Eve let out a loud scream and quickly zipped up her dress then covered her shoulders. "W–What are you doing here?" She took several steps back as the figure stepped forward. "Stalking you. What else does it look like?" His lips curled into an evil smirk. Eve's heart pounded and her eyes darted to every corner. "A–Are you crazy! Have you lost it! Where is the staff?""Passed out." He shrugged and caged her in between the wall. "Look at you, Eve. You thought I'm just gonna let you go like that? Why don't I show you that trifling with someone like me is the biggest mistake you've ever made?" "The biggest mistake I've ever made is believing your lies, Cole. I swear if you don't get out of here, I'll make sure you end up behind bars." "Oh, I'd like to see you do that after we do something nice to entertain your dear precious husband." "W–What are you gonna do?" Eve wrapped both arms around herself, shrinking against the wall. "I– I'm warning you, Cole. Don't try anything crazy. I swea
Some of Eve's anger had cooled off by the time they got home. After resting for a while, before the evening approached, she set to work on herself. "Madam, it's almost time for dinner. Can't you wait until you've eaten?" "No, Camila. I'm not hungry," Eve plastered a mask on her face and replied. The lunch she'd eaten hadn't even finished digesting yet. And she had a lot to do, so she'd better start early. The maid nodded and left. After waiting for the mask to dry off, Eve headed into the bathroom. Hours passed by. She shaved, scrubbed, and washed herself again and again.She put a conditioner in her hair and allowed it to settle for thirty minutes. "Eve."Eve had almost dozed off when a knocking sound came from the door. How long had it been? She frowned. "What are you still doing in there, Eve?" Ethan's voice came again. Eve checked out her hair. It wasn't done conditioning yet. "Just give me a few minutes, I'll be out soon," she called out. The knocking sound stopped and Ev
Eve paced in the living room the next day. Damn that Ethan! After ignoring her, he actually woke up in the middle of the night, chatting with another woman. "Madam, why do you look agitated? Are you alright?" Elena appeared from the kitchen area. "Sure, Elena." Eve forced a smile and sat down. She couldn't just tell the Stewardess that her first attempt at seducing Ethan was a failure, and there was a high chance that Ethan was seeing another woman. The poor woman would feel more miserable than she was. "Alright, Madam. Lunch is almost ready." "Oh, okay–" Eve nodded absentmindedly, sinking into her thoughts. If it was true that Ethan was seeing another woman, was that why he never bothered about touching her? But Eve could not recall seeing Ethan with another woman in her past life. Or was it because she hadn't paid him much attention? Urgh! What was she thinking? Whoever that Jessie was, she mustn't be far away. The only place Ethan went to on a daily basis was his comp
"Jessie, who is that?" Ethan's voice sounded from inside the office. Jessie!? So she was that Jessie. Eve gritted her teeth. Her fingers curled around the food box and she gripped it hard. "I think you have a guest." The so-called Jessie looked Eve up and down before replying to Ethan. "Hey, who are you? And what business do you have with Mr. Anderson to come straight to his office? Have the receptionists grown tired of their jobs?" Eve's eyes darkened and her fist shook. 'I want your life.' she wanted to reply but managed to control her anger in the end. She simply pushed past her and stormed into the office. "Hey, wait! I'm talking to you, where do you think you're going?" The lady came after her and blocked her path. "I asked you what business do you have with Mr. Anderson?" "It's none of your business." Eve wanted the girl to get out of her sight, otherwise, she would really lose it. "Y–You." The lady pointed a finger at her. "You can't just barge into people's off
Eve scratched the back of her neck and laughed nervously. "Uhm, Ethan. I know I was wrong in doubting your relationship with her, but you can't stay mad at me. After all, am I not your darling wife?" Ethan turned around to head back to his working desk, and she grabbed his arm."Ow, come on, Honey. I know I'm wrong, but can you at least eat your lunch?" She forced him to sit on the couch and uncovered the food box. "I already ordered lunch. Evelyn, go back home." Eve unwrapped the spoon and scooped a portion of the food into it. "Ethan, I said I'm sorry. Now stop giving me a hard time. I feel guilty already for making your secretary cry. Here, open your mouth." Ethan pressed his lips together as she leveled the spoon on them. "Ethan," Eve whined. "Quit acting like a child. This lunch is specifically brought to you from home. I know it's better than any kind of food out there. And if you don't eat it, I swear I'll be mad. You know what happens when you make me unhappy."Ethan brou
Murmurs broke out in the area and all the employees gathered around to see what was happening. "M–Mrs. Anderson." Jessie's eyes dampened with tears, and she shuffled forward on her knees, holding her cheeks. "Please don't misunderstand Mr. Anderson and me. In the many years that I've worked as his secretary, Mr. Anderson knows that I've always acted professional. Y–You can ask me to do anything and I'll fulfill your wish, but please don't threaten me with my job." Ethan's deep gaze bore through Eve's back and she shuddered and turned around. His expression was as dark as a pit's bottom. "Evelyn!" He growled. "What is the meaning of this?" Eve rubbed her forehead and sighed inside. The employees stared at her with skeptical looks. Ethan approached and glared at her. While Jessie knelt on the floor, pleading and crying. "If I have angered you in any way, Mrs. Anderson, I beg you to please forgive me. But don't make me lose my job, please don't. I swear I'll do anything!" Jessie sob
"Wow, you were so fast, Ethan." Eve stood up and met him on the way. "You really are excited, aren't you?" Ethan walked past her and sat on the head chair. "What is it, Eve?""I knew it. You're excited." Eve giggled. "No, I mean what do you want?" Ethan stared straight at her. "You keep saying you want to show me something since last night. Is that thing invisible that you can't show it already?" Eve pursed her lips and stomped forward. "Stop being a killjoy, Ethan. At least, act as if you're excited." "Acting is being fake. I'm not a fake person." "Ethan!" Eve sighed. "Whatever it is, I know you're excited deep inside. But I have my pride to preserve, and I won't show you anymore until you beg for it.""Good." Ethan picked up his utensils. "That means I can eat in peace." Eve grumbled and sank down on the chair beside him. 'This heartless man.' "Have you forgotten about our agreement? You can't make me unhappy, Ethan." Ethan ate his food silently. "And that is exactly what yo
"Evelyn, you caused all this! Where is she!? If this Young Master doesn't break her bones today– If she doesn't beg for mercy today! Bah! There's no mercy in my vocabulary!" Two bodyguards were dragging Ethan's brother into the Villa. They were still at the gates and Eve sighed in relief. She quickened up her space and limped toward the back of the Villa where she met Ethan playing golf on the grass field. She didn't possess the energy to tackle Matt this morning. And that idiot seemed out of his mind. "Ethan, what are you doing?" Eve hurried up to where he stood. She couldn't even bring herself to be mad at him anymore. Otherwise, who would save her from that crazy Matt? "Isn't it obvious?" Ethan was very focused as he aimed for the golf ball with the club. He didn't seem to want to be disturbed. Matt broke out of the bodyguards' holds and charged in their direction. "Ethan, teach me how to play golf." Eve gasped and ran into Ethan's embrace. She snatched the golf club from hi
Not every family stuck with each other forever. But forever is like asking for never. They'd all had their ups and downs. The brothers quarreled, not once, not twice, and definitely not thrice. Yet, at the end of the day, they always came back together, standing strong as one family. As Eve lounged on a recliner, staring at the vast ocean ahead, her mind couldn't help but wander to a few years back. Ethan left the company for Wade, but only to manage the one in the other city, as that city was much closer to the island. Well, they frequented here, and often, the whole family gathered here for vacation. "Mummy, I want more." A tiny voice came from her lap and Eve looked down at the baby. She'd almost been convinced that he was sleeping. Her fingers ran through his hair and she removed the straw from her mouth and let him sip the coconut juice. "This is your last sip, Evan. You can't have too much coconut." "Uhuh." The boy nodded and took a sip, but he didn't let go of the stra
"Eve, please c–calm down. Your babies must not be far," Elena tried to coax her as Eve sat on the bed the next morning, bawling her eyes out. Ethan had ransacked the whole hospital last night. They'd even alerted the authorities, and all the staff that worked in the nursery were investigated, but... Her babies were nowhere to be found, they were still missing. And the surveillance cameras caught nothing. Everywhere was dark. "Eve." The Stewardess rubbed her shoulders. "Please don't cry, it can affect your health. Even if that person is cruel enough to kidnap the babies, I don't think they'll have the heart to hurt them."Hurt her babies? Eve cried harder. "That is what I'm scared of, Elena. What if they harm my babies!?""Shhhh, it's okay." Elena hugged her and patted her back. "Don't cry, Eve. Let's keep praying. Nothing will happen to the babies, the Young Master is out there with the authorities searching for them." "M–My babies." Eve's lips trembled and she sniffed rapidly. "My
Swapping her with another baby? Eve pulled away and stared at the woman in astonishment. "Mum, what did you just say?" "I'm horrible, right?" Her mother covered her face and sobbed. "I understand if you don't forgive me, Eve. I don't think I deserve it. I wasn't in my right mind, I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought..." She trailed off and kept on sobbing. Eve opened her mouth, but no words came out. The accidental swapping wasn't an accident? Her Mum did that? "M–Mum, why did you..." Eve held back her tears from falling, trying her best to control the sudden grief compounding her heart. "Mum..." "Please don't call me that. I feel bad when you call me by that name. After what I did..." "Do you really hate me?" Eve sniffed. "What did Dad do for you to hate me so much? What did he do for you to abandon me?" "I don't hate you now, Eve." Her mother shook her head and looked up. "I am just ashamed to come near you. I am ashamed to be close to you after what I did." Eve
"Please endure it, Mrs. Anderson. We'll soon get to the delivery room."Eve couldn't register what happened next. All she knew was that she was being wheeled down a long hallway and the pain in her stomach kept expanding with each second. "Eve, please keep up with the pain. I know you can handle it." Ethan continuously stroked her hair while wiping her sweat with the other hand. "It's too painful, Ethan. I think I'm gonna die!" Eve cried. How could she handle this pain? It was the most agonizing experience she'd ever gone through. "You can do it, Eve. I believe in you." Ethan's reassuring words were accompanied by the fear in his voice. It took forever before they finally wheeled her into the labor room. Her gynecologist appeared and the staff lifted her on a bed. "Help me, please! I don't wanna die, Doc!" "You aren't going to die, Mrs. Anderson. It's a momentary pain. Luckily, you're already opened.""C–Can I start pushing?""Yes, please. You can start pushing.""Ahhhhh! I can'
As if they were being chased out of the island, the private jet arrived that evening. No one carried anything with them, just their clothes and phones. When the plane descended on the helipad at the rooftop of the hospital, Ethan literally jumped out before it came to a complete stop. "Th–That was dangerous, Ethan!" Eve shouted amidst the blaring sound of the plane. The gynecologist helped her out and she held his hand. "Ethan, please calm down. Let's hope nothing bad happens." The man wasn't looking at her. His mind seemed to have wandered off, the same condition he'd been in since they left the island. Ethan brought out his phone and fiddled with it. Then he made a quick phone call before holding her tight and heading down the rooftop with her. "You can go home, Eve." "No, I must see Grandpa." Her heart was racing and her nerves were wracking inside. She couldn't just go home like a coward. And Ethan wasn't himself, she'd rather be with him. They appeared on the top floor
But Ethan wasn't being too sensitive, he was just smarter than her to see the gynecologist's actions coming. As the weeks passed by, Sara's actions became bolder and more provocative. She'd even resorted to dressing in short dresses without shoulder straps. Sometimes, she'd even walk around the house in a tiny bikini, claiming she was going swimming. But even after returning from the pool, she'd take a long time before changing out of the bikini. And the worse thing was... She would use the pretense to speak about Eve's health in other to spend time with Ethan. Sometimes, they'd be discussing until midnight as she explained some difficult medical terminologies to him. "Eve, I know I'm not supposed to butt in, but you must take action before this girl snatches your husband." Elena came to her room one day and advised, and Eve found it hard to handle the bitter truth. "You also noticed it, Elena?" "Everyone notices it," Elena whispered. "Even the maids speak about it, Eve. S
Eve made sure all the things they would need were set in place three days later. After bidding their families goodbye, they set off to the island in Ethan's private jet and arrived the next morning. "This house is very huge, Madam," Camila said as they toured the mansion."I can't believe we're going to live here until you put to bed.""Won't you miss the city life?" Eve's eyes wandered around the large living room. It was even more luxurious than the one back at the Villa. "Not at all, Madam. Compared to the noises and buzz of the city, this place can be considered a paradise.""Mmm. I also like it." Eve nodded and caressed her bump. "And I think my babies like it also." They didn't kick a lot today, unlike recently when they'd been nothing but active. "This is a generous gift from their great-grandfather. Of course, they'd like it, Madam." One of the maids looked at her stomach and smiled. "Where is Elena, by the way?" Eve's brows furrowed as she asked."She must be in the kitc
Like the sand in an hourglass, the months slowly trickled by. While Ethan worked hard day and night to stabilize the company, Eve couldn't ward off the lingering fear that Wade was lurking in the shadows. Sometimes, she would forget he existed, and other times, the thought of his action and promise made her wake up with a start in the middle of the night. Such as this night. Eve reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. She took a sip of it, patting her chest to ease her frantic heartbeat. Her eyes squinted in the darkness and she turned on the bedside lamp then looked sideways at Ethan. "You're awake?" Ethan turned and opened his eyes. "Is it the nightmare, Eve?"Eve sighed and slowly nodded. "I told you to stop worrying about it. He can't do anything.""We're not sure, Ethan." Eve shifted and rested on his arm. "That man is dangerous, we must be wary of him.""He can't do anything," Ethan repeated, caressing her bump. "I'll make sure he never comes near you."Eve wasn
"You, Evelyn! You think you have finally made it in life! You think you can bully others and do as you please!? Unlike you, I won't go to the authorities. I'll take the matter into my hands and make sure you're dead!"As Mia charged toward her with a knife, Eve stood still, unable to react. But Ethan acted fast and knocked the knife out of her hand. "Ahhhhh! Leave me alone! Let me at her!" Mia screamed as two bodyguards hurried forward and seized her. "I said let me go! You are all bunch of fools and cowards, hiding behind the authorities! If you don't fear me, Evelyn, let's fight barehanded. I'll poke out your eyes and make you regret ever thinking of harming Cole.""This crazy girl. Why did you come here?" Eve's grandfather stood up with his cane. "You have lost your mind by thinking that you can harm my granddaughter.""Are you sure that she is your granddaughter!?" Mia yelled. "You have always hated me, Old Man. I wasn't surprised when you wanted to kick me out. What stupid blood