His scowl deepened, and for a moment, she thought he might explode. But instead, he bit back whatever retort had been on the tip of his tongue. He knew that pushing her further would only backfire.“I understand you hate hospitals,” he said after a long pause, his voice gentler. “But staying here and resting is for your own good. You’re too stubborn to take care of yourself, so I have to do it for you.”Did he view her as a child? Why was he so persistent in keeping her here? She could recuperate somewhere else with a personal doctor — anything was fine, as long as it wasn't this chemical-filled location brimming with painful memories.Eva’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t need your intervention.”His eyes narrowed, his irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “Don’t be stubborn—”“You’re a hypocrite,” she shot back before she could stop herself. Well, to some extent, she was hypocritical."Ehm, ehm……you demand me to not be stubborn, but here you are again, also being st
It was a bright and sunny day. White fluffy clouds drifted across the clear, blue sky.The distinguished guests dressed in their fanciest attire gathered on the top floor of a five-star hotel. They were here to celebrate the wedding ceremony of Evangeline, the Oldest daughter of the Carter family. She was getting married to Mark Johnson, the man she had been dating and engaged to for the past four years.The floor was covered with white snow lilies and red roses with a long red carpet cutting through from the entrance of the hall down to the aisle. The fresh fragrance filled the air. The guests happily stood along the carpet, all smiles and sending their best wishes.Evangeline was in a grand room getting dressed by the two stylists and their assistant that was hired to help her with her makeup. She sat in front of the dressing table as one of the stylists was applying make-up on her face while the other one was styling her hair."Miss Evangeline, you look perfect in this dress. The d
Standing across the road, Eva glanced back at the hotel where the event was being held for a few seconds before turning her attention back to the road. She reached out her hand to stop a cab that was driving towards her way.After the taxi stopped in front of her, she got in and settled down in the back seat of the cab."Where to Miss?" The cab driver inquired."T-take me to Grand land hotel." Eva replied in a weak and calm tone. She would rather be in another place than to stay back at the wedding event and witness the happy smiles on both Mark and Christine's face while she gets mocked by everyone. Grand Land hotel is a well-known and popular hotel. She didn't know much about the hotel but she heard about it on television and saw it on online platforms. The hotel was not only popular because it was a very nice hotel, it was said that the hotel has a club where people went often to have fun and spend their money. The club even had a private separate club which was known as the VIP
Inside the Grand land VIP section. The VIP section didn't have any glaring neon lamps or loud music. On the contrary, the environment was rather quiet and intimate. This was where the urban white-collared workers and wealthy rich individuals came to relieve their stress. However, in a private room, a small social gathering was taking place. The gathering consisted of all the well- known bachelors in the city and highly wealthy businessmen. In a dark corner, A man who had a cold and aloof aura with an indifferent expression was being surrounded by a group of people. These groups of people present weren't just ordinary wealthy people, most of them were the top giants of Miami and seeing them was very rare, however, they were all gathered here in one place not because of the event but because they were here because of a special guest who was no other than the man sitting in the dark corner. "It's very rare to see Mr. Cross in this kind of social gathering. This time must have been an
Meanwhile, at the club on the first floor. Eva was still seated at the bar counter and completely drunk as she had already finished two bottles of alcohol and was on her third bottle which was about to finish. The bartender who had been watching her from the sideline walked up to her when he saw pouring the remaining drink in the bottle to fill her glass cup. "Miss, I think you should go home now. You're too drunk or do you have someone who can come pick you up?" He said as he cleared the bottles in front of Eva. "Home?" Eva repeated. She also wanted to go home. She wanted to sleep in her soft and comfortable king-size bed. Tonight was supposed to be her wedding night which she was supposed to share with her lovely husband. However, it was just wishful thinking. "How pathetic!" Eva muttered and downed the rest of the drink in her glass. To think the night of her wedding day would be spent at a hotel…. Well, at least it was a five-star hotel and a very famous one. "You," Eva waved
The next morning, the sun was just peeking in the sky, slowly brightening up the whole city. Eva was sleeping soundly on a soft king-size bed in a hotel room.Eva let out a soft groan in pain as she groggily blinked her eyelid. 'Ughhh!!....Why do I feel so weak?'She felt like a person who had been specially graced and honored with the biggest hangover.She felt mouth was dry as she clutched her head which was throbbing in pain with her hand. Eva tried to open her eyes but due to the faint light from the rising sun outside that had shined through the small gap in the curtain which brightened up the darkroom. Eva had to close her eyes back and blinked a few times to adjust to the brightness.Staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, and taking a proper glance at the room. It was spacious, the walls were painted in white giving the room a bright ambience. It was decorated with various expensive modern furnitures giving the whole room a cozy and homey atmosphere. Eva could tell that this was a
"W-what?! Take responsibility for what?" Eva questioned, confused and taken aback by what the man said. She immediately gathered her strength and pushed the man's body off her and sat up on the bed again. "Why are you acting clueless? You have to take responsibility for taking advantage of me last night." He replied in a cold tone as he sat up on the bed too glaring at Eva. Eva fell into a daze for a few minutes when she heard his reply. 'Advantage?' She repeated in her mind. "Did…. Did I hear you correctly, Mister? Eva questioned when she was finally able to regain her composure."You mean…. I should take responsibility for last night?" she added while pointing at herself. "Yes." His response curt, as his facial expression remained cold and indifferent. "Tsk…" Eva scoffed out in disbelief when she heard his confident response. "Why would I be the one to take responsibility for what happened? Are you seriously asking me that?" Eva remarked, this time her tone and expression sudden
Eva stared at the wall in daze, as the man had long left her and was now in the shower. The sound of running water brought her back to her senses, she turned her head and glanced at the wall clock in the hotel room. '11:30''Damn it! That bastard dare to do this to me and not give me a response!' Without a single thought, Eva ignored the throbbing and aching body and struggled to get out of the bed. With the sound of running water, she made up her mind and came to a decision. Glaring at the closed bathroom door, Eva grabbed one of the robes on the shelf and covered her naked body. Seeing her black dress she had worn yesterday on the floor, she sighed in sorrow and pity. The dress was the only one made and she knew how much stress she had to go through before she got this dress, it also cost her a fortune as the dress was so expensive. It was a dress she had prepared to wear after her wedding ceremony but since there was no ceremony she had worn it to the club last night. But now
His scowl deepened, and for a moment, she thought he might explode. But instead, he bit back whatever retort had been on the tip of his tongue. He knew that pushing her further would only backfire.“I understand you hate hospitals,” he said after a long pause, his voice gentler. “But staying here and resting is for your own good. You’re too stubborn to take care of yourself, so I have to do it for you.”Did he view her as a child? Why was he so persistent in keeping her here? She could recuperate somewhere else with a personal doctor — anything was fine, as long as it wasn't this chemical-filled location brimming with painful memories.Eva’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t need your intervention.”His eyes narrowed, his irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “Don’t be stubborn—”“You’re a hypocrite,” she shot back before she could stop herself. Well, to some extent, she was hypocritical."Ehm, ehm……you demand me to not be stubborn, but here you are again, also being st
Eva felt her heart ache at the tone of Damien's voice, so small and fragile, like that of a lost child. Her chest tightened with guilt for having pushed him to this point. Her logical mind chastised her for taking things too far, while her heart yearned to soothe and comfort him.“Will you do it again?” she asked softly, her fingers tracing gentle circles over his rough, calloused hands.Immediately, his hand shifted to clasp hers tightly, intertwining their fingers in a firm yet comforting grip. Her heart skipped a beat at the gesture, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips.“I can’t promise you a definite no,” he admitted, his deep voice muffled as he rested his head on her shoulder. He breathed her in—the intoxicating, calming scent of jasmine filling his senses and clouding his mind. “But I will try my hardest to be lenient.”She paused, unsure how to respond. Sensing her silence, Damien tightened his hold on her fingers, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.“Are you sti
Eva’s heart pounded as she searched for a way to diffuse his anger. She knew that escalating this tension would only make things worse. Desperate, she decided to play a different card—a gamble.“Tell me, how would you like to handle the consequences? Perhaps I should start with—" He was interrupted when she abruptly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. The suddenness of her action made him freeze in place.“What are you doing?" He blinked. "Damien," she murmured softly, her voice sweet and soothing. She pressed her face against his chest, rubbing her cheek against the silk of his shirt.His body stiffened, his clenched fists trembling at his sides. "This won't work," he said, though his voice had lost its sharp edge."I'm cold," she whispered, her words muffled against his chest."Eva," he warned, but his tone lacked conviction."Won’t you hug me?" She tilted her head up, gazing at him with wide, pleading eyes and a slight pout on her lips. Her heart ski
After bidding Belle goodbye and promising her one last time that she would return tomorrow, Eva walked down the hospital halls with a spring in her step. A soft hum escaped her lips, her arms filled with snacks Belle had insisted she take. The little girl had brightened her day and made her feel less alone in the dreariness of the hospital."You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you sayI'm talking loud, not saying muchI'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochetShoot me down, but I get up," Eva softly sang, her favorite song playing in her mind as she strolled back to her room. She smiled, wondering if her friend Nathalie would enjoy the snacks she was carrying.“I'm bulletproof, nothing to loseFire away, fire awayRicochet, you take your aimFire away, fire awayShe was in such a good mood that she even gently danced along the hallway to her. “You shoot me down, but I won't fallI am titanium………..”“You shoot me down, but I won't fallI am titanium” a low voice suddenly com
She paused, her mind flashing back to the countless fights, the shattered dishes, the cold silences that followed her every rebellion. "But I didn’t let their expectations control me. I chose my path, even when it meant walking away from them entirely." Eva let out a sigh, her gaze still focused outside the window. " I really loved it when I refused them, even though it would earn me being slapped senselessly. I always find pleasure somehow and I took pride in becoming the perfect, graceful black sheep of that damned family.” Belle hung on every word, her eyes wide with admiration and curiosity."But," She continued. “I only did it when I was a grown adult, legal enough to make my own choices. My plan wasn't perfect nor did it work in pleasing my family, but then again, why should I continue to please them when they were never family to me in the first place?" Eva gently moved her gaze back to Belle, leaning forward, "However, as someone who has gone through all that, you should k
"So, Belle," Eva began, pulling a chair close to the bed and sitting down. "Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself? What brought you here to this hospital room?" Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the overflowing flowers and gifts surrounding the small child."I caught a fever a few days ago," Belle replied glumly, her voice quiet. Though it was just a fever, she’d been stuck in this hospital for a week. She felt fine now, but her parents insisted she remain."I'm all better now. Nothing hurts anymore. I just want to go home, but they won’t let me." Belle’s lips turned down in a bitter frown as she recalled how her parents refused her calls and ignored her requests to leave. Deep down, she knew they preferred her absence."Why not?" Eva asked softly, though she already sensed the answer."Because they hate me."Eva’s heart clenched at the words, so full of pain and resignation. She studied the young girl, who stared back with guarded eyes that looked far older than her years.
Once the door shut, the girl turned her head slightly. "You can come out now."Eva pushed the gifts aside and slid out from under the bed. She straightened up, her gaze meeting the child’s lifeless, cold eyes. They lacked the innocent sparkle of youth."Why were those men chasing you? Who are you?" the girl asked, studying Eva intently. Despite her disheveled hair and rumpled gown, there was no mistaking the elegant air that surrounded her.Eva smiled faintly, deciding to test the girl’s intuition when she noticed how she was studying her. ‘Let’s see if you're smart. "Who do you think I am?"The child’s eyes narrowed. "You’re not a simple patient.""Oh? What makes you say that?""This is the VVIP floor, accessible only with a private keycard. Your gown is made of high-quality cotton, reserved for VVIP patients.""Well, I could’ve stolen the keycard and clothes," Eva countered.The girl’s gaze didn’t waver. "Despite your messy appearance, you carry yourself with grace. Your posture, ev
Eva jumped in alarm, spinning around to find a young girl sitting on a hospital bed. The room was filled with vases of flowers, their cloying fragrance filling the air. The child, no older than fourteen or fifteen years old, looked at her with wide, innocent eyes, her long hair framing her delicate face.Eva blinked in surprise, her anger momentarily forgotten as she stared at the young child. Somehow she felt something about this girl resembling a boy she used to know. “Hello.”“What's your name, child?" She asked, just as the footsteps outside became louder.The girl smiled faintly. “You’re running from people.” she said nugging at the door.Eva's brows furrowed. “Yes, I am.”. “Quick! Look for her before Boss gets upstairs!”The sound of the bodyguards’ voices rang in the hallway, getting closer. Panic flooded Eva's chest. She scanned the room frantically, looking for a way out, but the space was small, and the windows were sealed shut.She turned back to the girl, her pulse racing
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