After a brief fifteen minutes, it was time for the men to take their individual photos since they generally needed less prep time than the women.
Sophie emerged soon after in a stunning red gown that could have had her mistaken for a fairy, with delicate lace details and shimmering fabric catching the light.
However, when Eddie snapped the first shots, her look missed the mark, projecting more like a succubus than a fairy.
With no way to fix these individual shots as they had done with the family portrait, Eddie had no choice but to call for a 30-minute break, hoping the pause would help Sophie gather her composure.
The staff reassured her, gently guiding her in the hopes of a more natural smile when they resumed.
At that moment, Eve arrived in a simple pink dress that radiated an effortless elegance. The fabric hugged her figure with just the right amount of drape, highlighting her grace without overdoing it.
The soft blush color complemented her skin tone perfectly, drawing eyes to her with a quiet charm. It was a look that didn't try too hard but somehow commanded the room's attention all the same.
Of course, Victor couldn't help himself; as if on autopilot, he pulled out his phones and snapped a picture of her without even thinking about it. It was as if his hand acted on his own, capturing the moment instinctively.
Sophie's eyes narrowed at the sight, her own elaborate gown momentarily paling in comparison to Eve's understated style.
Deciding she wouldn't be outshone, Sophie came up with a plan. While the others were busy with the photoshoot, she casually strolled over to Eve with a glass of red wine in hand, flashing a smile that barely concealed her intentions.
As she drew near, Sophie suddenly lurched forward, letting the glass slip from her fingers with a practiced clumsiness.
The wine splashed across Eve's dress in deep red streaks as Sophie gasped dramatically, clutching her hands to her mouth.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!" she exclaimed, her tone laced with faux innocence.
=== 🤍 ===
[EVE]
There was a family shoot and an individual shoot scheduled, so I'd need to change dresses twice.
Sinclair had taken care of everything, from the dress to the jewelry, with an elegance that caught me off guard. Even I had to admit that the pink dress he'd chosen for me was stunning.
I felt more beautiful than I had in a long time, which was nice.
So far it was a peaceful day with no drama. I was hopeful that maybe, just maybe, I'd have a chance to ask Sullivan or Sophia about my real parents later if this keeps up.
Once I was ready, I opened the door to find Cole standing right outside. I jumped a bit, surprised to see him so close and so suddenly.
"You don't have to follow me everywhere, you know," I said with slight irritation in my voice, trying to shake off the surprise. "We're inside the house, so it's safe."
Cole didn't respond immediately, just looked at me through his sunglasses, his gaze intense. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and soft. "You look beautiful."
My breath caught. His words were so unexpected and sincere that I couldn't think straight. A blush crept over my face, and I scrambled to hide it.
"A-are you crazy?" I managed, attempting to sound unfazed, though my cheeks betrayed me.
"
Maybe
," he replied, tilting his head with the faintest hint of a smirk.
I gaped at him, blinking in confusion as I tried to process his answer. Just as I moved to step away and go back to the photoshoot, he reached out, gently clasping my hand.
"What are you doing? Let go." I tried to shake his grip, but his hand held firm, his face unexpectedly serious.
"Are they . . . usually that hostile to you?" he asked, his voice low.
"What are you talking about?" I answered, baffled by the sudden question.
"Sullivan and Sophia . . . have they treated you like this since you were young?"
I fell silent, taken aback by his piercing stare. Finally, I let a slight smile lift my lips, one that didn't reach my eyes.
"I'm not their real child. What do you expect? And I'm sure that you already know about that kidnapping which Sullivan orchestrated. That alone should have answered your question."
For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—was it sadness? Pity? Anger?
No, that couldn't be. Cole was indifferent, detached. That was just who he was. Anything else would make things complicated.
He should just go back to the way he was before. It would make things easier. Simpler.
"You . . ." He struggled to find words. "You've swallowed all that mistreatment for years, and I—" His jaw tightened. "I didn't make it any easier."
"
Enough
." My tone was hard. I didn't want his pity. "The past is the past. You can't change it now."
Experience new tales on empire
So what if I wasn't loved by my family—or even by him? It didn't matter now.
What was important now was . . . I love myself, and that should be enough.
"Can you let go of me?" I asked, my voice firmer this time.
"Eve . . ."
"Let. Go."
Reluctantly, he released my hand, and I quickly made my way to the shoot.
I was so distracted by his words that I didn't see Sophie coming up to me from the side, wine glass in hand.
It was too late. The splash of deep red wine stained my beautiful dress in an instant.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Sophie exclaimed, dabbing at the stain with her handkerchief, only smearing it further.
I took her hand, stopping her from her pointless attempts.
I leaned in, voice soft but cold. "It's fine, Sophie. I'm sure you didn't mean to ruin the dress. Why would you ever do that, right?"
A few staff members paused, watching the scene with knowing glances as Sophie's act seemed to falter.
She had never experienced the undercurrents of high society like I had, where these "
accidents
" were common fare.
She thought her innocence would shield her, but instead, her little scheme only drew more attention.
People weren't so easily fooled by this trick anymore and I was sure that the others wouldn't pass it as accident.
"Oh my god, are you okay? Sophie, you should be more careful!" Sophia exclaimed, instantly stepping in to shield her daughter from the judging gazes of those around us.
Her voice was laced with concern, but her eyes darted nervously, clearly more worried about appearances than her daughter's comfort.
I didn't want to create a bigger drama over this, so I was ready to let it go when Victor stepped forward, and shielded me.
"You should be more careful," he said, his gaze piercing into Sophie, causing her to take a step back.