"Why didn't you pick up my calls? " A cold voice returns her greeting with a question, Eve enters the car with Helen.
Oh, no greetings? No nicknames? And is that a tone I hear?
Eve thinks carefully about what she would say next.
While two bodyguards occupied the front seats, the rest of them went to the two cars next to their own, she looks at her phone and opens the lock screen.
" I forgot my phone and.. left it in the car...sorry"
She saw 30 missed calls and 99 unread messages. All listed from Husband ♡.
Helen knew what was going on and immediately pretended to sleep.
The car starts and leaves the highway as they return to Alexander's villa, the bodyguards look nervous as focused on the road.
" Where are you?" Alexander asked further. His tone was still cold.
Oh, he's mad, Eve looks at the bodyguard that gave her the phone and saw how he was sweating in buckets.
Eve shook her head in amusement.
"Still in H city but we're driving now. I wanted to stop by and eat, and the car ride was making my legs stiff. Why?"
There was a faint sound in the other line, a few inaudible voices, and Eve couldn't hear what they were talking about. Seconds later, the talking disappeared and Alexander's voice returned from the other line.
A tired sigh could be heard.
" You shouldn't stay out there for too long," There was an obvious frustration mixed with exhaustion and concern in his tone. Eve could guess he was trying to control his temper.
" It's gonna get dark soon, next time don't make any detours and go home. If you wanted to eat, you can eat here or we could order for delivery. It's not safe around H city, or outside B City where I can't reach you, do you know how worried I was when you didn't pick up my calls--" Eve looks at the sky and saw how clear the late afternoon was, she wanted to laugh but seeing he was in a bad mood, she decided not too.
" Alex? " Eve calls out gently and Alexander immediately stops.
That got him quiet, Eve leans her head back and continued to watch the scenery outside the car, she couldn't help but act as coy as she can to placate her lover. She didn't want for him to feel anxious while being away, Eve smiles to herself and spoke softly.
" I'm sorry I made you worried, my love. It wasn't my intention. I was wrong, I shouldn't have stayed out for too. It won't happen again, hmm? Can you forgive me? "
There was silence that continued on the other line and Eve laughs lightly.
He must have calmed down now.
" Don't worry anymore okay? I'll be home in a few minute. "
Eve thought she wouldn't hear a reply but Alexander spoke. Although he was still mad, his voice became a bit gentler.
" No more detours, baby. Don't end this call, I'll be listening to make sure you're safe. "
Eve wondered if he knew what was going on.
Since he was still in bad mood, he didn't talk much when Eve continues to speak to him, telling him about how her day goes and even mentioning the incident of meeting Diana.
Alexander hums shortly and gives a few replies, the sound of rustling papers and keyboard tapping could be heard, Eve wasn't bothered by his curt replies and continued to talk.
She feels a bit guilty trying to keep it from him but in the end, he actually knew about the situation with the hitman. He was right for worrying, she did look like an easy target and her enemy this time isn't just her sister but a criminal.
When she arrived in the villa, she requested her bodyguards to sent Helen home and the young woman still pretends to sleep, which made Eve laugh.
She got out of the car and walked to the mansion on the pathway and the atmosphere was tense and the maids were nowhere to be found.
A few guards patrolled and greeted her on her way. Eve smiles at them and continued her walk, she looks at the few flowers while on her way and brushes her fingers on their blooming petals.
An idea pops out of her head and she takes one stem with a red rose at its full bloom and hurried her way. The end of the long path greeted her, the fountain in front of a huge three-story white mansion.
When she walked closer she could see a lone figure in contrast with the surroundings, Alexander was waiting with his arms crossed over his chest, leaning his side on the white pillar. Wearing a black sleeve shirt, his tall built could be spotted easily from afar. His eyes were looking straight at her with seriousness.
Eve lightly smiled, she hurried her steps and arrived in front of him. One hand automatically snakes around her waist, Alexander lowers his head as she tiptoed and lightly kisses his lips.
When Eve leans back first, she then presents to him her apology gift and Alexander looks at her, and then to the flower she picked in his own land.
" Is this small wife forgiven for making her husband worry? " She puts her heels back to the ground and the height difference between became apparent.
When she looks up to him with an apologetic and loving expression, how could Alexander stay angry?
His eyes soften and he picks her up, lifting her off the ground and carrying her back inside.
When Eve woke up the next day, she could feel the comfortable cold blanket and pillows.
She opens her eyes and immediately felt satisfied with her long sleep.
The fresh marks painted across her pale skin were the first thing she saw when she looks at the mirror across the room, the image of Molina and her messy hair, greets her.
She sits up on the empty bed and yawned.
It was still too early and she could hear voices from the television outside the door, as well as faint sounds from the kitchen. She changes into an article of comfortable clothing and got out of the bedroom.
She walks down the stairs and found the large LED screen showing Molina's face. It was her interview video being played first thing in the morning.
Eve looked at it for a while before proceeding to the kitchen where her lover was cooking.
Diana was woken up by her mother early in the morning, she was scared by her sudden outburst and came out of her bedroom to see what was doing on.
Demi had looked like she woke up from a nightmare making Diana anxious. The older woman told her to follow her to the living room and Diana was sent into shock seeing the headlines and the person on the news.
" Molina Sylvia and Dimension? She owns Dimension Corporation?? " Diana had looked confused, how could a woman who had nothing...
It wasn't just Diana but the rest of the people who had long thought the young Sylvia had been struggling in the society when she left.
The revelation of Dimension's CEO had sparked the public's interest, the image of the now matured Sylvia made a lot of people admire her and were in awe of how she carried the interview.
The business industry's social circle was buzzing and talks about Molina appear, the interview revealed how she created the new programs and worked alongside her team to create a new series of products and services.
Demi had bit her thumb and was calling Roman, she didn't think it would turn out like this. She should have killed her when she finally found her, Diana looks at her mother who was screaming for the killer to do what he was told.
" I don't care about your methods in handling this wrench, immediately take care of this btch! I'll transfer the money to your account now! "
Diana was struggling to keep calm as she now watches Molina's interview. Her mind race with many ideas, she denied Molina's success and cursed her face on the screen.
She didn't see how Demi who had been anger by Molina's face was shocked by the noise coming from her phone, a voice spoke to her then, threatening the woman.
" W-Who is this? " Demi's horrified voice made Diana turn her head and watch as her mother who was screaming in anger a second ago was now stupefied and was filled with terror.
Demi immediately hangs up and panics. She throws her phone and immediately called for the butler, telling him to throw and erase the data on her phone.
Her reaction was too unexpected to make Diana feel better, a mixture of dread and trepidation filled in her mind and wasn't hidden in her expression.
Demi looked at her daughter, eyes widen in fear.
" R-Roman is dead, " Diana didn't understand what was wrong with that, criminals like Roman are killed by people who he had offended or wronged.
Demi knew what she was thinking from the frown on her face, the older woman glares at her as her hands started trembling.
She remembers the silence that followed after she told Roman to kill Molina, what happened next was hearing a sound of screaming and heavy objects in the background, listening to it, it was like the phone was dropped and was far from the person.
A sound of footsteps and creaking floors then found its way closer to the device on the floor, one man picked up the phone and gave it to the person who spoke with a chilling tone.
"Unless you want to end up dead like this person, I advise you to stop on whatever your planning with that head of yours. This is my final warning, don't test my mercy "
She could tell it was a person who wanted no harm to Molina, who else were they planning to kill and hired that person for.
A sound of a song from the bedroom floor interrupts her train of thoughts and it was Diana who picked up the phone, she runs back to her room and answered the call.
What Demi didn't expect was that day was the start of their lives turning into hell.
Detective Foster happened to make a final decision and proceeded to have police assistance.
Documents and evidence of company corruption were evident. There was evidence of bribery, tax evasion, illegal financing, illegal trade, and the list goes on. What was shocking was, it was Huberts Graham's actions that made those crimes happen under his company and even his subordinates followed his actions and continue to follow him.
The police came to the company and chaos ensued. An investigation proceeded and Diana couldn't stop it from happening. Ethan happened to hear such a situation happening and tried to help her but it was too late, things had escalated quickly and detective Foster found the other files containing new evidence inside Hubert's office.
Diana didn't know what to do, she wasn't prepared to learn the dark side of her company, her father didn't say anything about it.
Demi and Diana didn't go out of the mansion, one problem after another happened. It was too much for them to handle, and to resolve.
Reporters would camp outside their gate and scream about the company's situation, asking for them to come out and speak. She couldn't go out and show her face, it was too much for her to handle.
Graham's company was criticized for the following days and because of the news of their illegal activity, many had quit and stocks have deflated. Detective Foster was given praises as people watch the news and the reporter found out he was the one who started the investigation.
He didn't mention the anonymous tip that leads him here, without it, the company would have still operated and the naive CEO would still stay ignorant of it, letting those illegal activities continue.
After hearing the news of Graham Company's start of its downfall, some individuals came forward and pressed charges to the company after they had suffered gravely when working under the Grahams. The stories of sexual assaults, bribery, physical and mental damages, and so on came to light.
These stories circulated in the internet forums and one person happen to mentions Molina Sylvia, retelling the story of how Hubert Graham had abandoned his wife and found a mistress then later married the said mistress and even disowned his biological daughter.
Demi couldn't stop the flow of the gossips, the media, blogs, and newspaper publishing had continued to write their stories. Unlike before, Molina was now praised for her work, the innovations and creation she had contributed to today's society had garnered people's admiration, unlike Diana who was ridiculed as she continues to stay out of her own company's problem.
Some people pressed charges and the company faced multiple problems. Ethan tried to salvage anything he could but he didn't understand or had any experience with management, he only followed his brother's words and learned from him.
The idea of his brother helping him came to his mind, although Alexander didn't show any hint of friendliness towards Diana, Ethan was sure he would help her since she was Ethan's future bride.
His brother wouldn't turn his back on him, under his cold exterior was a man who was kind to those who he thinks is worth receiving his kindness.
Ethan had told Diana his plan over the phone, and Diana was unsure at first but hearing Alexander's name made her gasp.
She members how he was cold to her but he never said anything bad, a handsome man who holds the power to ML Group. She hasn't seen him in a while and surely he wouldn't send her away.
She blushes at the thought of meeting Ethan's brother again for the first time in a while.
She prepared to leave as Ethan came to the mansion to pick her up. They plan to head straight to Alexander's private villa and request for his assistance.