What kind of nonsense agency is HB Industries to force Eva to attend such a disastrous event? The management must be completely incompetent!" "Seriously, if HB Industries canât handle their artists, maybe they should let us do it. Even high schoolers could do a better job!" "Eva, Eva, what are you endorsing next? Let us know so we can support you!" "Eva, leave HB Industriesâyou deserve so much better." "Eva, weâre cheering for you after how you handled this so brilliantly!" As social media flooded with comments supporting Eva, Christine sat in her room, her nails digging into the fabric of the armrest. She hadnât anticipated Eva flipping the script so decisively, shifting public opinion and exposing HB Industriesâ ineptitude. Her irritation boiled over as she threw her tablet across the room, sending it crashing into a lamp. "How dare she?" Christine hissed, her voice venomous. "This wasnât supposed to happen!" More than Evaâs announcement of a comeback, what enraged Chri
Kai chuckled dryly, a sound that carried no humor. âExplain? Iâd think youâd be the one providing explanations, Mr. Carl. Your Director, Rick, has been making moves that directly impact my model and, by extension, my company. Care to tell me why?âCarlâs jaw tightened as he leaned back in his chair. âI have no idea what youâre talking about. If Rick has overstepped, I wasnât informed. But let me be clearâHB Industry doesnât tolerate unilateral decisions that jeopardize partnerships.âKaiâs tone hardened. âThen I suggest you rein him in before things escalate further. Eva is under my protection, and I wonât stand by while someone from your company attempts to undermine her.âCarlâs brow furrowed. âProtection? Are you implying Rickâs actions were deliberate?ââIâm not implying anything,â Kai replied coolly. âBut Evaâs influence is growing, and there are those who see her as a threat. If HB Industry is looking to make an enemy out of Elite Entertainment, I can assure you itâs a battle yo
Eva walked into the sleek glass lobby of HB Industry, her heels clicking against the marble floor with quiet confidence. Heads turned as she passed, her commanding presence impossible to ignore. The receptionist looked up, wide-eyed, and quickly gestured her toward the executive elevator."Mr. Carl is expecting you," the receptionist stammered, her voice slightly shaky.Eva offered a polite nod and stepped into the elevator, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. Moments later, the elevator doors opened to the top floor, revealing the expansive office of Mr. Carl.âMiss Carter,â Mr. Carl greeted with a practiced smile, rising from behind his desk. His tone was warm, but there was a hint of tension in his eyes. âThank you for coming on such short notice. Please, have a seat.âEva walked in with her usual poise, taking the offered seat but not relaxing. âYou wanted to see me, Mr. Carl. Letâs not waste time with pleasantries.âCarl chuckled lightly, though the sound was hollow. âStraigh
Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode out of the office, leaving Carl sitting in silence. The door clicked shut behind her, and he let out a frustrated breath, realizing he had severely underestimated her resolveâand the potential fallout of siding with Director Rick. As Eva entered the elevator, her phone buzzed in her bag. She smirked, already knowing who it was. âTime to get to work,â she murmured, the fire in her eyes blazing brighter than ever. Half an hour later, an authoritative media outlet dropped bombshell recordings. In these clips, HB Industries executive Director Rick, including Christine, could be heard discussing their plans to sabotage Evaâs career, force her into humiliating gigs, and tarnish her image. The recordings left no room for misinterpretation. The final nail in the coffin was Christineâs unmistakable voice giving explicit orders to blacklist Eva and ensure she took the fall for HB Industriesâ failures. Social media erupted
âĶâĶâĶ.Mark Johnsonâs day had started like any other, filled with back-to-back meetings and plans to handle and solve some of the issues his business empire was having. But it all came crashing down when his secretary hesitantly entered his office, carrying a thick report and a tablet in her hand.âSir,â she said nervously, placing the document on his desk and tablet in front of him. âYouâll want to read this immediately. And this is already trending everywhere.Mark glanced up from his laptop, frowning at her unusual tone. He reached for the folder, flipping it open to reveal a report filled with scandalous headlines. His eyes narrowed as he read the damning words staring back at him: "HB Industry Scandal: Director Rick and Christine Carter Accused of Corruption."The further he read, the more his anger boiled. His fiancÃĐe, Christine, implicated in a public scandal? Her name linked with Director Rickâs unethical dealings? How could this have happened under his noseMark tossed the repo
Christine sniffled, her voice barely above a whisper. âWhen Eva left the industry about a few weeks ago for the photoshoot, Director Rick assigned me some of the contracts she was supposed to accept. I didnât ask for them, Mark. I was just trying to do my job. But when Eva came back, she saw me as a threat. She thinks I took what belonged to her, and now sheâs trying to sabotage me. I donât know how she did it, but she must have dug up something on Director Rick and twisted it to make me look bad. I swear, Mark, Iâve done nothing wrong!âMarkâs jaw clenched as he processed her words. âYouâre saying Eva is behind this scandal? That she exposed Rick just to get back at you? Are you absolutely sure this is Evaâs doing?âChristine nodded, tears streaming down her face. âWho else would do something like this? She's the only one who has something to gain from ruining me. Iâve done nothing wrong, Mark. I swear. Iâve tried so hard to avoid conflict with her, but she wonât leave me alone.âMar
The next morning, Mark wasted no time. He summoned his legal team and private investigators to his office, determined to uncover every move Eva had made since her return to the industry. His fury simmered beneath the surface, but his actions were calculated. Eva was no ordinary opponent, and if she truly had a hand in this scandal, he needed undeniable proof before making his next move.Meanwhile, Christine played her role to perfection. As the scandal gained traction in the media, she deliberately stayed out of the spotlight, ensuring her public image as a sweet, innocent fiancÃĐe remained untarnished.By mid-morning, Christine sat in her private sitting room, carefully crafting a message to Eva. Her words were carefully chosen, painting herself as a victim while subtly challenging Evaâs involvement in the scandal.Christine: Big sister, I donât know why youâre doing this to me. Whatever you think Iâve done, I promise it wasnât intentional. I never wanted to take anything from you, bu
********The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of the Carter mansion, but Laura's mood was anything but sunny. She had spent the night tossing and turning, her mind plagued by the headlines and the scandal involving HB Industries. Though her husband had reassured her that it wasnât their concern, Laura couldnât resist reaching out to Christine, her beloved daughter, to check on her.Picking up her phone, Laura dialed Christineâs number. It didnât take long for the call to connect."Christine, darling," Laura said, her voice dripping with concern. "How are you holding up after all this chaos? I saw the news about HB Industries. Itâs a complete disaster!"On the other end of the line, Christineâs voice cracked as she replied, "MomâĶ itâs awful. I donât know what to do."Lauraâs brows furrowed as she heard the faint sniffles through the phone. "What happened? Tell me everything, sweetheart.""Itâs Eva!" Christine exclaimed, her voice trembling as tears began to spill. "This is
âI... Iâm starting to think Eva might be trying to sabotage me. You know, with the awards coming up, and her growing popularity... I just have this feeling sheâs trying to push me out of the competition,â Christine said, her voice trembling slightly as if she was on the verge of breaking down. She knew Mark would respond to weakness, to vulnerability, just as he always had.Markâs voice was low, filled with annoyance. âWhat do you mean, sabotage you? Sheâs already got the public on her side. What else does she want?ââI donât know, Mark. But I canât shake the feeling that sheâs behind some of the things happening to me lately,â Christine continued, carefully planting the seed of doubt. âSheâs been getting more endorsements, more media attention... Sheâs always one step ahead, and I feel like sheâs using me to boost her own career. Maybe sheâs trying to push me out of the spotlight, making sure I donât have a chance to win.âMark was silent for a moment, processing the information. Chr
Eva didnât respond immediately. She could feel the seriousness in Everettâs words, and for a brief moment, the playful rivalry between them was pushed aside.Everettâs eyes softened slightly as she looked at Eva, a rare glimpse of concern flickering in her gaze. âWhat are you going to do about her? Sheâs the one who caused my accident but had that person lie he was a fan, right? Also with the recent things happening, I can tell sheâs been pulling strings, trying to break you down.âEva's expression hardened, her grip tightening on her wine glass. âIâm not sure yet. But Christineâs time is running out.â She gave a slight, bitter laugh. âI wonât let her destroy me.âEverett studied Eva for a moment, her face unreadable. âBe careful, Eva,â she said quietly, her tone more serious than Eva had ever heard. âChristineâs dangerous. And sheâs got a way of making everyone believe her sweet little act.âEva took a deep breath, looking away briefly as she processed Everettâs words. The concern wa
The day of the event arrived, and Christine was glowing with victory. Dressed in an elegant gown, she enjoyed the attention as she mingled with industry elites, knowing she was now the headlining speaker.With Eva out of the picture, this was her moment.Then the doors opened.Gasps rippled through the crowd as Eva walked in, effortlessly poised, wearing a breathtaking designer dress. The cameras instantly shifted toward her, flashing in rapid succession.Christineâs smile faltered. âWhat is she doing here?âBefore she could react, the event host stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand.âLadies and gentlemen, we have a special surprise. While there were some scheduling changes, weâre honored to have Eva here tonight.âChristine stiffened. âWhat? Thatâs impossible!âEva merely smiled, making her way toward the front.Kai had pulled the right strings behind the scenes. Even if she wasnât an official speaker anymore, she was still one of the biggest names in the roomâand the audience
Christine was livid. Every attempt to ruin Eva had backfired, and now, the industry was beginning to suspect foul play.Her carefully crafted innocent image was slipping, and she refused to let that happen.Gripping her phone tightly, she dialed Tanya, her voice sharp the moment the call connected."Tanya, listen carefully. I donât care what it takesâpull every string, bribe whoever you need to, but make sure Eva does not attend the upcoming fashion event. I want her out, completely.âTanya hesitated. âChristine, are you sure about this? Maybe you shouldâââDonât question me!â Christine snapped, her frustration boiling over. âDo you think I have the luxury of waiting? Eva is already taking the spotlight. If this continues, I wonât even be considered for the Top Ten Models Award!âTanya sighed. âFine. Iâll see what I can do. But Christine, be careful. Youâre playing a dangerous game. If this backfires, it could cost you everything.âChristine scoffed. âPlease. Eva wonât be able to prov
Christine sat alone in the dimly lit hotel, her fingers lightly tapping against the side of her untouched wine glass. The usually confident and composed woman looked lost in thought, her expression unreadable as she stared at the city skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.Everything she had planned against Eva had backfired spectacularly. Instead of destroying Evaâs reputation, she had only fueled the publicâs admiration for her. The industry was turning against Christine, and the narrative was slipping out of her control.A soft click of heels echoed through the room, breaking Christine from her thoughts.âChristine?âShe turned her head slightly, finding Tanya standing near the entrance, a curious look on her face.Tanya was one of the few people Christine trustedâor rather, toleratedâbecause she was useful. Smart, cunning, and always willing to play dirty, Tanya had been by Christineâs side long enough to know exactly how far she was willing to go to get what she wanted.âWh
A few days after Mark successfully cleared his name from the Harper Luxuries scandal, Christine sat alone in her dressing room, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping impatiently against the vanity table.She had tried everythingâsabotage, whispers in the right ears, carefully placed rumorsâyet Eva always came out unscathed. Every plan Christine devised had crumbled before her eyes, and it was beginning to drive her insane.If indirect tactics didnât work, she had to change her approach. This time, she wouldnât hide behind shadows. She wouldnât need to.Instead, she would manipulate the situation so well that Eva would ruin herself.All she needed was the perfect stage.---An exclusive fashion gala was set to take place, attended by top designers, influencers, and media elites. Both Eva and Christine had been invited as brand ambassadors for their respective labels.Christine smirked to herself. This was it. The perfect opportunity.She had carefully arranged for the mediaâs attenti
The dim candlelight cast a golden glow over the elegantly set dining table. A soft melody played in the background, filling the room with warmth. Christine had spent hours preparing thisâhis favorite dishes, the finest wine. Tonight had to be perfect.She glanced at the clock anxiously. Mark would be home soon. And she had to fix this.The front door finally opened, and Mark stepped inside. His face was tired, his eyes dark with frustration. He didnât even glance at the romantic dinner she had prepared. Instead, he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.âChristine, what is this?â His voice was cold.Christine swallowed and stepped toward him. âA dinner. For us.âMark scoffed, shaking his head. âA dinner? Christine, do you have any idea what Iâve been dealing with? My fatherâs furious. Investors are backing out after the Harper Luxuries. I've lost of funds.â His voice grew sharper, filled with exhaustion. âAnd do you know what people are whispering? That my own fiancÃĐe might
The silence between them was thick with unspoken thoughts, but Damien wasnât one to leave things unresolved. He turned slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on her.âWhy didnât you ask for my help?â His voice was calm but held an edge of something deeperâsomething close to frustration.Eva, who had been absentmindedly tracing the rim of her wine glass, glanced at him. A small smirk curled her lips, but it didnât quite reach her eyes.âBecause it was something I could handle,â she said simply. âLike always.âDamienâs expression remained unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly against his knee. âAnd if you couldnât?âEva shrugged. âThen I would have asked. But it wasnât time for that yet.âThat answer didnât satisfy him. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. âEvaâââI know what youâre going to say,â she interrupted, meeting his gaze head-on. âYou think I should have let you take care of it. But Damien, I donât always need you to fight my battles. Sometimes, I want to win them on my own
Eva sat on the couch, feeling bored. The scandal had caused too much noise, and going homeâwhere the paparazzi were undoubtedly lurkingâwas out of the question.With a sigh, Eva reached for her phone and scrolled through her contacts. Her finger hovered over Damien for a moment before she pressed the call button.The phone rang twice before his deep, smooth voice came through. âEva.âJust her name. Nothing more. But there was something in the way he said itâlow, controlled, yet sharp with attentionâthat made her exhale slowly.âHey,â she murmured, leaning against the plush headboard.Silence. Then, âWhatâs wrong?âShe almost smiled. He always saw through her.âI canât go home,â she admitted, rubbing her temple. âThe reporters are camped outside. And after todayâs interviewâĶ theyâll only get worse.âDamien didnât answer immediately. She could hear the faint rustling of papers, the click of a pen, before he finally spoke. âWhere are you?ââPenthouse suite at the Grand Royale,â she repli