was moments away from hitting him with the IV pole again when his pitiful plea caught her attention. “You can tell your boss to rot in hell—” she started, but the man cut her off.“Please, Lady Boss!” he cried, desperation in his voice. “I have a wife, kids, and a family to feed—”Eva's brow twitched at his words. Of course, he definitely wouldn't be a monk like his boss, however, she had a feeling he was saying this to make her feel guilty. “And you have a dog too, I bet?” she quipped sarcastically.His eyes widened in shock. “Y-yes! Exactly! His name is Chase!”She grit her teeth in annoyance, snatching the phone from his shaking hands. “What do you want?” she demanded, her patience wearing thin. She could guess that he was trying to stall time until he got here but she wasn't planning to let him meet her here.The bodyguards flinched in fear. They truly applauded her for her boldness, but they also feared for the poor woman's head! It would really fly if she continued talk
"Ms. Lily, what seems to be the matter here?" the head of the security team, Mr. Billy asked, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd of dazzling socialites and the two strikingly beautiful women standing by the cashier.One exuded an angelic innocence, her golden glowing halo hovering above her head, while the other had a magnetic charm and a commanding aura that was impossible to ignore. Though dressed in casual, understated clothing, it was clear from her demeanor that she came from a background of privilege and influence."Thank goodness you're here, Mr. Billy!" Lily exclaimed dramatically, her tone laced with frustration. "This young lady here is causing an absolute scene! She’s insulting and disturbing one of our valued customers. Her behavior is disgraceful!" She put on a distressed expression, though her eyes still held their usual arrogance.Mr. Billy frowned, sensing there was more to the story. Still, before he could interject, Lily continued her tirade. "Can you believe the aud
Christine didn’t spare Eva another glance as she made her way to the checkout counter, but Eva decided to linger just a bit longer, intrigued by the brewing drama. If her memory served her right, Christine had always been meticulous when it came to spending, often opting for practicality masked as elegance.The sales associate broke the silence. “Ma’am, your total is fifty million dollars. Will that be debit or credit?”Christine froze, her carefully crafted poise faltering for the briefest of moments. A flicker of unease passed through her eyes as she stared at the bill in her hand. The credit card tucked away in her wallet wouldn’t even cover a fraction of the total.If only she had known this little excursion would cost so much, she would have brought her other credit card. But Tanya’s stern advice echoed in her mind: minimize spending and public outings until the scandal blows over. If anyone caught wind of her shopping extravagantly in the midst of her controversy, it could spark
……..The days passed peacefully, with little to disrupt Eva’s recovery. Soon enough, she found herself healed enough to venture beyond the confines of Damien's mansion. Thanks to Damien, she has been focused on causing chaos but he had been the ones to take extra care of her injury and body. Her wounds had started to fade, and the scar-reducing ointment he had given her worked wonders. Now, she was as elegant as ever, with no visible marks left behind.The upcoming banquet was less than a week away, and Eva decided it was time to shop for the perfect dress. Her grandfather had specifically requested that she shop at Stardom Mall, not only to show respect to the Banks family, who managed it, but also to honor the family’s deep ties to the mall. Everyone there knew better than to disrespect Lawrence Smith’s favored granddaughter—a figure of power who held significant shares in the mall.Eva opted for a casual outfit of black leggings and a simple hoodie. She believed comfort was key for
Eva leaned her elbow against the window, a sly smile forming on her lips. “Let’s just say certain people needed a reminder of where they stand.”“I knew it!” Nathalia burst into laughter, the carefree sound lifting Eva’s mood further. “I was telling one of the stylists yesterday, ‘Eva doesn’t let people get away with things. If she’s back, she’s back with a bang!’ And look at you, proving me right.”“I didn’t do anything without reason,” Eva replied, her voice calm but firm. “Christine and Mark needed to be handled. And Director Rick? Well, he made his bed.”“Oh, believe me, I’m not judging,” Nathalia said, her tone growing slightly wicked. “You know I love seeing Christine squirm. She’s got that fake, angelic act down, but I’ve always known she’s rotten to the core.”Eva smirked. “You’re not wrong. She’s good at pretending, though.”“Too bad for her that she’s not as good as you,” Nathalia teased, a playful lilt in her voice. “By the way, did you see the video of Mr. Carl’s press con
Mr. Carl hesitated, clearly weighing his next words. “Given your... influence and recent actions, I wanted to request that you refrain from taking further steps that might escalate this situation. We’re still cleaning up the mess left by Director Rick, and another scandal would be... disastrous.”Eva crossed her arms, regarding him with a cold, calculating gaze. “Mr. Carl, I don’t cause chaos for the sake of it. Every move I make is deliberate and justified. If you’re asking me to sit quietly and tolerate disrespect, I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong person.”“I’m not suggesting that,” Mr. Carl said quickly. “I’m only asking for your understanding. The company can’t afford another scandal right now.”Eva tilted her head slightly, her smile fading. “The person you should be worried about is Christine, not me. Both she and Mark have already shown that they won’t back down quietly. If I were you, I’d focus on keeping them in check.”Gwen cleared her throat, stepping in to soften the te
The next morning, Eva stepped out of the sleek black car with Gwen by her side. Both women radiated confidence—Eva in her tailored black suit and Gwen in a navy blue dress that reflected her sharp managerial style. HB Industry’s towering headquarters loomed before them, gleaming in the sunlight as if trying to hide the chaos within its walls.“Ready?” Gwen asked, glancing at Eva as they walked toward the building’s entrance.Eva smirked, her heels clicking confidently against the marble floor as they entered the reception area. “I’ve been ready since the moment I stepped back into this industry.”It wasn’t long before they were escorted to Mr. Carl’s office. The CEO of HB Industry rose from his chair as they entered, forcing a professional smile as he extended his hand.“Miss Carter, Miss Langley,” he greeted them, his tone polite but guarded. “Please, have a seat.”Eva and Gwen took their seats, and Mr. Carl sat down, adjusting his tie nervously.“To what do I owe this visit?” Mr. Ca
She paused at the door, her hand resting on the sleek silver handle. Instead of leaving, she turned back toward Kai with a mischievous glint in her eyes.“You know,” she began, folding her arms and leaning casually against the doorframe, “we’ve been talking about me and my plans all morning, but there’s something far more interesting we haven’t discussed.”Kai raised an eyebrow, already sensing trouble. “Oh? And what’s that?”“Your love life,” Eva replied with a grin, emphasizing the words like they were the juiciest gossip she’d ever uncovered.Kai groaned, leaning back in his chair. “Not this again, Eva. I don’t have time for love. Running a company is already a full-time job.”“Oh, please.” Eva waved a dismissive hand as she strolled back toward his desk. “That’s the oldest excuse in the book. You’re not fooling me.”Kai sighed, rubbing his temples. “And what, exactly, am I supposedly hiding from you this time?”Eva leaned on his desk, her smile growing sly. “Let’s just say I have
……..Eva stepped into the sleek, modern office of Elite Entertainment, her heels clicking against the polished floor. The massive windows behind Kai’s desk offered a stunning view of the city, but Eva’s attention was fixed on the man seated before her. Kai, the CEO of Elite Entertainment and her closest friend, leaned back in his chair, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.“Eva,” Kai greeted with a warm smile as he gestured for her to sit. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Usually, I have to chase you down to talk.”Eva smirked, taking a seat across from him. “You’re exaggerating, Kai. I’m not that hard to find.”Kai raised an eyebrow. “Considering the chaos you’ve been stirring up lately, I’d say you’ve been keeping yourself quite busy.”Eva’s smile widened, but there was a glint of mischief in her eyes. “I suppose you could say that.”Kai leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “So, tell me—what’s the plan now? You’ve exposed Christine and Director Rick, shake
There was a long silence on the line. When Matthew finally spoke, his tone was icy. “You’re making a mistake, Eva. This vendetta of yours will come back to bite you. Mark my words.”Eva’s voice was steady, but her words were sharp as a blade. “The only mistake I made was ever thinking you cared about me. Don’t call me again unless it’s to apologize—and we both know that won’t happen.”“You're a mistake in my life, Evangeline Carter!" Matthew snapped angrily which almost made Eva laugh out loud.“That’s your loss, you should have gotten rid of me when you had the chance, Father , I'm prepared to drag all you down if it means I have to shred a part of me again. No matter how much power you oisseeWithout waiting for a response, she ended the call and tossed her phone onto her desk.Eva set the phone down, her jaw tightening slightly as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. The faint hum of the hairdryer and the quiet murmurs of her styling team filled the room, but her thoughts we