On hearing the voice, Eve was stunned for a few seconds. The burly man's hand stopped mid-air.
"I should believe that you're not trying to harass this lady. Otherwise, I'll be forced to get the authorities," that voice continued. It was none other than Cole. Eve gulped and slowly turned around, her gaze landing on the young man with a gentle smile on his face. The last expression she'd seen on Cole's face was an evil smile as he and Mia revealed all their plans to her before leaving her to her misery. Seeing him now, Eve was forced to recall that memory. "It is not what you are thinking, Sir." Taking in Cole's appearance, the attendant's bitter expression transformed into a friendly smile. "You see, this lady here is a scam. She entered this store not with the intention of buying anything, but to waste our time and make a scene. That is why we are dealing with her.""How much is the painting?" Cole smiled, slipping both hands into his pockets. "Ahh, are you trying to save her, Sir?" The attendant looked flabbergasted. "Please don't. I am used to their types every day. They come to these kinds of places where the rich hang out, so they can gather attention and at the end of the day, snag a rich man home."Eve's expression fell at the lady's horrible words. "You make things up so easily, are you sure you don't have that kind of intention in your mind? After all, who is the loudest among us? Isn't yelling an act of gathering attention?""Y–You..." The lady pointed a finger at Eve. "You see what I'm talking about, Sir? Bums like her have foul mouths, they don't know the proper way to talk to people. She doesn't deserve an ounce of your kindness," she said to Cole. "Then that means you're also bum as you keep spilling out horrible and disrespectful words. Can't you feel your mouth smelling?" More than anything now, Eve wanted to leave this place, firstly because the lady was wasting her time, and secondly, because she didn't like this sudden encounter with Cole. Although Cole looked gentle and caring on the outside, Eve had learned in her past life that he harbored so much hatred for her in his heart. He and Mia had always been looking for the right opportunity to bring her down. "Eve, don't mind her. You should understand that the lady is only doing her job," Cole said in his soft voice. "But don't misunderstand her, Miss. I can assure you she can buy this painting. Since her credit card is missing, I'll make the payment on her behalf."The lady looked mortified and said, "Sir, believe me. Just let us deal with her—""Since I'm willing to pay, don't say another word. She is someone I know well, and I won't tolerate you saying more bad words about her." Eve opened her mouth, shaking her head. There was no way she would accept Cole's offer. If it was in the past, she would have jumped in both glee and happiness on just sighting him. She was no longer interested in buying the painting anyways. Ethan was just outside, she could get him to take her to another store. And thinking about the devil...It was as if an iceberg was suddenly dropped into the room. Heavy footsteps came from the door and there was pin-drop silence. A deep gaze bore through Eve's back. She shivered and turned around to be met with Ethan's glaring eyes. His cold look was directed specifically at Cole. Enemies were bound to meet on a narrow path. What now? Was she in bigger trouble? Behind Ethan was a middle-aged man who seemed to be buttering him up. But Ethan was not listening to the man's flattering. He took in the scene, his expression getting darker. "How much?" His voice echoed in the room. The people seemed to be holding their breath. Only a handful of people didn't know Ethan's face in the city, and they looked so shocked out of their skin to see him in this kind of place. "Ahh, M–Mr. Anderson." The attendant's eyes bulged out of their sockets. "A–Are you also willing to buy the painting for her? This lady here is a cunning bitch, please save your money for important things.""Who said I'm asking about the painting?" Ethan's glare at the lady sent her body trembling. Then he glanced at the middle-aged man. "How much is this store?" "M–Mr. Anderson." Boughts of sweat poured from the man's forehead. "Y–You're kidding, right? This store is my family's fortune, no one has ever dared to purchase it because as you see, we sell the most valuable collections, and the price–""Ten million.""What!?" The man's eyes dilated and the crowd also gasped. "Twenty million."The middle-aged man blinked rapidly as if losing his tongue. "Thirty million."Ethan's last words made the middle-aged man fall to his knees. Tiny whispers broke out in the crowd, and more than anyone else, Eve's eyes widened with astonishment. "Th–Thirty million, Y–Yes, Mr. Anderson, please the store is yours." Even as more sweat poured from his face, the middle-aged man looked as if he'd hug Ethan. He ended up kissing the ground underneath him. Ethan brought his attention to the shop's attendant, his dark expression returning. "You dared call my wife a cunning bitch." "Y–Your wife?" There were more gasps from the crowd and the lady stuttered, looking as if she was struck by lightning. "You're all fired." Ethan's gaze swept across the staff.Then he brought out his business card and handed it to the middle-aged man before he grabbed Eve's hand. Eve broke out of her shock and yelped. "Ahh, my painting." She took the painting from the male staff's hand before trotting after Ethan out of the store. The last glare he threw at Cole told Eve that she just dug a hole for herself. And throughout the ride to the ancestral mansion, a suppressing tension hung in the car. She could feel Ethan's anger toward her. He must have thought that it was more than a coincidence for Cole to be suddenly present at the store. Ethan must have also overheard when Cole attempted to pay for the painting on her behalf. Eve grimaced and shrank deeper into the car seat. Just to spite Ethan in the past, not a day went by without her mentioning Cole and how much she loved him dearly. And one day, she even brought Cole to the Villa with Mia's help. That day, she'd tried to elope with Cole but Ethan caught them. He had beaten Cole to an unrecognizable state, and Eve had been convinced that Cole was dead, until a few days later when Mia told her that Cole wanted to see her.Thinking about it now, that incident happened a few weeks after she drugged Ethan. It turned out Mia and Cole did that to cause more rift between her and Ethan.
The car arrived at the ancestral mansion and Eve jumped out with the painting in her hands. Ethan also left the car and a servant approached them. After greeting them, the servant told them Ethan's grandfather was in the garden behind the mansion, soaking up the morning's atmosphere. "The garden is this way, where are you going?" As Eve was about to dash into the house, Ethan said in confusion. Eve stopped walking and held tight to the painting. She must replace this gift with the one she'd presented last night fast. As the mansion seemed calm and the servants worked in harmony, it meant the old man hadn't opened her gift yet. "Ethan, Darling." She turned around and put on her best smile, holding her stomach. "You can go see Grandpa first. I'm pressed and must use the washroom immediately." Ethan frowned and glanced at the painting. "I'll hold it for you. Be fast." "N–No no no." Eve shooked her head. "Since this gift is from me to Grandpa, I must give it to him hand to hand.
Eve's lips twitched slightly. She released his arm and sighed inside. If she could remember correctly in her past life, Matt and his other bad friends would end up in jail just a few months from now. They would be caught by the authorities in drug trafficking and money laundering. That incident made headlines in the city, tainting the family's name and bringing down its reputation. Although Matt had always been a troublemaker, no one expected that he'd go to that extreme. It was also at that time that the family found out he hung out with bad company. However, it was too late as the authorities didn't take the situation lightly. No amount of money and connection could bail him out. The incident affected his grandfather so much that he ended up on his deathbed earlier than anticipated. Matt confessed that he was manipulated into the act by his friends due to his rich background and wild ways. He'd always lived in his brother's shadows and felt useless in the family. All his ac
Lunch was already prepared by the time Eve got home and she ate her food dejectedly. Wishing that Ethan would come back home with her was like asking for the impossible. Their relationship was so sour that he rarely spent his days at home and he spent most of his nights at the company. "M–Ms. Maxwell— I mean, Madam, Isn't the food to your liking?" Elena said, looking worried. Eve looked sideways at the house stewardess. She could also see fear in the woman's eyes. Blowing out a sigh, she shook her head. "The food is great, Elena, thank you. And when will you start calling me by my name? Do you want me to remind you again and again?""My apologies, M–Ms. — Madam. I'll do whatever you say.""Oh, don't force yourself." Eve finished her food and sighed again. "You can call me by my name whenever you're comfortable with it. But from now on, you can't call me Ms. Maxwell."Without waiting for the woman's reply, she left the dining area and wandered all day at home. Her fears came true in
Eve sprang to her feet, the earlier anticipation returning to her heart."Ethan." She hurried up to him. "Ethan, you're back. How could you spend the night at the company? Don't you know that you're making me feel like a bad wife?" The irritation on Ethan's face when he saw Mia disappeared, and now he was studying Eve like a foreign object. "Eve! What is the meaning of this!?" Mia was almost yelling at her. She looked more confused than Ethan. In fact, she looked lost. "Have you lost your head, Eve? The person standing in front of you Isn't Cole but Ethan Anderson.""So what if he's Ethan?" Eve gave her a furtive glance before returning her eyes to Ethan. "Isn't he my husband? Why do you look so surprised, Mia?""Eve!" From the corner of her eyes, Eve could see Mia's fists clenching. "Are you even alright, have you lost your mind? Why are you acting weird?"Eve could feel Ethan's anger like the smoke of boiling lava. She could feel his anger toward Mia. And she knew he was only hold
Ethan was already out of his bedroom by the time Eve decided to join him upstairs. He was now in his study room, and Eve knew better not to disturb him. In the past, she would use this opportunity to interrupt his work and rain insults on him all day. Those were some of the few times she'd seen Ethan's real anger. If there was something Ethan was most punctual about, it literally was his work. And Eve never stopped angering him whenever he was home. She had a strong feeling that she was the reason why Ethan became so disoriented that he even lost his company in her past life. At that time, his brother was already arrested, and his grandfather was on his deathbed. The family fell apart and so was the family's fortune. Eve turned around and headed back downstairs. There was not much to do in the house, she also never interacted much with the servants. And now she regretted it. Eve was already thirteen when her grandfather found her and brought her to the city. While she was growin
That night, Eve was slightly mad at Ethan. She paced in her room, wondering what she would have to do to make him believe her. Ethan didn't even come down for dinner, and this time, Eve didn't pressure the Stewardess to let her take the food to him. She was afraid Ethan would not eat the food, just like he did with lunch. The next morning, she looked around the house and Ethan was nowhere to be found. She checked his study room, his bedroom, and everywhere she could think of. It was still the weekend. Was he avoiding her so much that he would just slip away? Why had the tables turned? "Please get me the telephone and dial the ancestral mansion," Eve ordered one of the maids. Even if she still had her phone with her, Ethan might probably not pick up her calls with his current attitude. "Here it is, Madam." The servants had gotten comfortable with calling her Madam, and that made her happy. She placed the telephone on her ear and after ringing for a while, the call disconnected.
Cole looked shocked for a few seconds before a big frown formed on his forehead. "What are you talking about, Eve?" He took her hands and asked in confusion. "Why are you suddenly saying this? Is there something that is bothering you? Tell me, what did Mr. Anderson threaten you with?""Urgh! Nothing is wrong with me." Eve shook his hands off. "Cole, see. There's no need to keep pretending anymore. I know you don't really like me, you're doing all this because Mia put you up to it."As if caught red-handed committing a crime, Cole stepped back and opened his mouth then closed it. "So if you will excuse me, Mr. Nathan. Stop wasting your time, because I'm done listening to your lies." "How could you say such things, Eve?" Cole quickly retained his calm look. "Since when did you get this idea into your head? Remember the years we have spent together, remember our promises to each other. You can't just wake up one morning and declare our relationship is over."Eve could very well rememb
The guy looked like a ball right out of hell. Eve couldn't react on time, and by the time she did, Matt had been restrained by Ethan. Ethan grabbed his collar and pulled him away. "Big bro, let me at her! She's gone too far by calling me a chicken!"Eve gulped and hid behind Ethan. When did she call him a chicken? She only warned him not to chicken out. "If you dare touch a hair on her body." Ethan gave him a warning look. "Argh! Big Bro!" Matt whined. He swayed and pointed at Eve. "I swear she started it! This stupid girl dares to call this Young Master a chicken. Tell her, Big Bro, have I ever backed off from any argument?" "Don't believe him, Ethan," Eve squeaked. "He's just bluffing, I didn't start anything." As weird and wild as Matt was, she never expected him to race down here. Hadn't he always been cautious about setting foot here? "What's going on, by the way?" Matt swayed again, pointing at Cole. "Who's this dumb-looking guy?" Cole straightened up and folded his hands