[EVE]
"I'm fine, Daniel and Riri. You don't have to worry," I reassured them with a smile.
To avoid any unnecessary drama or pestering by the media, my
kidnapping incident
had been kept under wraps.
Zen, and the rest of my bodyguards spun a tale that I had a sudden stomach cramp and had to be rushed to the hospital.
"It must've been those cupcakes," Riri whispered conspiratorially, narrowing her eyes at Lily's group across the room. "I bet they poisoned them."
I stifled a laugh, shaking my head. "Don't be ridiculous. If that were true, wouldn't
you
be sick too?"
Riri grinned mischievously, sticking her tongue out and playfully twirling her hand in the air. "Oh, I've got an iron stomach. Poison wouldn't stand a chance against me."
"By the way, are you really okay?" Daniel asked, his tone softer than usual. The concern in his eyes caught me off guard.
For a moment, I hesitated. There was something in his eyes that unsettled me. His worry was genuine, almost . . . natural.
Was he actually my friend now?
Maybe
.
"I'm fine, Daniel," I said with a small smile. "I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly that time."
"I'm just annoyed you didn't tell me you weren't feeling well," he said, his brows furrowed in frustration. "I could've taken you to the hospital myself."
The sincerity in his voice made me pause. "You didn't have to," I replied quickly. "I didn't want to trouble you. Or anyone." I glanced at Riri, hoping to lighten the mood.
Daniel's expression shifted instantly, his face growing serious. "You're never a bother, Eve. Not now, not ever."
My breath hitched. Those words, so earnest and unguarded, left me momentarily stunned. Read exclusive content at empire
Daniel wasn't like Cole, who could hide his emotions behind a mask of confidence and control. His feelings were written plainly in his eyes, even if his face remained composed.
"Uhm . . ." I fumbled, unsure how to respond.
Fortunately, Riri jumped in to save me from the awkward silence.
"Whoa! You two look like the leads in a romance novel right now!" she exclaimed dramatically, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You know the type—where the female lead is oblivious to the male lead's feelings until it's too late and
bam
! Love confession central!"
I stared at her, my face heating up. "Riri! What are you even talking about?" I laughed nervously, waving her off. "Stop being ridiculous. You're making it awkward for no reason. Right, Daniel?"
I turned to him for backup, but his face was an entirely different story. His cheeks were a vivid shade of red, and he was suddenly very interested in staring at the wall.
"Are you okay?" I asked, genuinely confused by his reaction.
Riri, of course, couldn't let the moment slide. She fanned her face dramatically, grinning like a cat that just caught a mouse. "Ooh, it's getting
hot
in here!"
"Riri!" I groaned, covering my face with both hands as Daniel coughed awkwardly into his fist.
"You two are
so cute
," she said, winking.
"Stop making things weird!" I protested, though a part of me was still baffled at this situation.
=== ===
[LINA]
"We're delighted to have you as one of our investors, Miss Fay," Mrs. Foster said warmly, handing the contract folder back to her assistant.
I returned her smile. For someone in her late forties, Mrs. Foster looked surprisingly youthful, with a sharp elegance that made her stand out.
"I'm glad to be on board, Mrs. Foster," I replied.
Mrs. Foster's smile grew, but there was a curious glint in her eyes. "If you don't mind me asking . . . why the sudden interest in investing in one of our projects? After all, our companies are rivals in the real estate industry, aren't they?"
My smile stayed intact, but my mind raced for a polished answer. The truth? It was because of her son, Daniel.
Guilt had been eating away at me since I'd meddled with his fate. This was my way of making amends—by throwing money at the problem. Mature, I know.
Besides, Daniel wouldn't have been happy with Eve anyway. She was in love with my brother, after all.
"Well," I began smoothly, "as they say, there's no rivalry when it comes to good investments. And honestly, I think this project shows a lot of promise."
Mrs. Foster beamed at my response, nodding approvingly. "I like the way you think! For someone so young, you're remarkably insightful and intelligent."
"Thank you for the compliment." A pang of guilt settled in my chest despite her kind words.
Then, out of nowhere, she leaned forward slightly and asked, "By the way . . . are you
single
, my dear?"
I blinked, caught completely off guard. "Uh . . . what?"
Mrs. Foster's expression turned conspiratorial, and her tone took on a new level of excitement. "I have a son. My only son. He's probably younger than you—he's finishing high school, actually—but I promise you, he's an excellent match. We may not be old-money wealthy like your family, but Daniel more than makes up for it with his character. He's a fine young man, and I couldn't be prouder."
"I . . . uh . . ." I glanced sideways at Dylan, my ever-stoic bodyguard.
As usual, he stood like an immovable statue, utterly unbothered by the absurdity of the situation.
Mrs. Foster wasn't done. "What do you think? Should I arrange a meeting? You won't regret it, I promise!"
I let out a small laugh, the kind you use when you're trying to buy time. My default response to these sorts of matchmaking attempts was a polite but firm decline.
But then, an idea struck me.
I
did
need to apologize to Daniel in person. And, well, part of my deal with Dylan was to actively try to find a suitable partner and move on from him.
So, against my better judgment, I smiled and said, "Alright, Mrs. Foster. Just let me know the date, and I'll be there."
Mrs. Foster's eyes went wide, clearly not expecting me to agree. "R-really? Oh, that's wonderful! Thank you, my dear. You won't regret this, I promise."
I gave her a polite nod, but then I felt a strange chill from beside me. When I glanced over at Dylan, his expression remained stoic—no surprise there—but there was something
off
. His jaw was tense, his gaze unusually dark.
What's
his
problem now?