The next day, Eva attended the project meeting as usual. To her surprise, Diego was conspicuously absent. The room buzzed with the usual chatter, but she couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that something was amiss."Eva, have you seen the video in the group chat?" Julie asked urgently, tugging at Eva's arm to capture her attention. "I had no idea Diego was so wild in private!""What video?" Eva responded, her curiosity piqued. She pulled out her phone, sensing that whatever Julie had seen was bound to stir up more intrigue in an already tense situation.She pressed play, her eyes widening as the video unfolded. Diego was performing a shockingly vulgar striptease in front of the camera, his usual reserved demeanor nowhere in sight.Eva's mind raced. Was Blake behind this? Or could it have been Mr. Smith? The possibilities swirled in her head, each one more troubling than the last.Yesterday, after Eva had left, Blake, Irish, and Blake's subordinates had stayed behind in the room. N
Tally punched in Blake's number for the tenth time that day. The rhythmic dial tone mocked her, a constant reminder of the silence since their last, unsettling phone call. Three days had crawled by since her release from the hospital, each one punctuated by unanswered calls and a gnawing fear. The forced stillness felt suffocating compared to the adrenaline rush of the incident itself.Desperate for a plan, Tally dialed Diego's number. As the phone connected, a sliver of hope flickered to life. But when Diego answered, his voice was laced with an icy indignation that sent shivers down her spine."Tally, how dare you call me after the mess you got me into? You assured me that Blake didn't care about Eva, and look where that's gotten me. My reputation is in tatters, and Blake has blacklisted me. How am I supposed to move forward in this industry now? This could ruin everything I've worked for!"Diego complained non-stop, his incessant whining grating on everyone's nerves. Every word h
At work, Diego was replaced by a female engineer named Violet Alba.Her style was totally different from Diego's.Alba was a woman of action. She was responsible, professional and had a friendly attitude toward teamwork. Eva felt that she was perfect for the role.After a pleasant and efficient meeting, the two began to chat."Thank you so much for this opportunity, Eva," Alba said gratefully.Eva humbly waved her hand. "You don't have to thank me. Your appointment has nothing to do with me. It's just because you are good at what you do."Alba didn't buy it. "As you may well know, the construction engineering field is saturated with men. It's considered a men's job. Throughout my years in this field, I have never been treated fairly just because of my gender. You are the first person to give me a chance to show what I can actually do. For that, I'm very thankful."Eva was taken aback by her words."Me?" she asked, pointing at herself.Alba's forehead wrinkled in confusion."Didn't you
When confronted with Eva's sudden and unanticipated counterattack, Noah's face blanched with panic. His voice wavered as he spat out, "You cheated me!"Eva's eyes glinted with a mixture of disdain and satisfaction. She crossed her arms and leaned back slightly, exuding an air of indifference. "If you hadn't done anything wrong," she retorted, her tone icy and cutting, "you wouldn't be cheated."Noah's mind raced, replaying the events that led to this moment. He had always prided himself on his cunning, but now he felt cornered, his usual bravado crumbling under Eva's steely gaze. The room seemed to close in around him, each second stretching out as he struggled to regain his composure.Eva's confidence was palpable, a stark contrast to Noah's unraveling facade. She had seen through his schemes and now held the upper hand, relishing the shift in power dynamics. "You thought you could outsmart me," she continued, her voice a deadly whisper, "but you underestimated me. That's your real m
Javier wiped the sweat from his brow as he sat in his dimly lit office, the stifling heat of the afternoon pressing down on him. The small fan on his desk did little to alleviate the oppressive atmosphere. His shirt clung to his back, damp with perspiration, and he could feel beads of sweat trickling down his temples.Javier shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his expression a mix of anxiety and defiance. "Mr. Chen, said the person on the other line. "You were the one who secured the contract for the amusement park, weren't you? I've been hearing troubling reports. Word is that your workers refused to continue, and as a result, the contract has been terminated. Is that true?"Javier's face tightened, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes before he masked it with a practiced calm. He took a deep breath, the weight of the question hanging heavily in the air. "Of course not. It's just a misunderstanding!" Javier immediately interjected, his voice tinged with desperation. But the pers
Javier strode confidently towards the man, his hand outstretched and a wide smile lighting up his face."Nice to meet you, Mr. Lowes," he said with genuine enthusiasm. "I'm Javier Chen, the CEO of Cosmos Group. Welcome to Solana."The man looked at Javier and frowned."How did you get my hotel information?"In response, Javier turned on the charm, his smile becoming even warmer."Mr. Lowes, I'm a big fan. Your heroic deeds are legendary, and I admire you immensely. Now that I've met you in person, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved. I recognized you from a distance; your imposing figure stood out among the crowd. I couldn't resist following you all the way here," Javier said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.The man's mouth twitched slightly. "What do you want?"Javier glanced over his shoulder at Diego, who was standing behind him, and motioned for him to retrieve something from the car."Mr. Lowes, it's been a long journey. I've prepared some gifts for you, and
Owen answered the phone with a straight face.Eva sensed something unusual but decided not to press the issue immediately. Once Owen hung up, she asked with concern, "What's wrong, Uncle Owen?"Owen's expression remained stern. "That was Oliver. Apparently, someone mistook him for me and tried to offer him gifts to cause trouble for you."Eva's eyes widened in shock. "Who would do that?""Someone named Chen," Owen said, his voice laced with irritation.Eva was surprised. Then, a smile emerged on her face. "Javier and Diego?""Do you know them?" Owen asked, smiling at her dotingly. "Tell me what you want me to do to them, Eva. I'll do whatever you say."A shiver ran down Eva's spine as she realized the weight of his words. She was well aware of Owen's ruthless means.If Owen took action, Javier and Diego would suffer a miserable fate.Eva felt that such people didn't deserve her or her family's attention. They were like ants trying to thwart her moves.Eva shook her head. "You don't ha
Tally arrived at Legends Corner Bar with Diego and Javier, armed with a good plan."Are you sure Mr. Lowes will show up?" Tally asked uncertainly.Diego patted his chest confidently. "Of course! We got the information from a reliable source after spending a lot of money. Mr. Lowes reserved a private dining room in this restaurant. He will definitely come."Tally nodded, reassured by Diego's confidence. "Good. Let's hope everything goes according to plan."Tally's mind eased up a little. She looked forward to seeing Owen after getting that confirmation.She was confident that Blake wouldn't ignore her anymore once she won Owen over."Diego, you have to be careful. Don't make the same mistake again," Tally cautioned, nodding confidently.Just as they were waiting anxiously, a slim figure suddenly appeared in Tally's sight.As the woman's face came into view, Tally exclaimed, "Eva! What is she doing here?"The two men sitting nearby turned to look in the direction of Eva.Their eyes blaz
Xian was still in a daze when the phone rang, pulling him from his thoughts. He blinked a few times, trying to shake off the lingering haze of confusion. As he reached for the phone, he saw Tally's name on the screen, and a wave of curiosity and anticipation washed over him. What could she want at this hour? Xian hesitated to answer the call before finally holding it up to his ear."Xian, have you seen Blake lately?" Tally spoke in a soft voice.Xian felt goose bumps all over his body. "Tally, what do you need from him?""It's been a while since I last saw him. He never answers my calls or comes to visit anymore," Tally whimpered, her voice trembling with worry. "Xian, can you help me find him?"In the past, Xian might have helped Tally without a second thought, but after the harsh lesson Blake had just taught him, he knew better than to risk angering Blake again anytime soon.As Tally sobbed over the phone, Xian tried to calm her. "Please, stop crying," he said gently. "Blake is at
Xian's hand flew to his cheek, cradling the stinging welt where a moment ago, Blake's hand had landed. Disbelief clouded his eyes. "Blake...?" His voice barely a whisper. "Why?"Blake's jaw was clenched tight, his features contorted in a mixture of fury and something else – perhaps regret, perhaps a deeper anger he couldn't articulate. "Don't even ask," he growled, his voice strained.Xian flinched at the venom in Blake's tone. The playful banter and easy camaraderie they once shared seemed a distant memory. Fear prickled at his skin, but a flicker of defiance sparked in his eyes. He would get answers, even if it meant facing Blake's wrath.Xian trembled with fright and didn't dare argue with Blake.Owen stood aside and watched everything with disdain.If Blake hadn't attacked Xian's he would have punched Xian.Eva wasn't in the mood to worry about anything else. Her only concern was Owen's injury.In the heat of the battle, Owen had twisted his wound while attempting to attack Xian
Eva returned home with the gifts she bought after the auction.As if she was Santa Claus on Christmas, she distributed each of the items to her family. Uncle Axel wasn't home, so she had to send his item through international express.The Lowes family was overjoyed when they got the gifts from their girl."Ev, what would you like? Name anything, and I'll get it. you want that stars in the night sky? I'll pick them out of the air for you!" Owen soaked in his confidence, grinning.Eva quickly denied his offer, smilling. "Thank you, Uncle Owen. But it's just a fun little gift. There's no favor you need to return to me. Trust me, I'm saving you trouble."This wasn't fun at all. Gossip about Eva and Owen had stirred drama about them all across the city.If the media found out that owen was sending her a gift, no matter how big or small, their names were guaranteed to be the trending topic before long.She wasn't too worried about her own reputation, but Owen was a government official, and
Eva stiffened, her smile faltering for a fleeting moment. A flicker of suspicion sparked in her eyes as she leveled a cool stare at Brady. "Do you want to take back the painting?"The question hung heavy in the air, laced with unspoken accusation."Goodness, Miss Lowes, the thought never crossed my mind. This painting belongs to you now. It wouldn't be right for me to take it back. Actually, I was hoping we could become friends, if that wouldn't be presumptuous of me.""You want to be her friend?" Jenny piped up, looking at Brady cautiously."Absolutely! Your passion for art is truly refreshing." Brady leaned forward, a spark of genuine interest in his eyes. "You know, my family has a long history in the art industry. We've amassed quite a collection of antiques. If you're ever interested in seeing some unique pieces, I'd love to show you sometime."The intensity in Eva's gaze softened a fraction as she studied Brady's face. A flicker of something genuine – perhaps sincerity,
The situation had escalated beyond control and could no longer be swept under the carpet.The auctioneer looked at Eva apologetically.It would be rude to subject the painting to an authentication test after it had already been sold to Eva.However, failing to do so could damage the organization's reputation and potentially lead to a loss of trust and severed ties with their clients."Do you mind, Miss Lowes?" the auctioneer asked politely, his tone tinged with hesitation.Eva met his gaze and responded calmly, "No, I don't. Go ahead with it."Unfazed by the antagonism from most of the people in the hall, Eva folded her arms and stood confidently. Her poise was unwavering as whispers and skeptical glances filled the room. She knew the stakes were high, but she was prepared to face whatever scrutiny came her way. Her unwavering composure seemed to challenge her critics, daring them to doubt her judgment. The air was thick with tension, but Eva's steady demeanor began to shift the atmos
"Apologies, Mr. Torres. Don't worry, I'll handle the situation and make sure she quiets down immediately."Beads of sweat appeared on Curran's forehead as he pleaded with Blake, his voice shaky and desperate. Turning to Becky, he gave her a stern, warning look, masking the true emotions that churned within him. It was all just a show; deep down, he was elated that his goal had been achieved. The facade of fear and anxiety was a necessary act to maintain the charade, but inside, Curran felt a surge of triumph and satisfaction. His mind raced with the possibilities now open to him, and he relished the success that was finally within his grasp.Eva spent a fortune on what turned out to be a fake painting. Three million and five thousand dollars vanished in an instant! He believed she must have exhausted her entire net worth. The sheer enormity of the loss was staggering, and the thought of such a monumental mistake weighed heavily on him. He couldn't fathom how she had been deceived so e
The auction continued, and they placed a piece of classical oil painting for bidding.It was a portrait of a majestic general and his men fighting bravely with the enemy. The vivid image, strong color tone, and well-defined strokes offered a powerful visual effect.The auctioneer tapped the microphone and announced, "This oil painting, named Victory, is a skillfull work of art of the classical painter, Alexander Yebo, which depicts the victory return of General Theo Clark. Brady Lena has donated this piece of work."Eva fell in love with the painting the minute she saw it, and she soon joined the bidding."One million!""One million and one hundred thousand!" Curran immediately made a bid.He wasn't ready to compromise. The bidding was tense. He was determined to acquire the painting.The price of the oil painting gradually soared as the bidding proceeded. In the end, Eva and Curran were the only bidders left.The two immediately became the center of everyone's attention.Becky was si
"All heads turned toward the source of the voice.When the guests saw Blake seated beside Eva, shock rippled through the room."Oh my God! Is that Blake? Why is he sitting next to Eva instead of in a private room?""He claimed that all the items Eva donated tonight were his.""There's something suspicious here. When they were married, he rarely took Eva out, and she was hardly known by many. Yet now, after their divorce, they're always seen together. It doesn't add up."While a few of them were examining the relationship between those two, the wise ones realized something."The identity of the donor seemed inconsequential; what resonated was that Blake had personally funded the items. His deliberate mention of this detail appeared aimed at refuting the narrative Becky had been spreading, suggesting a motive to assert his influence or protect Eva's reputation amidst the speculation surrounding their relationship post-divorce.""The opportunity to catch the attention of the CEO of Torre
"Hey, cut it out!" he exclaimed, his tone sharp with suspicion. "Something tells me you're trying to stir up trouble here. How on earth can an emerald ring be worth just a dollar? Even a fake one would cost more than that!"Jenny sprang to her feet, her patience finally snapping as she turned sharply towards Becky.Becky sneered disdainfully, her expression dripping with contempt. She eyed Jenny from head to toe before shifting her gaze to Eva, her disdain evident in every glance."In my opinion, this emerald ring is worth no more than a dollar! You should be grateful I'm even bidding on it. The ring came from a country bumpkin who dropped out of middle school. Her possessions are worthless. It's utterly humiliating!"The other guests began to see sense in what Becky said. Those that wanted to bid for the ring gave up.No matter how exquisite the item was, they couldn't overlook the fact that its original owner was a countrywoman. The stigma associated with her background overshadowed