Despite the fact that they were a little bit confused, no one dared to utter a word about. Mr. Smith is one of the big shots in Miami and he is not a person to be trifled with in society, even if the business clients that came to his restaurant were also popular, they couldn't dare go against him because it was their utmost gratitude to be given a chance to do business with him.“You gentlemen can't leave just like that, allow my manageress to escort you out of the restaurant.” Mr. Smith stopped the gentlemen who were to leave before he turned to the manageress. “I need you to escort these esteemed guests and see them out of the restaurant.” He instructed.“Yes sir,” The manageress bowed as she glanced at the gentlemen. “Please, follow me.” She said while gesturing the gentlemen out of the room.“Grandpa, we will be taking our leave now.” Eva announced to Mr. Smith.“Since you guys have brought a car, let me escort you guys to your car instead. That way we can catch up a little bit.”
Dan who was driving glanced at both siblings through the rear view mirror and his lips stretched into a smile. He had missed seeing them bickering with each other like this because he was already used to it whenever Eva came to pick Lucien up from school like she had done today. However, he had been a little bit concerned about Lucien lately who always had a gloomy expression on his face for the past few months that Eva hadn't come to pick him up and he knew it was due to the fact that he couldn't reach Eva after her wedding day. But seeing the way Lucien had a small smile on his face he felt relieved, he also had a daughter around the same age as Lucien and he could guess that the cause of Lucien's gloomy attitude was because he missed Eva but due to Lucien's personality he wouldn't admit it.“I have made up my mind.” Eva muttered as she raised her head up still clinging onto Lucien's arm. “Dan, take us home.” Eva declared.“Are you sure about your decision?” Lucien suddenly asked w
A couple of minutes later after Lucien left the room, there was another knock on the door and on the command to enter the room from Eva. The door opened and a maid entered the room with a tray of food in her hands.“G-good evening, Young miss. Here is your dinner, Ma.” The maid greeted nervously while stuttering.Eva eyed the maid for a few seconds wondering why she was nervous for no reason, but then she recalled that she has never once been nice to the maids to working in the mansion so it the reason why the maid was shaking in fear.“Put it over there and leave.” Eva said as she pointed to the table in the room.“Y-yes ma'am.” The maid quickly placed the tray of food where Eva had pointed to and scurried out of the room immediately.“Tsk……annoying.” Eva muttered after the door was closed by the maids. She stood up and walked towards the tray of food to eat. However, just as Eva took a couple of spoons into her mouth she heard Matthew's loud voice coming from downstairs.“What an u
The next morning, after Eva took her bath and changed into one of her dresses she had in the wardrobe in her room. Eva was hesitant to sit down at the breakfast table , but she had no choice because she was hungry. Reluctantly, Eva went downstairs to the dining table.She paused in her pace when she sighted her father who had a scowl on his face, beside him was Laura who had her lips curled up into a crafty smile.“You're here already, sis? Come, I've saved you a seat near your favorite food.” Lucien gently patted the seat next to him.“She should be sitting by my side.” Laura spatted only to be ignored by Eva who took her seat beside Lucien. With the terrible tense atmosphere at the dining table, Eva was sure that she would be having indigestion.“Here, your favorite.” Lucien calmly said, while placing a poached egg on Eva's plate while passing her a small grin.“This is also your favorite.” Eva chuckled at his gesture. “As the older sister, I should be letting you take it instead. B
Eva balled her hand into a fist when he mentioned her mother in such a disregarding tone. She felt anger slowly burning in her as the urge to lash back at Matthew creeped up in her. However, Eva took a deep breath to calm herself, since she knew that both Matthew and Laura would be expecting some kind of reaction from her and she didn't want to give them that joy to enjoy. “At least you admit that I'm good looking.” Eva didn't even blink at Matthew only to remark shamelessly.“You…….why are you even here? What are you doing here?!” Matthew yelled loudly. He can't understand why Eva wasn't fazed by what he just said, he wasn't expecting her to have such a shameless side in her. Could it be that she doesn't care about her mother anymore and using her mother to irk her up does not work on her again?“Can't I come back to my house anymore? Whether you like it or not, father, I'm still the eldest daughter of this family and household so I have every right to be here.” Eva replied calmly.
Lucien opened the card and began reading it without waiting for any one.‘To the girl with the most unique personality I have ever met.’ Lucien read from the card that sent Laura paling with confusion and then realization. Lucien ignored the expression on Laura's face and continued to read the rest of the words in the card much to his mother's grievance. ‘Although it's a little bit late to send a gift, I really enjoyed our previous date and I'm looking forward to having another date with you very soon. Yours truly, the desperate heir.’Silence engulfed the entire room, immediately Lucien finished reading what was written in the card. No one said a single word and every pair of eyes snapped their attention towards her at the same time as if they already knew the truth.Eva's eyebrow also shot up in amazement, when she heard all the things that Lucien had read out. She was expecting the content in the letter to be Matthew's sappy words to Laura since she claimed that it was a gift from
“Are you about to leave?” Eva asked, because that was the only reason why he would be in the room.“Yes, the driver is waiting outside for me.” Lucien replied.“Alright, let's get going.” Eva muttered as she grabbed her hand bag ready to go out of the room.“Why are you coming with me?” Lucien asked with a frown on his face.“Simply because I want to see my younger brother off to school. Let's go.” Eva smiled at Lucien before walking to the door.“You creep me out whenever you smile like that.” Lucien commented as he followed behind Eva, who smirked at his statement.Both Eva and Lucien walked out of the house and entered the car that was waiting for them. Eva already guessed that Matthew must have left for company since she didn't see him again downstairs when both she and Lucien walked out.Eva pulled out her phone from her handbag and decided to check the internet to see whether the scandalous picture of both her and Damien had already been taken down from the internet. And just as
Although Damien never ordered him to keep tabs on Eva's every move and report to him, Shane felt like he should let Damien know what she was doing now since it was obvious that Damien seemed to be interested in Eva. This was the first time he had seen Damien interested in a woman ever since he had known Damien. He was also sure that if Damien's grandfather who was none other than the patriarch of the Cross family heard about this sudden change in Damien, a smile would grace his old wrinkled face. Shane made up his mind to help out his boss to win Eva for him even though he got rejected.Damien paused for a few seconds when he heard Shane report without raising his head up from the file he was going through. He hadn't asked Shane to report such things but he still found the information quite useful to him at the moment.Shane waited for a few extra minutes hoping that Damien would say anything but it was futile because Damien didn't raise his head or utter any word as he only focused o
Just as Rex reached for his expensive wine again, the door to the room burst open with a thunderous crash, silencing the revelry in an instant. Crimson laser dots swarmed the room, targeting every man, freezing them in place.Rex barely blinked when he saw the commotion. It was not something new to have enemies barge into the place he was having fun. Probably, it would end with another threat conversation before the other party leaves. Calmly, he sipped his drink and set it down. But just as his fingers released the glass, a bullet shattered it, spilling the expensive liquor onto his custom Dior shoes."Bold little bastards," Rex muttered, his patience wearing thin. Reaching into his waistband, he pulled out a pistol.Upon seeing the lethal weapon in his hand, the women beside scattered like frightened mice, their shrieks piercing the tension-filled air. They weren't women who worked for the clan, instead, they were just simple escorts and prostitutes called in to please these big-sho
After switching the light on, her eyes landed on a set of bags near the couch. The scent of familiar dishes wafted through the air, and her heart twisted painfully. He had brought her favorite foods, likely intending to eat with her.He had wanted to eat with her. Her chest prickled with guilt and for a moment, she hesitated.But then she glanced at the shattered vase she had thrown in anger, and the guilt was replaced by frustration. Gathering the bags, she marched to the door and opened it to find Damien’s bodyguards standing stiffly outside.“You must be hungry standing out here all day,” she said, shoving the bags into their hands. “Take these. I’m not in the mood to eat.”The men exchanged bewildered glances.“Lady Boss, are you sure—”“If you don’t want them, throw them away,” she said curtly, shutting the door before they could protest further.“We can't really toss this away, can't we? This is too expensive." One of the bodyguards said, glancing at the bag while the others nod
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