[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
"Urgh..." A soft groan escaped Evelyn’s lips as she slowly sat up in bed.A sharp throbbing in her head made her wince as she scanned the unfamiliar room, her heart racing at the sight of her strange surroundings.Nothing felt familiar, and the pounding of her heart only grew stronger.Her eyes quickly darted around until they froze in shock, landing on a man—completely naked—lying beside her. And not just any man. His chiseled body, sculpted with perfect muscles, was enough to make any woman weak at the knees.Her breath hitched, and she quickly averted her eyes, only to realize her own shocking state.‘Sh*t!’ she cursed in her mind as she noticed that she, too, was completely naked.Before Evelyn could fully process the situation, the buzzing of her phone on the nightstand caught her attention. She snatched it up and saw countless missed calls and unread messages from her younger sister, Rebecca.[Evelyn! Where are you?! You need to come home now! Dad is furious!]All the messages ca
“How could I enter the wrong room?!” Evelyn screamed internally, panic rising in her chest.She had just made a colossal mistake for the most ridiculous reason!Quickly, she turned on her heel, ready to flee from the scene, praying no one would ever find out—especially not her fiancé.But fate had other plans.“Evelyn?”Just as she was about to bolt, she froze at the sound of a familiar voice.A tall, handsome man stood before her, his face a mix of confusion and pain. His gaze shifted from the hotel room door numbered 1010 to Evelyn, who stood disheveled in front of him.“Andre…” Evelyn’s voice cracked as she spoke his name.Andre Sterling, the only heir to the richest business family in New Santerra, was her fiancé—arranged, but still a man who truly loved her. And Evelyn loved him too.His eyes fell upon the reddish marks scattered across her neck and chest, stark against her skin where the collar of her dress had slipped just a bit. A wave of anger and disbelief crashed over him.
The sound of a loud slap echoed in the Collins family living room. "You shameless girl!" a middle-aged man shouted, his emotions boiling over.Evelyn stood frozen, still shocked from the blow she received just after stepping through the front door."Where were you last night, huh? Who were you with?!" Richard's fierce gaze pierced through her. The dark circles under his eyes showed he hadn't slept well.Evelyn bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. “I was—” she started, clenching her fists.A girl with a pretty face hurried to hold her father's hand. She looked at Evelyn with concern. “Dad! Don’t be too harsh with Evelyn! Let her explain first!”“Be quiet, Rebecca! How can I calm down when your sister was acting like a prostitute last night?!” Richard yelled, filled with rage. He then held up his phone, displaying a video for Rebecca and Evelyn. “Look at this!”The video showed a blurry figure of a man entering room 1010. Shortly after, a girl in a tight red dress followed him inside,
“Get rid of the baby!” Richard said coldly in response to Evelyn's shocking news. “We’re having an abortion today!”Evelyn furrowed her brows at her father’s words. “But, Dad…” She glanced down at her stomach, gently rubbing it. “The baby isn’t at fault.”Richard raised an eyebrow. “So what?” He felt uneasy, sensing his daughter had a foolish idea. “The baby might not be to blame, but you are! Aborting the baby is the best way to fix your mistake!”Evelyn closed her eyes, knowing she could never be right in her father's eyes. She realized that her night with a stranger was her fault. Yet, after reflecting on everything for weeks, she became certain of one thing: someone had set her up.“I’ll take responsibility for my mistake, but not by getting rid of this baby,” she replied firmly, meeting her father's gaze. “I won’t abort it.”“Shut your damn mouth!” Richard slammed his hand on the table, unable to contain his anger. “You should know that despite the rumors flying around, I’ve conv
*5 years later*“Mom! Mom! I want that!” cried a little girl around four years old, pointing excitedly at a picture of ice cream outside a restaurant. Her big, round eyes sparkled with excitement, enhanced by her bright blue irises.Suddenly, a small hand grasped the girl’s hand to hold her back. “Lily, don’t bother Mom. We can buy it later, okay?” replied a calm boy who looked just like the girl. His steady demeanor made some onlookers think he was older than he appeared.Between the two adorable twins, a beautiful woman in elegant attire held their hands, smiling down at them. She knelt before her children and said, “Liam is so understanding,” she praised. Then, she turned to Lily, gently stroking her hair. “Just be patient, sweetheart. After we get to the apartment and unpack, I’ll take you to get ice cream, okay?”Lily looked a little downcast but nodded slowly. “Okay, Mom.”That response made the woman smile warmly. “Good girl.” She took both children’s hands again as they walked
‘This man!’As Evelyn stared at the man in front of her, she found herself at loss for words.It wasn’t just his intimidating gaze; it was also the bright blue eyes that she recognized all too well.“It’s okay,” Adam replied in a low voice that sent shivers down her spine, not waiting for her to finish her sentence.His voice made Evelyn's heart race. Despite trying to forget that night for years, memories of it haunted her. Her body recalled every touch from the man standing before her.Five years had passed, yet Evelyn could never forget how he looked.Those piercing blue eyes, his thin lips, and the toned body that had once consumed her thoughts.Evelyn opened her mouth to say something, “You—”“Mr. Adam, we need to leave now,” another voice interrupted, pulling Adam’s attention away from her.“Julian, I’m just—”Realizing how close she was to making a mistake, Evelyn quickly said, “I’m sorry again. Excuse me.” She turned and hurried away.Adam was taken aback by her sudden rush, bu
Chapter 7 Eden Entertainment“Congratulations, Evelyn. You’ve been accepted as the business director's secretary. Mr. Director has also said you’ll start working tomorrow,” said a man in his thirties, extending his hand toward Evelyn.Evelyn shook his hand firmly and slightly bowed her head. “Thank you, Mr. Harvey. I will do my best to meet your expectations,” she replied politely.Harvey, the HR manager and a friend of Anita, nodded. “Rena,” he called, and a young woman appeared beside him. “Please take Evelyn on a tour of the office so she feels comfortable tomorrow.”Rena greeted Evelyn warmly, knowing how hard it was to get a position like hers. “Hello, Ms. Evelyn. I’m Rena, from the HR department.” Evelyn smiled back and shook her hand.Seeing his job done, Harvey said, “I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll leave you now, Evelyn.”“Alright, thank you again,” Evelyn replied.Once Harvey was out of sight, Rena led Evelyn away for the tour. “Come with me, Ms. Evelyn.”The comp
“We’re late,” Julian muttered, checking his watch. “The interviews should be wrapped up by now.” His gaze shifted to the windshield, staring at the heavy traffic clogging the streets of New Santerra.“It’s fine,” replied the man beside him, Adam, his tone calm as he continued tapping on the laptop in his lap. “It’s just a small interview. HR can handle it. I’m not going to miss the chance of a contract with a top music label, am I?” His focus was clear.Fifteen minutes later, as they stepped into the lobby, Julian’s tablet dinged with a notification. He glanced at it and sighed. “HR just informed me that the interviews have concluded.”“Hmm,” Adam responded curtly, stepping into the elevator without breaking his stride. “Tell them to prepare a report on the candidates. I want it on my desk soon.” He didn’t pay any mind to the admiring glances cast his way by employees as they passed.“Who is that? A new celebrity?” one employee whispered. “He’s so handsome!”A senior employee quickly
[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?”
“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
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
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.
“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
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
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