Evelyn adjusted the rearview mirror, her gaze softening as she glanced at her two children in the backseat. "So, how was your first day of school?" she asked, her voice warm with curiosity.
Liam, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly brightened. "It was great, Mommy!" he exclaimed, reaching over to squeeze Lily’s hand. "Right, Lily?"
Unlike her brother’s enthusiasm, Lily’s smile was forced. "Y-yeah," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Evelyn’s brows knitted together as she caught the hesitation. "Oh? Really? What did you two do today?" she probed gently, sensing there was more to the story.
Liam launched into an animated retelling of his day—dancing, singing songs, learning new words, and making friends. He described how their classroom was decorated with bright posters, how the teacher had read them a story, and how he had played soccer during recess with some of the other boys. Evelyn listened patie
Evelyn took a deep breath, then explained her run-ins with Adam. She told Anita how he stared at her suspiciously, commented on her familiar scent, and even questioned if they’d met before.Anita listened closely, her chin resting on her hand as she took it all in. "Are you going to ask him for anything?" she asked gently when Evelyn finished."Ask Adam Dean for what? Compensation?" Evelyn scoffed, flopping back against the couch. "He’d think I was just another woman trying to milk him for cash," she replied with a sigh, recalling Rena’s earlier stories about Adam. "He’s a regular Casanova; he’s used to women chasing after him.""Then, are you still planning to work there?" Anita asked, guilt tinging her voice. She had encouraged Evelyn to return to New Santerra in the first place. "I could help you find something else.""No need," Evelyn replied firmly. Getting into Eden Entertainment was a big step, and the job benefits wer
The next morning, Evelyn arrived at the office, her long legs accentuated by tailored black pants paired with a deep navy blouse. Her straight hair was half-tied, framing her sharp, elegant features. As she walked through the office, she remained oblivious to the admiring glances of several male employees.Reaching the office door Rena had pointed out the other day, she knocked lightly before stepping inside. “Excuse me,” she said, her voice soft yet clear.Inside, two desks faced each other. One was occupied by a woman in her thirties with impeccably styled wavy hair. She wore a white blouse with a plunging neckline and a fitted pencil skirt, her attire emphasizing her curvaceous figure.At the sound of Evelyn’s voice, the woman turned sharply, her eyes narrowing as if irritated by the interruption. She gave Evelyn a slow, deliberate once-over, her gaze dripping with judgment.“You must be Evelyn Sinclair,” she said in a cli
“What did you just say?!” Evelyn’s sharp voice rang through her office. Her face turned pale as she hastily gathered her things, keeping her phone pressed against her ear. “How could you not notice the kids were gone?!” she snapped, revealing a fiercer side of herself.Dealing with Linda’s impossible demands had been bad enough, but now the nanny she trusted to care for Liam and Lily had failed to notice them disappearing. How could this happen?Struggling to stay calm, Evelyn ordered the panicked nanny on the other end of the line, “Report it to building management immediately. Ask them to check the security cameras. I’m coming ho—”“Mommy!”The loud cry from the doorway stopped Evelyn mid-sentence. Two little figures came sprinting toward her, throwing their tiny arms around her waist. Evelyn’s eyes widened in shock as she dropped to her knees instinctively.“Liam
Lily’s innocent question left Evelyn gaping, while Julian struggled to suppress a laugh. Adam, however, remained silent, seemingly weighing the best response to give the little girl.Not wanting the situation to escalate further, Evelyn quickly stepped forward. “L-let me take Lily, sir. Sorry for the trouble,” she said, reaching out her arms.Seeing Evelyn’s hands outstretched, Adam handed Lily back to her. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he hesitated. A part of him felt reluctant to let go of the cheerful little girl, as if he was already fond of her—a strange and unfamiliar feeling, especially for someone like Adam Dean, who had never particularly liked children.As he passed Lily over, Adam’s hand accidentally brushed against Evelyn’s. The brief contact sent a jolt through both of them, their gazes locking for a fleeting moment. The room seemed to still, thick with an unspoken tension neither could quite explain.
A sharp scoff escaped Adam’s lips. “If you were truly capable, your children wouldn’t have almost gone missing,” he said bluntly.Julian, who had been silently observing with amusement, blinked in surprise at his boss’s words.In an instant, the atmosphere shifted. What had been a mildly tense exchange between Adam and Evelyn now felt charged, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.‘Why does it feel like they’re fighting?’ Julian wondered, puzzled.Adam wasn’t the type to involve himself in matters that didn’t directly impact him. So, what was this?Even the twins, Liam and Lily, began sensing the shift in the air.Without hesitation, Liam stepped forward, planting himself protectively in front of Evelyn.“Mommy is amazing! Mommy is responsible! Mean Uncle isn’t allowed to scold Mommy!” Liam declared boldly, puffing up his chest like a miniature knigh
“I’m so sorry, ma’am,” Helena, the nanny, said, bowing deeply in front of Evelyn. Her reddened eyes made it clear she had been crying. “I’ve been so careless,” she admitted, taking full responsibility for what had happened earlier that day.Evelyn sighed softly, seated across from Helena in the living room. “I hope this doesn’t happen again, Helena,” she said firmly, though her tone remained calm. “I hired you to take care of my children, and I need you to be more cautious moving forward.”Helena’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. “You’re not firing me?” she asked, stunned by Evelyn’s words. She had fully expected her employer to let her go after her mistake.Evelyn’s lips curved into a faint smile. “As long as you promise not to repeat this mistake, I’ll give you another chance,” she said.Helena’s face brightened instantly, a broad smile spreading across her lips. “Yes, ma’am! I promise!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with relief.Evelyn knew her children better tha
Evelyn? Ms. Evelyn!”The sound of her name, accompanied by a hand waving in front of her face, snapped Evelyn out of her daze. “R-Rena?” she stammered, blinking as she registered the presence of her younger colleague. “Oh, hi,” she added hesitantly, still disoriented.Rena smiled sympathetically, used to Evelyn’s occasional moments of absentmindedness. Standing in line behind Evelyn at the office cafeteria, she asked, “So, how was your first day yesterday?”Evelyn forced a smile as she pointed to one of the dishes for the server. “It was … fine, I think?” she said uncertainly. Memories of her encounter with Linda flashed in her mind. “Although, as you said, Ms. Linda is … difficult.”Rena grabbed her food and followed Evelyn to a table, waving off a coworker to indicate she’d be sitting with the new secretary. “Everyone’s already heard about what happened yesterday,” Rena said casually as they sat across from each other.Evelyn froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. “What do you mean?”
“No need, ma’am. The man on that day left without causing any trouble, and he returned my card,” Julian replied casually.Hearing that, Evelyn sighed in relief. At least Andre hadn’t complicated things further, sparing her the ordeal of paying him off. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said with a soft smile.Though she owed Julian nothing, Evelyn felt grateful for how he had helped her handle Andre Sterling’s unwelcome intrusion.An idea crossed her mind—perhaps she could give him a small gift in return.“What’s your favorite food, Mr. Julian?” Evelyn asked suddenly, catching both Julian and Rena off guard.‘Whoa, go for it, Ms. Evelyn! I support this!’ Rena cheered internally, her mind running wild with possibilities. She assumed Evelyn was trying to flirt with Julian.Though Julian wasn’t in the same league as Adam in terms of status, his tall fr
“What do you mean?” Evelyn demanded, her dark eyes filled with unease. “Go where?”Adam leaned back against the seat, clearly satisfied with the apprehension flickering across her face. Instead of answering, he pulled out his tablet and started scrolling through the latest online headlines.[Does Adam Dean Have a Secret Lover?!][Who Is the Mysterious ‘Veiled’ Woman with the Heir?][The Hidden Woman in Adam Dean’s Life: Who Is She?]The articles spread across the screen, speculation running wild.“Adam Dean!” Evelyn snapped, irritation flaring in her voice. “Put that away and—”Before she could finish, the car took a sharp turn, throwing her off balance. She gasped as she tumbled forward—straight into Adam’s lap.His tablet hit the floor with a dull thud, but Evelyn barely noticed. Her face burned a
Adam was about to speak when the soft chime of the elevator interrupted him. The doors slid open, revealing a group of employees waiting to step in. Without hesitation, Adam slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over Evelyn’s head, shielding her from prying eyes.Startled by the unexpected gesture, Evelyn let out a muffled yelp. “What the—!?”“Come with me,” Adam cut her off, his firm hand wrapping around her waist as he led her out of the elevator and through the lobby. His grip was firm, unyielding, making it impossible for her to resist without causing a scene.Whispers erupted the moment they stepped out. Employees gawked, exchanging looks of disbelief.“Wait… who’s that with Mr. Adam?” one woman gasped, clutching her friend’s arm. Her eyes gleamed with the thrill of fresh gossip. “Why is he covering her like that?!”Another colleague chimed in, grinning. “
“You’re the woman who walked into my hotel room five years ago, aren’t you?”Adam’s words froze Evelyn in place. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. ‘How does he know?’ she thought, panic gripping her.For five years, she had convinced herself that Adam wouldn’t recognize her—that after that night, he had moved on without ever realizing who she was. And yet, here he was, looking at her with sharp, knowing eyes.A Few Hours EarlierAdam stared at the DNA test results on his desk, his usual calm shattered by the words before him.Probability of paternity: 99.9%His hand covered his mouth as he exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. One hour ago, he had been a successful bachelor, focused only on expanding his business empire. Now, he was a father to four-year-old twins—children who had appeared out of nowhere.“You’re sure this
“Let go of me!” Evelyn shouted, struggling to free herself. But she hadn’t expected Ryan to be this strong. Realizing she couldn’t overpower him, she did the only thing she could. “Help! Somebody help me!”Instead of panicking, Ryan smirked, almost amused by her resistance. Something about Evelyn fighting back only fueled his twisted sense of control.“No one can hear you, sweetheart,” he murmured, pressing his heavy body against hers. “This office is soundproof.”Evelyn grimaced in disgust, her heart pounding in terror as she felt his breath against her skin. She knew screaming wouldn’t help—no one would come. She needed to fight.Without hesitation, she lifted her knee and slammed it between Ryan’s legs with all her strength.Ryan’s eyes bulged, and his smirk twisted into agony. “You little—!” he gasp
"What?! Who is this someone—"Without a shred of patience left, Adam ended the call abruptly. Frustrated, he tossed his phone onto the desk and returned to his work.Julian, still standing in the room, gaped at his boss in shock. ‘Mr. Adam… has a girlfriend?’ Despite Adam’s usual impassive expression, Julian’s mind was spinning with questions. ‘Who? Why don’t I know about this?!’While Julian was drowning in confusion, Adam lifted his gaze and shot him a sharp look. "Is your job to stare at my face?"Julian snapped his head down, pretending to focus on the documents in his hands. But despite his better judgment, curiosity got the better of him. "Since when do you have a girlfriend, Mr. Adam?" he asked cautiously.Adam, still signing documents, didn’t react at first. He continued flipping through the pages, his pen moving effortlessly across th
"You disrespectful grandson! Your grandfather calls all the way from Capitol, and this is how you answer?" The rough voice of an old man barked through the phone, scolding Adam.Julian, who was still standing in front of Adam’s desk, turned slightly and shook his head. ‘Ah, it’s Mr. Noah again,’ he thought as he made his way back to his desk.Noah Dean—the former CEO of the massive Dean Group empire and Adam Dean’s grandfather. As the family’s patriarch, every member of the Dean family treated him with utmost respect.Except for Adam.Rather than softening his tone, Adam’s voice grew colder. "So, why are you calling, Grandfather?" he asked bluntly, already anticipating that whatever the old man had to say wouldn’t be to his liking.Noah, lounging on a chair on the grand terrace of his mansion, raised his voice again. "Why did you suddenly leave for N
[KerRea10: Oh, so this is why Linda, Mr. Ryan’s assistant, got fired? She’s pretty, so people are defending her?][Gulali29: Nah, Linda was the problem. She kept dumping work on others, so she got what she deserved.][Renata123: @KerRea10 Linda was just bad at her job. She got fired, and that’s fair. Why blame someone just because they’re pretty? Sounds jealous.][Gulali29: @Renata123 Maybe jealous because Mr. Julian already has someone in mind! I’m jealous too, but at least I know I’m not on the same level as the new secretary.][Renata123: @Tria22 Hahaha, let’s hope they’re really a perfect match!]Julian’s eyes widened as he scrolled through the Instagram comments. "What the hell?!" His grip on his phone tightened, his jaw clenching. Of course, this gossip page—one notorious for spilling insider drama from Eden Entertainment—was now dragging him into the mess. "I need to find out
“No need, ma’am. The man on that day left without causing any trouble, and he returned my card,” Julian replied casually.Hearing that, Evelyn sighed in relief. At least Andre hadn’t complicated things further, sparing her the ordeal of paying him off. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said with a soft smile.Though she owed Julian nothing, Evelyn felt grateful for how he had helped her handle Andre Sterling’s unwelcome intrusion.An idea crossed her mind—perhaps she could give him a small gift in return.“What’s your favorite food, Mr. Julian?” Evelyn asked suddenly, catching both Julian and Rena off guard.‘Whoa, go for it, Ms. Evelyn! I support this!’ Rena cheered internally, her mind running wild with possibilities. She assumed Evelyn was trying to flirt with Julian.Though Julian wasn’t in the same league as Adam in terms of status, his tall fr
Evelyn? Ms. Evelyn!”The sound of her name, accompanied by a hand waving in front of her face, snapped Evelyn out of her daze. “R-Rena?” she stammered, blinking as she registered the presence of her younger colleague. “Oh, hi,” she added hesitantly, still disoriented.Rena smiled sympathetically, used to Evelyn’s occasional moments of absentmindedness. Standing in line behind Evelyn at the office cafeteria, she asked, “So, how was your first day yesterday?”Evelyn forced a smile as she pointed to one of the dishes for the server. “It was … fine, I think?” she said uncertainly. Memories of her encounter with Linda flashed in her mind. “Although, as you said, Ms. Linda is … difficult.”Rena grabbed her food and followed Evelyn to a table, waving off a coworker to indicate she’d be sitting with the new secretary. “Everyone’s already heard about what happened yesterday,” Rena said casually as they sat across from each other.Evelyn froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. “What do you mean?”