It was a chaotic morning at the Foster mansion as Mia and Evander loudly called out for Irene to hurry up and join them.

“Irene! We’re going to be late!” Mia yelled from the front hallway.

Evander, standing beside Mia with an amused grin, chimed in, “Do you even know how to tell time, Irene? Let’s go already!”

Just as the banter filled the hall, Tristan entered the room, his sharp gaze sweeping over Evander. His expression hardened as he sized him up. “Who are you?” Tristan asked, his voice calm but edged with suspicion.

Mia, sensing the tension, quickly stepped in to explain. “This is Evander Kane, Irene’s brother.”

Evander gave Tristan a friendly nod. “Good to meet you, Tristan.”

But Tristan’s eyes narrowed, skeptical. “Brother? Why do you have different last names then?”

At that moment, Irene finally appeared, sliding into the room as she tied her shoes. “He’s my brother’s friend,” she explained without missing a beat. “So, he’s my brother too.” She flashed a mischievous smile as she nudged Evander.

Tristan’s suspicion remained, but before he could pry any further, the trio was already heading out the door. “See you later, Tristan!” Mia called as they left, the sound of their laughter echoing through the hall.

As the door closed behind them, Tristan stood alone in the empty space, his thoughts swirling. Something about Evander didn’t sit right with him. His instincts warned him to keep a closer eye on the man. He quickly pulled out his phone and called to confirm his meeting for the day, then made his way to speak with Matthew.

Once in Matthew’s office, the conversation turned serious. Tristan discussed his intention to take over his father’s business, though there was something else gnawing at him.

“Dad,” Tristan began slowly, his eyes darkening. “I need to know what really happened with Jessica.”

Matthew sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I’ve already told you everything I know, Tristan. Don’t be so angry with her. We all make mistakes.”

But Tristan’s jaw tightened, his heart burning with resentment. Mistakes? He could never forgive Jessica or Camilla for the way they had manipulated his life—and Eva’s.

“Dad, you have no idea what kind of hell those two put Eva and me through,” Tristan thought grimly. “But I’ll make sure they pay. They won’t escape their past, and soon, everyone will know their true colors.”

Meanwhile, at the King mansion, Andrew and Eva finished their breakfast in a surprisingly quiet harmony. It was as though they had fallen into an unspoken routine, working well together like clockwork. Without exchanging many words, they left the house and headed to the company.

The quiet rhythm between them was soon disrupted, however, when they arrived at Andrew’s office. Andrew was going over paperwork when the door suddenly burst open, and Ann strutted in.

“Andrew,” she purred, stepping toward his desk with a sultry smile. As she reached him, she hooked her finger over the neckline of her top and pulled it down slightly, revealing the curve of her breasts.

Andrew’s gaze remained cold as ice. “Fuck off,” he said sharply, not even looking up. “If you dare come here again, I’ll slice you into tiny pieces.”

Ann, either stubborn or foolish, ignored his warning and moved closer. “But Andrew—”

Before she could say another word, Andrew grabbed her by the hair, his grip unforgiving. With a sharp slap to her cheek, he hissed, “I told you to keep your distance. Now, get lost.”

At that exact moment, the door creaked open, and Eva stepped inside. She froze at the sight before her—Andrew holding Ann by the hair, her cheek red from the slap, tears pooling in her eyes.

Andrew noticed Eva standing there and snapped, “Not you. You stay. I was talking to this bitch.”

Ann whimpered, clutching her cheek as she stammered, “Andrew, please—”

Andrew’s voice was cold and final. “It’s Mr. King to you. Don’t ever come here again.”

With that, Ann fled the office, her sobs echoing down the hall.

Eva, still in shock, pretended she hadn’t seen a thing as she calmly approached Andrew’s desk. “Sir, your schedule is ready,” she said, placing a stack of papers in front of him. “You have an appointment with Lavish Couture at noon.”

Andrew glanced up briefly, his eyes scanning her face for any reaction, but Eva remained composed.

As she turned to leave, Andrew’s voice stopped her. But this time, it was different—gentler. “Eva.”

She blinked, surprised by the softness in his tone, and turned back to face him.

“I have a headache,” Andrew said quietly. “Would you mind giving me a massage?”

Eva hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. But then she sighed. “Sure. Sit in the chair.”

Andrew sat down, and Eva stood behind him, gently placing her hands on his shoulders. She began massaging his neck and scalp, her fingertips soft but firm. As Andrew closed his eyes, he let his head rest in her hands.

“Add a bit more pressure,” he murmured.

Eva complied, her hands moving with careful precision. She could feel the tension in his muscles begin to melt away under her touch.

Andrew opened his eyes briefly, and their gazes locked. For a moment, something unspoken passed between them—something neither of them was ready to acknowledge.

Eva froze, startled by the sudden intimacy of the moment. “What happened? Is something wrong?” she asked softly.

Andrew closed his eyes again and exhaled. “No. Just continue.”

A while later, Andrew’s breathing slowed, and Eva realized he had fallen asleep under her hands. She smiled faintly, surprised by the unexpected vulnerability in him.

She quietly called his name to wake him, but he didn’t stir. Not wanting to disturb him, she grabbed a blanket from the office couch and gently draped it over him.

“I’ll check on him in half an hour,” she whispered to herself as she left the office, closing the door softly behind her.

When 11:30 rolled around, Eva returned to his office and knocked on the door. “Andrew King!” she called, louder this time.

There was a rustling sound inside, and Andrew finally stirred, groggy and disoriented. He blinked up at Eva, confusion clouding his features.

“Why are you shouting?” he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.

“I’ve called you several times,” Eva said, pointing to the clock. “We’re going to be late for the meeting.”

Andrew gathered his things in a rush, still trying to shake off the unexpected drowsiness. As they hurried out the door together, Andrew couldn’t help but wonder why he had fallen asleep so easily.

Was it because of Eva? The thought lingered in his mind as they made their way to the meeting room. For the first time in a long while, he felt... at peace. And he wasn’t sure how to feel about that.