Tally had gotten wind of the welcome party.She had called Blake several times and sent him tons of messages, but he kept ignoring her. She had been on tenterhooks for the past few days, anxiously waiting for any response or acknowledgment from him. Her nerves were frayed as she wondered what was going on and why he was avoiding her.It cost her an arm and a leg to get the invitation for the party. Like the cunning woman that she was, she wanted to make a statement at the party by showing that she was in a relationship with Blake. Tally meticulously planned her outfit, imagining the jealous stares and whispers she would elicit from other guests when she arrived on Blake's arm.But her plan wasn't very feasible now.The recent scandals had died down with barely any trace. Tally had bought off the Chens, so they didn't mention anything about her involvement in the matter. She was hoping to use this opportunity to regain her footing and make a bold move, but now, things seemed uncertain.
Marian turned around slowly, a look of surprise flickering across her perfectly made-up face. Her smile faltered for a brief moment before regaining its composure. "Blake," she said, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness, "what a lovely surprise to see you here."Blake, however, wasn't fooled by her act. He narrowed his eyes, taking in her extravagant outfit and the way she was surrounded by a group of giggling socialites. "Marian," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "I thought I told you to stay away from this event."Marian scoffed, a haughty look replacing her feigned sweetness. "And who are you to give me orders, Blake? Besides, this is my social circle. These are my friends."Blake's brows furrowed."Friends who only associate with you because of your money and your name," Blake retorted, his voice laced with bitterness. "They wouldn't give you the time of day if you didn't have those things."A flicker of anger crossed Marian's eyes, but she quickly squashed it down. "Don
Blake emerged from the crowd, his eyes locking onto Marian with an icy glare.A chill ran down Marian's spine as she noticed him, her blood turning to ice.She gritted her teeth, swallowing the curse that lingered on the tip of her tongue. Forcing a polite expression despite the frustration boiling inside her, she reluctantly said, "I'm sorry." Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the struggle within her to maintain composure.Saying those words felt like all the strength had been drained out of her. Marian could feel the gazes on her, each one brimming with contempt."I suggest you watch your manners next time. If it happens again, I'll have no choice but to teach you a lesson."Jayson didn't mince his words, showing no concern for Blake's or Marian's feelings. His bluntness cut through the air, leaving a tense silence in its wake.Marian lowered her gaze to the floor, her hands clenching into fists as she tried to conceal the anger boiling inside her. Her heart pounded in her chest
Owen's baritone voice echoed in the hall."Eva is an exceptionally talented and professional woman. I deeply value her skills and integrity. It was shocking to see sensationalist media outlets fabricate stories simply because she shared a meal with me and my assistant. The sex-for-power scandal is not only outrageous but a blatant lie! Although the rumor has been debunked, I felt compelled to address it tonight. I cannot stand by and watch a promising architectural designer like Eva become the target of a smear campaign. Let it be known that she is completely innocent of all the allegations made against her."Owen's voice rang with conviction as he spoke, his eyes sweeping across the audience.Owen continued, "Eva's contributions to our projects have been invaluable, and her dedication is unmatched. It is unfortunate that such falsehoods can spread so easily, damaging the reputation of a true professional. I hope tonight serves as a reminder to us all about the importance of truth and
Blake offered it out of kindness, but Marian's next words made Eva question his intentions."That's right, Eva. Think twice. A country girl like you, lacking both knowledge and etiquette, would only end up humiliating yourself!"Marian's voice dripped with condescension, and the words cut through Eva, leaving her feeling small and inadequate. Blake's kind gesture now seemed tainted by Marian's harsh judgment."That's enough!" Blake grunted in annoyance.Marian recoiled in shock, though the resentment remained etched on her face.Meanwhile, Eva smiled confidently. "Who said I can't dance?"Blake and Marian were both stunned by her unexpected response, their surprise evident as they exchanged bewildered glances. Eva's unwavering poise and quiet determination left them momentarily speechless.As far as they knew, Eva had never danced in public.Eva smiled, placing her hand gracefully in Owen's palm, while the others watched in astonishment."It's my honor to dance with you, Mr. Lowes," s
"You want to help me? Thanks, but no thanks," Eva said, her tone cold."Come on, Eva. Don't be so quick to turn me down," Blake replied, sighing deeply."Owen might seem like a nice guy, but he's not. Did you know he used to be in the army before he got promoted to his current position? His hands are stained with blood. In other words, he's eliminated many enemies to climb to the top. You need to be cautious around him. Once you get too involved with him, it won't be easy to distance yourself. Jayson won't be able to protect you if things go wrong. Since Jayson doesn't own World Group, his power is limited, and he's wary of Owen. But I'm not afraid of him. I can help you get rid of him."The more Blake spoke, the deeper Eva dug into her heels. His criticism of her uncle felt like a personal attack, and irritation flared in her eyes."Enough!" Eva cut him off. "Blake Torres, in case you've forgotten, you're just my ex-husband. What gives you the right to tell me to steer clear of a man
"You sent for me, Blake. What's the matter? I haven't caused any trouble, have I?"Marian stood before her brother, arms folded defiantly, her gaze challenging.Blake stared at her intently, his eyes narrowing as he studied her face. After a tense silence, he finally spoke, his voice cold and unyielding. "Don't lie to me, Marian. Where did you get the dress and jewelry you're wearing?"Marian's breath caught in her throat at his accusation. She quickly looked away, hoping to hide the flicker of fear in her eyes. She forced herself to remain composed, despite the rising panic."What are you talking about, Blake?" she replied, feigning innocence. "As I said before, Tally gave them to me."Blake's expression hardened, clearly not buying her story. "Marian, I know Tally's can't buy those dress and jewelry. They're too expensive. I need the truth."She felt her heart race as she tried to come up with a convincing lie. "I... I borrowed them from a friend," she stammered, her voice lacking i
A few days after the banquet, Eva received an unexpected call from Irish."Congratulations, Miss Lowes!" Irish's voice was bright with enthusiasm. "The superior was highly satisfied with the progress of the project. He also praised you specifically. Good job!"Eva didn't let the praise inflate her ego. She responded calmly, "Thank you, but this wasn't a solo effort. Every member of the team played a crucial role in the success of the project.""Come on, you don't have to be so modest," Irish replied with a chuckle. "We all know that your involvement made a huge difference in the project. Keep up the good work, and you'll be up for another promotion soon.""Come on, Eva, there's no need to downplay your contribution," Irish said with a warm chuckle. "We all know your leadership was pivotal to the project's success. If you continue at this pace, a promotion will be on the horizon before you know it."Eva smiled, a mix of gratitude and determination in her eyes. "Thank you, Irish. I appr
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