George was engrossed in the documents he had brought home from the office, his study room silent except for the faint scratch of his pen on paper. The faint knock on the door interrupted his focus.“Come in,” he called, his voice carrying authority.The door opened, and Eva stepped inside, a tray in her hands. The familiar scent of polished wood and old books lingered in the air as she walked toward him. George looked up, his piercing gaze softening slightly when he recognized his granddaughter.“Eva,” he remarked, surprised. “What brings you here?”“I brought you this,” she said, placing a steaming cup of tea beside him.George’s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the cup, then back at her. It wasn’t unusual for the staff to bring him his tea, but Eva rarely did so herself. He studied her face, sensing there was more to her visit.The moment stirred a memory—of a young Eva, her tiny hands carefully carrying a teacup to his office, beaming with pride. The tea had often been awful
The room fell into a tense silence. George’s expression hardened, his sharp eyes narrowing. “Miami?” he echoed, his tone low and probing. “Is this Damien’s idea? Has he put you up to this?”“No,” Eva replied firmly. “This isn’t about Damien. This is my decision.”George frowned deeply, leaning back in his chair. “You’re still injured, Evie. You need time to recover. Going back to Miami, where I can’t keep an eye on you, is unwise.”“I’m fine, Grandfather,” Eva said, her voice steady. “I can heal anywhere, and I’ll be careful. Moreso, I’ve been thinking about everything that’s happened, especially the kidnapping. Someone is targeting me, and I won’t sit around hiding, waiting for the next attack. I need to face this head-on.”“Face it?” George’s voice was sharp. “And how do you plan to do that? Walk straight into the lion's den unarmed? This is dangerous—reckless, even!” His brows furrowed, his expression hardening. “No, Grandfather,” she said, leaning forward, her resolve blazing in
After her conversation with George, Eva spent two more days at the Black Mansion, giving herself time to reflect before making her final decision. The grand halls and serene gardens provided the perfect backdrop for her contemplation. When Eva finally made up her mind, she felt a renewed sense of clarity—she was going back to Miami.When she told Damien of her decision, his concern was immediate. He wanted her to return with him, but Eva had firmly refused. Her trip to California had been for work, and now that her business here was done, she planned to return with the same purpose—work. Nothing else would sway her.Despite his reluctance, Damien respected her decision. “Eva, are you ready?” Gwen called from the living room as Eva descended the grand staircase. Her heels clicked softly against the marble steps, and her suitcase rolled behind her.“Yes. What about you?” Eva asked, meeting Gwen halfway.Gwen nodded, while rolling her eyes. “I’ve been ready for hours.”Eva chuckled soft
……….HB Industry had sent the new manager, Trix, to pick them up from the airport. As Eva and Gwen emerged from arrivals, they spotted Trix standing by the exit, her impatience practically radiating from her. She wore a light green chiffon dress, towering in ten-inch heels, and sported dark sunglasses. Her eyes were fixed on the watch on her wrist. Her whole body exuded a sense of impatience, like as if the roles were reversed and she was an international superstar waiting to be picked up instead.Next to her, a sign with Eva’s name was propped up on the ground. Eva glanced at it briefly but chose to ignore it, walking past Trix without a second thought. Gwen stifled a laugh, noticing Eva’s growing temper.They made their way out of the airport, and it was only halfway to their destination that Eva’s phone rang. The voice on the other end was Trix’s, sharp and annoyed."Eva, where are you? Your flight was supposed to arrive at 12!""I’m already on my way back to the office," Eva repli
*********Meanwhile, at Elite Entertainment...Eva sat in her personal dressing room, leaning back against the plush chair with a sigh of relief. She had just returned from Kai’s office, where the encounter had been far from pleasant.“Why are the people around me so nagging all the time?” she muttered, rubbing her temples and scratching her ear as if trying to dispel the lingering echoes of Kai's scolding voice.The moment she stepped into his office, she was bombarded with a lecture about the dangers she faced and her reckless decisions. Though he had already reprimanded her over the phone when she was in California, it seemed that was just the preview. Today, Kai had unleashed the full movie.He paced back and forth, arms crossed, his tone both stern and worried as he drilled into her about the kidnapping incident and her insistence on returning to Miami. His concern was obvious, but to Eva, it was overwhelming.“I get it, Kai,” she had tried to interject at one point, but he would
“You know Christine is an ambassador for HB Industries too, right? Apparently, someone has been canceling potential contracts and jobs meant for you. And since you weren’t available, most of them ended up being handed to Christine instead.”“Who’s in charge of approving or rejecting contracts for me?” she asked, though she already suspected the answer.The expression on Eva's face darkened instantly. So that is how they've been playing it during her absence, right?Gwen sighed. “Who else? Trix. She’s been rejecting your contracts left and right. Worse, the ones she does accept are from companies with questionable reputations. Those deals won’t do you any favors—they could even damage your standing in the industry.”Eva’s frown deepened. “Christine’s scandal had quieted down while I was in California, but it’s still a hot topic. Damien and Elite Entertainment made sure Mark couldn’t bury the story entirely. Yet, thanks to the contracts Christine has been accepting, her reputation has st
After weighing her options, Trix finally nodded. “I’ll help you prepare everything.”Eva offered a slight nod of approval. “You can leave now." She waved at Trix who nodded and turned to leave. However, just as she reached the doorway, Eva called her again which made her pause and turn back, only to be met with a steely expression from Eva. “One more thing. If you don’t have the ability to handle a PR crisis, then don’t do anything scandalous that I’ll have to clean up after you.”Her words were a direct hit, and Trix’s face went pale. The message was clear: if she couldn’t keep herself out of trouble, she shouldn’t be playing risky games like seducing people she had no business pursuing.For the first time, Trix realized just how far ahead Eva planned. This wasn’t the naïve, easily manipulated woman she’d been led to believe. In contrast, Christine was rapidly being exposed for her dependency on cheap tactics, while Eva seemed poised to not only outshine her but dismantle her influen
After a moment of silence, Damien finally spoke. “Let me change your bandage now,” he said gently. Though he was savoring the moment with her, her health remained his top priority, and he couldn’t let it slip his mind.Eva pouted, letting go of him with a hint of disappointment at his response. She couldn’t argue and allowed Damien to change her bandage carefully."Since we're done, let's head outside," she finally said once he finished. But before she could get up, Damien scooped her up effortlessly in a bridal carry."Hey! What are you doing?" Eva exclaimed, caught off guard by the sudden gesture."You’re not walking on your own," he replied firmly, his expression calm and unyielding as he made his way to the door."I have my own legs, and they work just fine! I’ve been walking around all day," she protested, even as she instinctively leaned into his embrace.“You’re at home now. You don’t need to walk when I’m here. I’ll carry you until you’re fully healed,” Damien responded, his t
Eva stepped out of Kai’s office and made her way to Gwen’s. The polished corridors of Elite Entertainment seemed quieter than usual, but Eva’s mind was far from the ambiance around her. When she entered Gwen’s office, she found both Gwen and Trix waiting for her. The moment Gwen spotted her, she stood with her arms crossed, her expression simmering with frustration.“This is outrageous,” Gwen started without preamble. “Trix just told me everything. What does Mr. Carl think he’s doing? Pairing you with Christine? Is he out of his mind?”Eva closed the door behind her and approached the seating area, her calm demeanor in stark contrast to Gwen’s fiery tone. Trix sat on the couch, her face a mix of concern and uncertainty.“It’s not ideal,” Trix admitted, “but Mr. Carl is thinking from a business perspective. He believes Eva’s influence can salvage Christine’s reputation. That’s the only reason he’s doing this.”Gwen let out a sharp laugh, incredulous. “And we’re supposed to let Eva clea
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