As Evangeline stood by the railings on the second floor, she was oblivious to the admiring gazes directed towards her from below. However, among the crowd, there was one man who recognized her instantly. His eyes widened in surprise and recognition as he murmured to himself, "That woman..."It was clear from his expression that he had been searching for her for a long time, and now, finally seeing her in full view, he couldn't help but feel astonished and intrigued.She appeared vastly different from the woman he encountered at the club, whom he had dismissed as just another encounter. Now, she exuded an aura of elegance and sophistication, unmistakably someone accustomed to a life of wealth and class.What intrigued him most was the unexpected surge of excitement her presence stirred within him. Despite weeks passing since their encounter, she seemed to awaken something dormant within him.Motioning for his secretary to approach, he whispered, "Who is she?"Following his gaze, the se
While Evangeline was immersed in business discussions, a sudden wave of hunger washed over her. Her gaze landed on the table adorned with an array of decadent desserts prepared for the party. Feeling the irresistible pull of her cravings, she gracefully excused herself from the conversation.Jeremy observed as Evangeline gracefully made her way to the dessert table, her movements fluid and elegant amidst the bustling crowd of business tycoons. As he sensed her need for a moment alone, he decided to discreetly follow her, ensuring she had the support she needed."Eva, need a hand with those?" Jeremy offered as he approached, a warm smile playing on his lips.Evangeline glanced up, her expression softening at the sight of her brother. "Thanks, Jer," she replied gratefully, gesturing towards the array of delectable treats spread out before them. "I couldn't resist indulging in a little dessert."Jeremy's eyes widened in realization. "Ah, the cravings strike again," he remarked with a kno
Evangeline dabbed her mouth with the handkerchief Zach had given her, silently grateful for the distraction it provided from Klein's probing question. Just in time, Jeremy burst into the restroom, holding a bottle of water, his concerned gaze sweeping over the trio."Here's your water," Jeremy announced, handing the bottle to Evangeline."Thanks, Jerry," she replied softly, twisting off the cap and taking a sip."Feeling better?" Jeremy inquired, his worry evident in his voice, as Evangeline nodded and made her way out of the restroom.Klein couldn't shake the feeling that Evangeline was avoiding his question. As he watched the three exit, his gaze sharpened, reminiscent of a predator studying its prey's every move.He couldn't fathom the audacity of the hand subtly placed on Evangeline's waist, as if claiming ownership over her. The sight irked him.Klein silently trailed behind Evangeline, his presence unnoticed by her.Evangeline's surprise was palpable as she felt a hand on her wa
As Evangeline settled into her work, flipping through pages of contracts signed during Jeremy's management, and scanning future developments, there came a knock on the door.Without looking up, she granted permission for the person to enter."Good morning, Mrs. Salazar. I am Sylvie, your newly hired secretary. I'd like to inform you of your updated schedule for today," she began."Thank you, Sylvie. Please, go ahead," Evangeline replied, finally looking up from her papers.Sylvie handed her a neatly organized schedule for the day. "You have a meeting with the marketing team at 10 a.m., followed by a conference call with our international partners at 2 p.m. Then, there's a dinner reception with potential investors at 7 p.m."Evangeline nodded, taking in the information. "Hm. Please remind me of the meetings fifteen minutes prior.""Of course, Mrs. Salazar. Is there anything else you need?"Evangeline paused for a moment, contemplating whether to tell her that she is not a Salazar anymo
"Are you in love with Klein?" Zach's question cut through the tension, his tone laced with frustration and hurt."What?" Evangeline asked in disbelief, her brows furrowing."Are you suspecting me of cheating? Zach, you're the one who cheated. Don't act like I'd do the same," she spat, her words dripping with resentment."You're acting so strong and stubborn, Evangeline. You think you're almighty just because you own this high-end company? I would like to remind you that I could take all of this away in just a snap," Zach threatened, his voice cold and calculated.Evangeline flinched at his words, a surge of fear coursing through her veins. Zach had always wielded his power over her effortlessly, and she couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability that washed over her.But she refused to back down. "Don't you dare," she opposed, her hands clenched at her sides, her eyes blazing with defiance."Try me, Evangeline, my love," Zach smirked, his touch soft as he brushed her cheek."I told y
As Evangeline groaned and turned in her sleep, the haunting memories of her childhood flooded her dreams like a relentless tide.She found herself standing in the dimly lit hallway of their family home, her younger self clutching onto her siblings as they begged their father not to leave."Daddy, please don't go," her voice pleaded, thick with tears as she looked up at the man she once idolized. "We need you here with us."But her father's face remained stoic, his eyes betraying the pain of his own inner turmoil as he tried to justify his actions."I'm sorry, kids," he muttered, his voice strained with emotion. "I have to do what's best for me."Evangeline's heart shattered at his words, the betrayal cutting deeper than any knife could. Beside her, her brother, Jeremy sobbed uncontrollably, their cries blending with the sound of their mother's broken wails from the adjacent room."Mama, please don't cry," Evangeline whispered, her voice trembling as she approached her mother's bedsid
Klein took a deep breath, his frustration evident as he spoke her name with a hint of annoyance, "Evangeline."But Evangeline remained focused on her task, refusing to acknowledge him as she continued to prepare dinner."Evangeline," he repeated, his tone growing more insistent.Frustrated by her lack of response, Klein stood up and approached her, only to be met with resistance as Evangeline stepped back, her tone firm, "Don't bother me."Raising a skeptical eyebrow, Klein crossed his arms over his chest. "I will keep bothering you until you actually 'talk' to me."Evangeline halted at his words, turning to face him with a stubborn resolve."I don't think communicating with you is part of the contract, Klein," she sighed, her demeanor unwavering."Ah, ah. You're mistaken. Condition number 3 states that you are not to deny my needs, and I need you to talk to me," Klein countered, stepping closer to her.Evangeline sighed in surrender, setting the ladle down as she finally faced Klein,
As Klein watched Evangeline curl up on the couch, he couldn't help but feel a sense of concern overwhelm him. Despite their recent feisty interactions, seeing her vulnerable like this tugged at something deep within him. There was a part of him that wanted to comfort her, to ease whatever pain she was feeling.When he saw her finally close her eyes, succumbing to sleep, a small sense of relief washed over him. She looked so peaceful in that moment, her features softened by sleep, her breathing steady and calm. It was a rare sight, one that made him realize just how much he cared about her well-being, despite their differences.With a gentle sigh, Klein decided to act on his impulse. Carefully, he scooped Evangeline up into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. She stirred slightly at the movement, but didn't wake, lost in the depths of her dreams.Klein made his way to the bedroom and laid Evangeline down on the bed, taking care to tuck her in snugly. He watched her for a moment
Chapter 81"You're glad? Is that all you have to say?" Evangeline asked, turning to face him with disbelief and frustration in her eyes.Klein's expression faltered, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. He swallowed hard, trying to steady himself, but the hurt in his eyes was undeniable. "What else can I say?" he finally replied, his voice tinged with resignation. "I don't want to lose you, Evangeline. But if he's the one who makes you happy…"But Evangeline shook her head, cutting him off. "Stop it, Klein. Don’t pretend like this doesn’t affect you. I see it in your eyes—you're hurting. So why won't you fight for us, for me?"Klein looked down as the weight of her words pressed heavily on him. "Because… I don’t want to be selfish. I’ve already hurt you so much. If being with him means you’re finally at peace, how can I stand in the way?"Evangeline's frustration grew. "But that’s just it. You’re assuming I want to be with someone else. That I’ve moved on, that I’m not sti
Chapter 80After that night, days went on just like that. Klein left Lydia behind to help Evangeline with the triplets and it was a gesture that spoke more of his growing understanding than words ever could. He hesitated to leave, lingering in the doorway as if uncertain whether to stay or go, but he knew what he had to do. With a heavy heart, Klein returned home to manage his company, taking the first steps back into his old life. But this time, everything felt different.Klein wasn’t just returning to work, he was giving Evangeline the space she needed. He didn’t want to crowd her or push her into a decision she wasn’t ready to make. He wanted her to see that he was serious about making things right—that he was committed to being the man she and their children needed. For once, he wasn’t thinking only of himself, his guilt, or his desperation to make amends. He was thinking about her, about what she deserved, and how he could be the one to give it to her if she would allow it.Every
Chapter 79Evangeline gently handed each of the triplets their milk bottles with practiced but weary movements. Klein stood nearby and watched with both awe and amusement. He couldn’t help but marvel at how she managed to juggle three one-year-olds on her own. The sight stirred a sense of regret within him as he was struck by the realization of how much she had been carrying alone and how he had failed to be there for her.Evangeline’s mind, however, was elsewhere. Her eldest, Xander, was inconsolable and was crying in a way he never had before. No matter how much she tried to comfort him, he wouldn’t stop, and the anxiety gnawed at her. Something was wrong, and it scared her.Klein watched her who was already giving out an anxious vibe and immediately asked. “Is he okay?”Even though she was still quite mad at Klein, Evangeline managed to glance up at him, her face pale and strained. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice trembling with worry. “He’s never cried like this before. I’v
Dear lovelies,I wanted to give you a quick heads-up that the next update will be on Friday, August 23, 2024. I’ve got a rushed project that needs my attention, so I apologize for not being able to update daily as I normally do.Additionally, the book might be ending soon. Thank you for your understanding and for sticking with me through this journey. Your support means the world to me!Best,Yña Banana 🍌
Chapter 78“Klein... W-what are you doing here? How did you know I was here?” Evangeline stuttered nervously as Klein began to walk toward her. What confused her more than the fear of facing her ex-fiance was the look in his eyes. There was no trace of the hatred or disgust he had shown her weeks ago. Instead, his eyes were filled with a longing that she couldn’t understand, and it scared her.The sight of Klein’s intense gaze only heightened her fear. She had closed her heart to him after being hurt so many times before, and now, seeing this unfamiliar emotion in his eyes made her feel vulnerable. Her back hit the wall as she tried to retreat, her breath quickening. She glanced desperately around for a way to escape, but Klein moved swiftly, slamming his hands on the walls, effectively caging her in.Klein’s expression twisted in anger as he demanded, “Who was that man with you? You took our children into his house? How could you, Evangeline? And here I am, ready to apologize, but yo
Chapter 77“Would you like to have dinner with me? You can bring the three as well.” Kenji suddenly invited while Evangeline was busy grabbing Mikael’s hand, making sure he didn’t run off.“Uh… we don’t really want to disturb you, and the kids will really make a lot of mess,” she hesitated, letting out an awkward laugh. Kenji, however, dismissed her concerns with a warm smile.“It’s okay. What can three one-year-olds do?” he chuckled, sensing the hesitation in Evangeline’s expression. “Please?” he added, his tone light but persuasive.Evangeline looked at him for a moment, then laughed softly, surrendering with a smile. “Alright then.”“Great! I’ll pick you up at 7,” he informed her.“Do you know where my house is?” Evangeline asked curiously, noting his confidence.Kenji grinned, then recited, “1202 Maplewood Lane, right?”Evangeline blinked in surprise. “You really do know.”“How could I not? I’m a daycare teacher—I have my students’ addresses just in case,” Kenji said playfully. Ev
Chapter 76Evangeline settled comfortably on the patio of her favorite café, enjoying the soft morning sun that warmed her face. The gentle hum of the café’s early activity provided a soothing backdrop as she took a moment to savor her coffee. Her laptop was open on the table, and her airpods were snugly in place, creating a bubble of focus amidst the café’s light background noise.After dropping off her triplets at daycare, Evangeline was ready for her virtual meeting with the company’s investors. She glanced at the clock—precisely on time. As she opened her laptop and initiated the virtual meeting, her screen was immediately occupied with the faces of the investors.“Good morning, everyone,” Evangeline began warmly, “I want to start by apologizing for not being able to meet in person. As some of you know, managing triplets can be quite the challenge.” She chuckled softly, her humor met with understanding laughter from the group. “But despite it all, I assure you, SNCLR’s vision rema
Chapter 75Evangeline's days had become increasingly busy. With the triplets now beginning to walk, her chores seemed to multiply by the minute. Keeping up with three one-year-olds was no easy task. Each child had their own personality, adding to the delightful chaos of her days.Xander, the eldest of the three, was mature and quiet for his age. He rarely cried and often observed his surroundings with calm, inquisitive eyes. Mikael, on the other hand, was the cranky troublemaker. He had a knack for finding mischief, whether it was pulling on curtains or knocking over anything within reach. Maxine, the youngest, was the friendly, chattery little girl who loved to babble endlessly, her sweet voice filling the room with an infectious energy.Realizing that managing all three on her own was becoming overwhelming, Evangeline made the decision to take the toddlers to daycare. It would be good for them to interact with other children, and she could use the time to manage her responsibilities
Chapter 74Life went on for Evangeline, although the weight of her decisions felt heavy on her heart. Deep down, she knew she still loves Klein. But the pain of being forgotten by the man who once adored her was too much to bear. To protect herself, she chose to stay far away, focusing on her company overseas and her children. Although her presence was often needed, her staff understood her situation, granting her the space she needed to heal.Meanwhile, Klein dealt with his troubles differently. The gnawing truth he had uncovered fueled his anger, and Daphnie became the unfortunate target of his wrath."You can’t lie to me anymore, Daphnie," Klein growled, his voice thick with disgust. The tension in the air snapped like a taut string, and before Daphnie could react, Klein’s hand struck her cheek with a harsh slap. She gasped, stumbling back as her hand flew to her reddening face, eyes wide with shock."Stop coming back here," Klein continued, his words laced with venom. "If you ever