---Meanwhile, George had just wrapped up a meeting as the chairman of the company when he noticed the storm rolling in. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, his expression darkening as thunder cracked in the distance.“Prepare the car immediately,” he instructed his assistant, Julian. Without hesitation, Julian made the call, ensuring the driver was ready.Minutes later, George arrived at the hospital. The bodyguards outside Eva’s room stepped aside without question, allowing him entry.When he opened the door, his heart sank.The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of lightning outside. On the bed was a trembling pitiful figure huddled beneath the blanket.“Eva,” he called gently.She didn’t respond.Julian didn’t dare enter the room and remained by the door, with his phone in hand. The weather app confirmed the worst: the storm would last all night. He sighed. There wasn’t much his boss could do within the confines of the hospital.In the end, apart from the
As they left the hospital, George’s gaze remained fixed on the pouring rain outside the car window. His normally unshakable expression revealed a rare hint of worry.“She’s fragile,” he said, almost to himself. “This environment does more harm than good.” He didn't want her to leave the hospital since she just woke up but it seems like it is not helping at all.Lately, he has been digging deeper into Eva's past and how she had been living her life when he had ignored her. Even though the information he got wasn't clear, he was able to find out that his granddaughter had developed some mental health issues but during the time she had disappeared, she was able to recover herself a bit. He just hoped the thunder combined with the irrational fear of the hospital wouldn't bring back any dangerous harm to her because he wasn't willing to take that risk.Julian glanced at him through the rearview mirror. “Sir, will the young miss be returning to the hospital for further treatment?”“Not unle
Moments later, Damien’s phone buzzed with a message.“Don’t be mad at Eva anymore, Damien. Just return her calls. She needs you.” — Nathalia.His lips curled into a scowl. Nathalia’s meddling had gone too far this time, but he couldn’t deny her words hit a nerve.Eva’s trembling figure flashed in his mind, and for the first time in hours, he felt the stirrings of guilt.………When Eva arrived at the main mansion, the new staff were visibly startled by the sight of a grown woman trembling in fear of thunder. Old Butler Song, however, was unperturbed. Familiar with her childhood anxieties, she quickly took charge. Leading her to her room, she had the curtains drawn, the windows locked, and the lights turned on.She ordered warm milk with honey and instructed the staff to bring in a noise-canceling machine. Soft piano music played in the background to drown out the thunder’s rumble. Once Eva drank her milk, she fluffed her pillows and persuaded her to lie down.At last, Eva succumbed to sl
The next morning, Doctor Sam arrived at the mansion to check on Eva. He ensured her bandages were clean and properly dressed before prescribing a regimen of light exercises, such as daily walks in the garden.George, ever meticulous, had ordered medical supplies to be delivered from the hospital, including IV bags and a drip pole. No one dared question his decisions, knowing better than to challenge the formidable patriarch.After ensuring everything was set up for Eva’s comfort, George prepared to leave for work. Before departing, he gently patted her head.“Eva, I’m heading to the office now,” He said.Eva looked up from her thoughts. “Why are you going to the company?” she softly asked. She remembers that her grandfather said he wanted to stop going to the company and that was why he appointed his son, Raphael as the CEO of the company. “That’s because your uncle has gone on a business trip and there are matters that need my attention at the company.” George calmly replied and exp
At three in the morning, Damien silently wandered through the dim hallways of the Black Mansion. He was impressed by the high-level security surrounding the estate. The electrified fences, guard dogs pacing near the main door, and laser beams hidden within the hallways were all expertly placed—but nothing could stop Damien.The soft glow of the full moon seeped through the tall windows, lighting his path. After a few moments of searching, he found a door with a golden plate engraved with Eva’s name.He pushed it open, the door clicking softly as he locked it behind him. His footsteps made no sound on the polished floor, but a faint, heart-wrenching cry made him halt in his tracks.“No... I’m sorry…”Damien stiffened. His sharp gaze snapped toward the bed where delicate muslin curtains draped down from the canopy.Her muffled sniffles and broken sobs were like knives stabbing at his chest. The sound of her despair pulled him forward, and he gently pulled back the curtain.The sight bef
As the minutes ticked by, her breathing evened out completely, and Damien could tell she had fallen into a deeper sleep. He leaned back slightly to observe her peaceful face, but her hands gripped his shirt tighter, pulling him closer.“...Damien…” she mumbled, her voice barely audible.His eyes widened at the sound of his name on her lips. A soft smile crept onto his face.“I’m here,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her damp forehead. At first he thought she was awake but seeing how tightly her eyes were shut, he couldn't help but let out a sigh. Was he expecting her to say something?“D…Damien….. I-I….” She suddenly grumbled some gibberish which made Damien look at her again. Knowing that she was only sleep talking and would end up saying something confusing, he raised his hand up and stroked her hair again. However, he stopped when she spoke again."...You..." He frowned, realizing he’d missed the first part of her murmuring."Even in your sleep, you're such a tease,"
He spun around quickly, only to feel a sharp pang in his chest at the sight before him. It was the first time he had seen her cry because of him, and the experience was nothing short of devastating. The sight shattered his heart and left his mind reeling, stripping away any semblance of reason. All he could think about was holding her, comforting her, and making the pain disappear.“There’s nothing to talk about,” Damien said, his words cutting through the silence like a blade.Eva felt her heart shatter, each syllable ripping through her chest. A wave of unbearable pain swelled within her, threatening to crush her completely.“Damien, I—”“Let go of me.” His voice was sharp, cold, and gruff, the irritation laced in his tone striking her like a physical blow.Eva opened her mouth to reply, but no words came. Her lips trembled, her eyes stung, and her throat tightened with unshed tears. She had promised herself she wouldn’t cry, not again, but it was a battle she was losing.“No.” Her
Her eyes, usually so bright and full of life, glistened with tears that fell in unrelenting streams. Those beautiful eyes, once akin to brilliant stars, now reflected nothing but hurt. He stepped toward her instinctively, but she moved back, widening the distance between them.Regret struck him like a wave, heavy and suffocating. He hadn’t intended to push her so far, to break through her boundaries in this way. He only meant to test her resolve, not to wound her so deeply. Now, guilt and remorse clung to him like an oppressive weight as he stood frozen, unable to undo the damage he had caused.“Look away…” she begged, her voice shaking as she pressed herself against the glass window.Despite how she promised her to never win Damien over with her tears, she couldn't control herself. She swore she would never cry over a man as she had done with Mark in the past.“Eva,” he whispered, stepping closer, but she held up a trembling hand to stop him.“I’ll stop bothering you,” she stammered
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
The sleek black car pulled up in front of Cross Enterprise, and Eva didn’t waste a second stepping out. Instead of the casual home-cooked meal she initially planned, she had opted for something more refined—a gourmet lunch from one of the most renowned restaurants in the city.“Wait here,” Eva told Gwen as she adjusted her coat.Gwen smirked knowingly. “Of course, take your time, lover girl.”Eva rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She knew exactly what she was doing. There was no need to hide anymore—not after the scandal had already made headlines, exposing her connection to Damien. So, she walked into the building with confidence, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor of the grand lobby.The moment she stepped inside, all eyes were on her.Employees, visitors, and executives alike paused in their conversations, their gazes snapping toward the stunning supermodel who had just entered the headquarters of one of the most powerful companies in the world.It wasn’t just her
--- After the Fitting As Eva stepped off the platform, Gwen handed her a bottle of water. “You handled that beautifully.” Eva took a sip and smirked. “Christine’s getting predictable.” Trix rolled her eyes. “What’s next? Tripping you on the runway?” Eva chuckled. “If she does, I’ll be ready for that too.” Christine might have thought she could sabotage Eva with clumsy tricks, but Eva wasn’t easily shaken. When they got to her room, Eva sighed in relief as she kicked off her heels, rolling her ankles to ease the tension. “What’s my schedule looking like today, Trix?” she asked, rubbing her temples. Trix scrolled through her tablet, barely glancing up. “You have a photoshoot with Victoria this afternoon after you wrap up here.” Eva groaned, sinking into the plush chair. “Can’t we reschedule? At this point, I can’t tell if she’s just dedicated to her work or if she’s obsessed with overworking me to death.” Gwen chuckled, settling onto the couch beside her. “She’s taken a real l
The fashion house hosting the campaign had scheduled a fitting session for all the models. The room buzzed with activity as assistants, designers, and stylists adjusted gowns and accessories. Eva arrived, poised and confident, dressed in a sleek black dress. Gwen and Trix trailed behind her, chatting about the campaign’s recent success. Christine was already there, surrounded by a few stylists, her laughter deliberately exaggerated as she chatted with a designer. Eva ignored her and focused on her fitting. A stylist handed her an elegant white gown, its fabric shimmering under the lights. It was one of the most anticipated pieces of the campaign, and Eva knew this photoshoot would be critical. As she stepped onto the fitting platform, Christine made her move. A designer approached Eva with a clipboard, giving her details about the shoot. Christine, pretending to walk past, "accidentally" tilted a cup of coffee in Eva’s direction. Time seemed to slow. The dark liquid splashed on
Christine arrived at the elegant restaurant exactly on time, her usual sweet smile in place. Despite her outward composure, she couldn’t deny the slight unease settling in her stomach. Victoria had announced Eva as her chosen model two days ago, yet here she was, inviting Christine for lunch. It didn’t make sense. Christine had had done everything in her power to sway Victoria against Eva, planting doubts, twisting the truth, and playing the concerned friend. But it had failed. Eva hadstill won. So why am was. she here? Pushing aside her skepticism, Christine decided to play along. If Victoria wanted to meet, she would act as if nothing was wrong. “Victoria,” she greeted warmly as she reached the table. “It’s so good to see you. I was surprised by your invitation.” Victoria, sitting across from her, barely reacted. Her expression was unreadable, her fingers lightly tapping against her wine glass. Christine took a seat gracefully, keeping her smile in place. “I have to say, you
-- As soon as the meeting ended, Christine marched straight toward Eva, her heels clicking against the marble floor. “Sister,” she greeted with a bright, almost saccharine smile. “What you did back there was so impressive.” Eva remained expressionless, her arms crossed as she stared Christine down. Christine’s smile didn’t falter. “I didn’t realize you had such a creative spark. Tell me, when exactly did you see my idea and decide to… improve upon it? Did you happen to glance at it while I was working?” Her voice was sweet, but the accusation was unmistakable. Before Eva could respond, Trix stepped forward, her sharp gaze locked on Christine. “What exactly are you trying to imply, Christine?” Trix asked coldly. Christine feigned innocence, tilting her head. “Oh, nothing serious. I was just wondering how my idea—one I spent so much time refining—was suddenly overlooked in favor of something… so similar.” She cast Eva a knowing smirk. Eva arched an unimpressed eyebrow. “You mea
The collaborative campaign was one of the biggest projects of the season, featuring elite models, renowned designers, and a top creative team. Eva had spent days preparing for the brainstorming session, refining unique ideas that would make the campaign stand out. However, Christine had no intention of letting Eva shine. This time, she planned to steal the spotlight—by stealing Eva’s ideas. It's been a week after Victoria's incident and just like Tanya had advised her, Christine had piped down. However, it seems her patience is finally going to pay off now that she has seen an opportunity to use. --- The atmosphere in the conference room buzzed with anticipation. Top executives, marketing directors, and creative leads gathered, ready to hear proposals for the campaign’s direction. Eva had spent the past week crafting a concept that was both elegant and modern, something that would redefine high-fashion advertising. She sat at the table, confident but cautious. Christine was
Eva sighed, but she maintained her composure. “That’s not true,” she said firmly. “I have nothing but respect for your designs and what you’ve achieved in this industry.”Victoria raised an eyebrow. “And you expect me to take your word over hers?”Eva met her gaze, unflinching. “Yes. But I also believe actions speak louder than words. Let me prove my sincerity by working with you on something that reflects your vision entirely.”Victoria’s expression softened slightly. “So you’re proposing a collaboration—on my terms?”Eva nodded. “I want to respect your artistry, not overshadow it. Whatever you need, I’m here to deliver.”Victoria hummed thoughtfully, tapping her fingers against the table.Eva arched her brow. “What? You think I’m lying?”“No, I can tell you’re being sincere.” Victoria leaned back, crossing her arms. “I was just wondering how you managed to be such a bitch last night, and now here you are, offering me a deal. It’s like you’re two completely different people. My frien